A proud Winnipeg native, Franko brings a wealth of experience and a strong hockey pedigree to the Monarchs organization. His playing career spans four seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Kelowna Rockets and Kootenay Ice, followed by four years in U SPORTS with Acadia University and the University of Manitoba. He also spent three seasons playing professional hockey in the ECHL and across Europe.
Franko began his coaching career in 2022 with the St. Boniface Riels of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League. In 2024, he joined the Swift Current Broncos as an Assistant Coach, contributing to the team’s 34-29-1-2 record and a berth in the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
As a coach, Franko prides himself on a player-focused approach that emphasizes work ethic, accountability, and creativity—both on and off the ice. “I want my players to play fast and within our structure,” he says. “Creativity is the key to confidence, and I want to push my players to their limits and give them all the support, direction and resources to do so. My goal is to help and push each player to improve 1% every day.”