Spirit Name Head Coach & GM

Peter Di Salvo enters his first season as Head Coach of the Kinni Spirit in the team’s inaugural season. Di Salvo brings a championship mindset, proven leadership, and a modern approach to player development as he leads the Spirit into its first season.

Di Salvo had an accomplished junior and professional playing career. Having a 5 year junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and 9 year pro career primarily in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) where he was a longtime standout. Drafted to the Sarnia Sting in 2006, 23rd overall as the first goalie drafted. Di Salvo played the majority of his OHL career with the Barrie Colts and finished his junior career with the Oshawa Generals. During his OHL career he would play in the Canada vs Russia Challenge for team OHL and attend St. Louis Blues training camp in 2009 and 2010. After his time in the OHL he would move onto minor pro hockey in the SPHL. In his rookie season with the Pensacola Ice Flyers, he won the SPHL Presidents Cup Championship. Following his championship, the following season he was named to the SPHL All Star team and was runner up for SPHL Goalie of the Year. In 2018 he was named to the SPHL Northern All Star Team. In 2021 he set the SPHL league record for most career wins at 104 wins finishing his career with 111 wins. While in the SPHL he earned multiple callups to the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). He remains among the top goalies in SPHL history.

Following his playing career, Di Salvo transitioned into coaching full time. During the 2025-2026 season, Di Salvo served as the assistant and goalie coach for the Chippewa Steel in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). From 2023–2026 he served as Director of Goaltending with one of the nation’s premier hockey development organizations. He now runs and operates Peter Di Salvo Goaltending School in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. His coaching philosophy blends elite skill development with a strong emphasis on accountability, culture, and team-first play—aligned with the Spirit mission of Community. TEAM. Development. Championships.

Di Salvo is committed to building a program that develops players both on and off the ice, preparing them for advancement to higher levels of hockey while creating an environment centered on discipline, growth, and competition.