A Stanley Cup, more than a decade behind the same bench and some of the best players on the planet to coach: Jared Bednar has experienced his share of big games since taking over as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche in 2016.
The first coach to win championships in the ECHL, AHL and NHL, the Canadian worked his way through every level before lifting the Stanley Cup in 2022. Over those years behind the bench, his style has evolved as well. Early in his coaching career, Bednar remembers having a fairly conservative wardrobe made up mostly of navy and grey.
Over time, his choices became bolder, the possibilities expanded and the importance he placed on his image evolved as well. During a visit to the Surmesur booth at the NHLCA Global Coaches’ Clinic, Bednar reunited with Mike Rainone, stylist at our Montreal showroom, to design a new suit and talk about the evolution of his style, his habits behind the bench and even a few superstitions.
From Classic to a More Distinctive Style
Looking back at his early years as a coach, Bednar doesn’t try to sugarcoat it.
“When I was a younger coach or first coming to the League, lots of navy blue and gray and boring stuff. I got a little bit more creative over the years, I would say.”
It’s an evolution that happened gradually. During their previous consultation, Mike and Bednar had opted for a three-piece tweed suit. This time, the idea of a pinstripe quickly comes up. After several years behind an NHL bench, Bednar also knows that a coach’s wardrobe doesn’t exactly go unnoticed.
“There’s a lot of cameras around, so you want to make sure that you’re looking your best on a nightly basis.”
For this new look, a midnight blue catches his eye. Mike suggests turning it into a three-piece suit, with an inspiration that brings a smile: a bit of an “80s gangster” look. Bednar is quickly convinced.
“Yeah. Love it. Yeah. We could do that. I like that.”
It’s a level of trust that also sums up the relationship between stylist and client. When Mike suggests taking his look in a new direction, Bednar simply replies: “I trust you.”
The consultation also becomes an opportunity to try new details, including trousers without belt loops, an option he had never chosen before.
Suits That Stand the Test of Time
While Bednar enjoys experimenting more with his style today, some pieces in his wardrobe have been with him for years. He mentions still wearing one of the first suits he purchased earlier in his career behind the bench, showing a relationship with clothing that extends beyond trends and seasons.
When a piece works and feels right, it can remain part of the rotation for years. But behind the bench, choosing a suit isn’t always just about fit or style. Sometimes, what happens on the ice also comes into play.
Bednar’s Wardrobe Superstitions
Superstitions have always been part of sports, and Bednar isn’t entirely immune to them.
“Every once in a while, I would lose a couple games, and I’ll see that I was wearing this certain suit. I’ll put it away for a bit.”
The opposite is just as true: “And if you have one that’s kind of lucky, then on a big game, you may wear it.”
A suit can therefore find itself temporarily benched after a few losses or, on the other hand, make its way back into the rotation when the stakes are higher. In a world where routines play an important role and every detail matters, even choosing the right suit can become part of the pregame ritual.
A Style That Reflects His Passions
Bednar’s wardrobe choices also reveal a more personal side of the coach. When asked about the story behind one of his looks, his answer points to two of his passions away from the rink.
“I like to hunt and fish. So I thought I’d wear it on a Friday night.”
And when Mike asks whether the team won that night, Bednar’s answer comes quickly: “Yeah, we did.” Perhaps enough to earn that particular look a spot among the lucky ones.
Look Good, Play Good, Coach Good
From the navy and grey classics of his early coaching days to the more personal choices he makes today, Jared Bednar’s style has evolved alongside his career. Some pieces stand the test of time, others reflect his passions, and a few even build a reputation of their own through wins and losses.
It’s a relationship with style that Bednar sums up with a simple formula behind the bench:
“Look good, play good, feel good, coach good. Everything’s good to go.”
After all, when a big game comes around, having the right suit on your side certainly can’t hurt.
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