By Hockey Saskatchewan

May 25^th, 2021 - The Saskatchewan Hockey Association is excited to introduce Colleen Sostorics (Kennedy, SK), Brenda Cromartie (Shellbrook, SK), Deana Gelinas (Regina, SK) and Robin Ulrich (Saskatoon, SK) as Saskatchewan’s four (4) female coaches joining Hockey Canada’s Woman Master Coach Development (WMCD) Program.

The WMCD Program strives to introduce more hockey coaching programs led by women in Canada for woman in Canada. Women Master Coaches are given training and development opportunities in NCCP Core & Content Specific Training as both an Evaluation and Facilitator, Keeping Girls in Sport training, Respect in Sport (Leaders), NCCP Ethical Decisions evaluation training, and are invited to attend three (3) Regional Professional Development training sessions this year.

“We are extremely excited for the launch of the Women Master Coach Development Program. Our group of Saskatchewan Female Master Coaches have an incredible amount of coaching and playing experience behind them and I am thrilled to see them encouraging other young women to get involved in coaching as well.”

                                    – Blaine Stork, Senior Coordinator of Coaching Development.

Each member of the WMCD program maintains the contact information for the other 29 ladies in the program to network and collaborate on the latest in female hockey development.

Colleen Sostorics (Kennedy, SK) has played extensively for Canada at both the national and international levels, including winning three Olympic gold medals. Sostorics has a wide-range of coaching experience, from U7 all the way to USports. She is also heavily involved in the Sask First and Team Saskatchewan Programs, coaching the Female U18 team to a silver medal at the 2019 National Championships.

Brenda Cromartie (Shellbrook, SK) is as former University of Saskatchewan Huskie and current Coordinator of Big River First Nations Reserve Hockey. Cromartie is an SHA Coach of the Year Award recipient, Volunteer of the Year Awards recipient, and is currently involved with Sask Hockey as a Coach Mentor.

Deana Gelinas (Regina, SK) is both a University of Regina Cougar alumna player, and coach. Gelinas brings a wealth of coaching knowledge with experience coaching minor, U18 AAA, and USports hockey. She is a 3-time Female Team Saskatchewan coach and has been heavily involved as a Sask First program evaluator.

Robin Ulrich (Saskatoon, SK) has top level playing experience as a former University of Saskatchewan Huskie and a heavy background immersed in coaching. She is currently a coach of the U18 AAA Stars, Team Saskatchewan U18 coach and has been deeply involved in the evaluations process for the Sask First program.

With the introduction of SHA’s new Female Coach policy that states, “Every female team registered for the 2021-22 season require a registered female coach on the team” the WMCD Program is a great initiative to support the growth and retention of girls and women in the game of hockey.

For more details on the WMCD Program, click here.