FISHERS, Ind. — The Indy Fuel will have a new face behind the bench for the 2026-27 season.
The Fuel have named Jesse Messier as their new head coach, making him the fifth head coach in franchise history as the organization prepares for its 13th ECHL season.
Messier comes to Indy with more than two decades of experience in hockey as both a player and coach, including time in the ECHL, Ontario Hockey League and junior hockey.
Most recently, Messier served as an assistant coach with the Bloomington Bison, where his responsibilities included working with the defense and penalty kill, along with player development, recruiting, special teams and roster preparation.
Experience Behind the Bench
Before joining Bloomington, Messier spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL.
During his time with Saginaw, the Spirit won the OHL West Division championship in 2019, while 11 players from the organization went on to play professional hockey.
Messier also brings previous head coaching experience to Fishers.
During the 2023-24 season, he led the Kam River Fighting Walleye to a 39-9-1 record, a regular-season championship and an appearance in the league final. His team also finished first in the league in both offense and power-play production.
His coaching career followed an extensive playing career that included time in the OHL, Canadian university hockey and professionally in the ECHL.
Messier now takes over a Fuel team entering a new chapter in Fishers, with offseason roster moves already underway ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
His first regular-season game behind the Indy bench is scheduled for October 16, when the Fuel host the Wheeling Nailers at Fishers Event Center.
For Messier and the Fuel, that night will officially mark the beginning of a new era behind the bench in Indy.
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