Bloomington Bison | Hockey Operations

Phillip Barski

GM & Head Coach

Prior to joining the Bison, the 45-year-old Barski was the associate coach of the OHL’s Barrie Colts for the 2023-24 season. Prior to being promoted, he spent one year as an assistant coach of the Colts for the 2022-23 campaign. Barski guided the Colts to a record of 70-53-0-13 as well as back-to-back playoff berths.

He spent two years at the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits as an assistant coach from 2020-2022. There he guided the Swamp Rabbits to back-to-back playoff berths and a trip to the Patrick J. Kelly Cup semi-finals during his first season with the club. He led, as head coach of Podhale Nowy Targ in the Polska Hokej Liga, the top hockey league in Poland. Under his direction, the team finished third in the league with 87 standings points, qualified for the Polish Cup, and had a +87 goal differential.

Barski was an assistant coach of HC Bolzano, an Italian club playing in the EBEL, the top hockey league in Austria. In his first season with the club HC Bolzano won the EBEL Championship in the 2017-18 season. His first year of professional coaching came with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast where he served as the video coach during the 2016-17 campaign. A native of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Barski attended Bowling Green State University for two years (2000-02), then later transferred to the University of Calgary (2002-04). He played 38 games for the Dinos, scoring 27 points and earning academic all-Canadian accolades. Barski holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Calgary and a Master of Education in Coaching Studies from the University of Victoria.

Jesse Messier

Assistant Coach

Messier had a long and successful playing career as a forward, which included four seasons in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves and the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. He served as a captain for two of those seasons. He then went on to play five years in USports, four as a captain, at York University. Messier turned pro in 2013 where he joined the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL after college and then played one full season for the Allen Americans where he won a Kelly Cup in 2015.

After retiring, he began his coaching career in 2015 where he was an assistant coach with the York University Lions for four seasons, winning a Queen's Cup as OUA champions in 2017. He then went on to be an assistant coach with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL from 2019 to 2023, winning a West division title during the 2019-20 campaign while also moving many players on to pro hockey. After his stop in Saginaw, Jesse took the head coaching position with the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the SIJHL. In his one and only season, the Fighting Walleye compiled a 39-9-1-0 record, winning the regular season championship.

Dan Larmer

Assistant GM

Larmer joins the Bison from the 2023 OHL Champion Peterborough Petes. A graduate of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Minor Hockey Association (WSMHA), Dan's early achievements include winning an OMHA Bantam Championship. He advanced through his playing career with notable success, playing Jr.B for the Vaughan Raiders and earning a spot on the COJHL All-Star Team. He then played Jr.A for the St. Michael’s Buzzers, where he served as an Assistant Captain, before moving on to NCAA hockey with the Mercyhurst Lakers, from which he graduated with a B.A. in Business Management.

Dan began his coaching career with the WSMHA before moving to the Jr.A Stouffville Spirit of the OJHL as Head Coach and Assistant General Manager. In 2015, he joined the Peterborough Petes as a Regional Scout, a role he will continue to fulfill. During his tenure with the Petes, Dan was instrumental in achieving three banner-winning seasons: the 2017 OHL Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions, the 2023 OHL Eastern Conference Playoff Champions, and the 2023 OHL Champions.

Matt Borucki

Head Athletic Trainer

Borucki worked with the Toledo Walleye last season for his Immersion Internship through the Adrian College Athletic Training Program. He also worked with Madonna University men’s and women’s soccer teams as an Assistant Athletic Trainer before accepting his role with the Bison.

The Westland, Michigan native worked as a clinical student with a rotation at Toledo St. Francis high school hockey team in 2022-23 and with the Adrian College women’s NCAA D3 ice hockey team in 2021-22.

Borucki attended Adrian College and earned a Bachelor of Exercise Science and Pre-Athletic Training Degree in 2023 & Master of Science in Athletic Training Degree in 2024.

Josh Pentico

Head Equipment Manager

Pentico spent the two previous seasons as the Head Equipment Manager with the SPHL’s Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. In his first season, the team won the President’s Cup as league champions. In addition, Pentico worked with the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, as the Assistant Visiting Clubhouse Manager from 2019-2024.

The Des Moines, Iowa native was the Head Equipment Manager for the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) in 2021-22 where the team claimed the regular season championship.

Pentico also served as the Second Assistant Equipment Manager with the Iowa Wild (AHL) from 2019-2021.

Austin Roots-MacKay

Assistant Equipment Manager

Roots-MacKay spent the previous three seasons with the Barrie Colts in the OHL as an assistant equipment manager. He attended Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario for Preservice Fire Fighting and worked for a local fire department during his time with the Colts. Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Roots-MacKay played organized competitive hockey, football and baseball.

Jesse Cook

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Cook is the President of TPA Sports, a premiere strength & conditioning center located in Toronto, Ontario. He is also currently the Director of Physical Wellness for the York University men's varsity hockey team, overseeing their strength & conditioning since 2018.

The Toronto, Ontario native was named the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Toronto Six (NWHL/PHF) from 2020 to 2023. His final season concluded with a league championship. From 2019-2022, Cook served as the Director of Performance for the Maine Nordiques (NAHL) as well as their organizational development programs. He spent four seasons in the ECHL as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Brampton Beast from 2016-2020.

Cook holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from York University and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.