By Hockey Saskatchewan

BATTLEFORDS, Sask. - Giving back to Saskatchewan women's hockey has become Paris Oleksyn's newest goal as she begins the next chapter behind the bench.

The 23-year-old spent three seasons playing with the Prince Albert Northern Bears but is now in her first season as an assistant coach in the Saskatchewan Female Under-18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL).

While her days as a forward may be over, Oleksyn sees joining the defending league champion Battlefords Sharks coaching staff for the 2026-27 season as the next chapter of her hockey journey.

“I love giving back. I love women's hockey. I love watching these girls grow, building relationships with them … and I'm really happy to be there for them. Just staying in the hockey world and continuing to coach, wherever that takes me, is something I want to do,” Oleksyn said.

“I want to keep giving back to kids …  I want to be able to use my knowledge to help them move forward and know they can come to me. I just definitely love kids a lot and I wanted to stick around and coach them.”

That desire to give back started before the Sharks. Oleksyn has volunteered with Hockey Saskatchewan grassroots programming, including Female Futures, giving her opportunities to mentor Under-13 athletes from across the province.

“Just being on the bench with those kids. They don't know me, I don't know them super well, but then over the couple of days, getting to know them, and you feel like a family,” Oleksyn said.

“Sometimes I'll still see those girls and they'll still come up and talk to me or be super happy to see me. It's nice knowing I was able to make an impact on them and I'm somebody they remember being coached by.”

As a woman of Métis heritage coaching at the U18 AAA level, Oleksyn also sees an opportunity to support Indigenous players, encourage the next generation and help create an environment where all players feel welcome.

“I think it’s important for the next generation of young Indigenous youth to know that they can pursue whatever dreams they have for themselves, regardless of where they came from,” Oleksyn said.

“I’ve been fortunate to have opportunities to pursue my own dreams through hockey and education, and I think it’s important to recognize that those opportunities are possible …  Moving forward, I hope to continue learning, growing and making a positive impact in the community that has helped shape me.”

Joining Battlefords’ bench also reunited Oleksyn with Sharks head coach Nolan Horbach, who originally coached her through the Sask First high-performance program and later with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team.

“It's pretty neat to think about how our paths have continued to cross throughout Paris' hockey journey, and to now see her step into a coaching role where she can share her experiences and help develop the next generation of players is something I'm really excited about,” Horbach said.

“Having known Paris for a number of years, I felt she was a natural fit for the type of people we want contributing to the culture we're building with the Sharks.”

Horbach said Oleksyn's player experience is a great foundation she can draw on as she works with the next generation of young women, including athletes pursuing the same pathway she once followed to university hockey.

“As a player, Paris was someone who genuinely cared about her teammates and approached the game with a team-first mentality. She was receptive to feedback, willing to learn, and always looking for ways to improve. …  I believe they'll serve her equally well as she transitions into coaching,” Horbach said.

“She also brings the perspective of someone who has experienced the game as a player at a high level and understands the opportunities and challenges that come with that journey. Having someone who can share those experiences, connect with our players, and help them navigate their own development is incredibly valuable.”

In 2019, Oleksyn was part of Team Saskatchewan's silver-medal performance at Hockey Canada’s National Women's U18 Championship. She also won gold at the 2019 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship and earned a U-Sports bronze medal with the 2021-22 Huskies.

While all three medals still resonate with her, second place at the 2019 National Women's U18 Championship remains Saskatchewan's best performance at the tournament to date.

“It was huge … and knowing we set something that hadn't been achieved yet and, like, placing. Too bad we didn't get gold, but picking up that medal first for Saskatchewan and being a part of that team, that's something I'll probably never forget,” Oleksyn said.

“Obviously, everybody wants to win, but all we thought about was how much fun this experience was, that we get to represent Saskatchewan, be together and build that chemistry. … And it's something I'll still talk about to this day.”

For Oleksyn, hockey can also provide a setting for learning and understanding. That message will be especially relevant on Sept. 30, 2026, when Canada marks its sixth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“It’s a really important opportunity to reflect on and acknowledge the experiences Indigenous people and communities have faced. For me, there is a lot of meaning in being able to recognize the truths that may have been overlooked or misunderstood,” Oleksyn said.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn more, have those conversations and be proud of my Métis identity and where I come from. It takes a continued effort. It isn’t just something we acknowledge on one day.”