CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada and U SPORTS have announced the nine student-athletes who have been selected to join Creating Coaches, a program designed to increase the number of women coaching hockey in Canada, as part of its fourth cohort.

The student-athletes will receive training and mentorship through the program during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

Creating Coaches was launched in 2021 through a partnership between Hockey Canada, U SPORTS and the Hockey Canada Foundation to provide current U SPORTS student-athletes with opportunities to begin their coaching careers while still playing university women’s hockey.

Each student-athlete will be an assistant coach for a U13, U15 or U18 girls’ hockey team and receive coach education, professional development opportunities and an honorarium.

This year’s cohort includes student-athletes from nine U SPORTS women’s hockey programs across all four of its conferences:

• Allie Barter (Saint Mary’s University, AUS)
• Jordyn Blais (University of Regina, CW)
• Annick Boudreau (Université de Moncton, AUS)
• Brianna Bowman (Wilfrid Laurier University, OUA)
• Madison Cronkwright (Brock University, OUA)
• Maggi Dewolf-Russ (University of Windsor, OUA)
• Jessymaude Drapeau (Concordia University, RSEQ)
• Charlotte Melindy (Queen’s University, OUA)
• Keiara Raitt (University of Waterloo, OUA)

“We are so grateful to the U SPORTS coaches who nominated these nine incredible women to join Creating Coaches at such an exciting and important time for women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada,” said Marin Hickox, vice-president of women’s and girls’ hockey at Hockey Canada. “The first three cohorts of participants have positively impacted the game in so many ways, and we are thrilled to expand this year’s group to include more deserving student-athletes, thanks to the generous financial support of the Hockey Canada Foundation.

“Girls who have been coached by a woman are more likely to transition into a coaching role at the end of their playing careers, and it is our intention that this program will continue to positively influence the recruitment and retention of girls and women in leadership roles in the sport.”

Since its inception, Creating Coaches has included student-athletes from 19 U SPORTS women’s hockey programs and all four of its conferences.

“We are incredibly proud of the U SPORTS athletes who have been selected to join the Creating Coaches program,” said Pierre Arsenault, chief executive officer of U SPORTS. “These student-athletes represent the future of leadership in sport, and their involvement in this program will not only elevate their own careers but also inspire countless others. By stepping into coaching roles, they are helping to build a stronger, more inclusive sports community across Canada.”

The Creating Coaches selection committee includes representation from Hockey Canada, U SPORTS, Hockey Canada’s Members and the Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors.

During National Coaches Week, Hockey Canada is celebrating the positive impact coaches have on athletes in communities from coast to coast to coast, with #ThanksCoach resources and features shared here.

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