By Hockey Saskatchewan

REGINA, Sask. – The Sask First high-performance program proudly presents its all-female coaching staff for the 2026 Team Saskatchewan Female Under-16 (U16) program.

The two teams will be led by Kaila Jutras and Tess Houston, both of whom are experienced coaches from the Sask First program.

Forty of the province’s top players selected from the April tournament will be coached and nurtured by the staffs during the final phase of the 2025-26 Female U16 program. The chosen 2011/2012-born athletes will attend a Summer Camp in Regina from Aug. 1-2, 2026, followed by the Female U16 Showcase Tournament in Swift Current, Sask., from Sept. 3-6, 2026.

During the Showcase Tournament, the prospects will be divided into Team White and Team Green and will compete against each other as well as clubs from the Saskatchewan Female Under-18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL).

Hockey Saskatchewan congratulates those selected and wishes them all the best in the upcoming months.

For more information on Hockey Saskatchewan and the Sask First program, please visit www.hockeysask.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Female U16 Program – Team White

Coaching Staff

Kaila Jutras (Estevan, SK) has been promoted from last year’s bench and will serve as the Head Coach for Team Saskatchewan Female Under-16 (White). She served as Head Coach with the Under-13 AA Weyburn Gold Wings last season in the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League. Jutras attended Minot State University where she played in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).

Kelly Jardine (Regina, SK) return as an Assistant Coach for Team Saskatchewan Female U16 (White). In 2011, Jardine won a provincial championship with the Sask Tazers in the now-defunct Female Senior A division. That same season, the Tazers went on to earn silver at the 50th annual Western Canadian Shield Senior Women’s Hockey Championship.

Shelley MacDonald (Prince Albert, SK) will debut as an Assistant Coach for Team Saskatchewan Female U16 (White). She has been assistant coach for the Prince Albert Northern Bears in the SFU18AAAHL the last two seasons. MacDonald also coached at Sask First’s Female U18 Top 80 and Female Top 136 tournaments in the 2025-26 season.

Tracy Kondratiuk (Pilot Butte, SK) will debut as an Assistant Coach for Team Saskatchewan Female U16 (White). She was assistant coach for the Female Under-11 Prairie Storm Ice last season. Kondratiuk developed as a player through minor hockey in the Strasbourg Minor Hockey Association with the Maroons.

Female U16 Program – Team Green

Coaching Staff

Tess Houston (Saskatoon, SK) will return to serve as the Head Coach for Team Saskatchewan Female Under-16 (Green). She has been assistant coach for the Saskatoon Stars in the SFU18AAAHL the last two seasons. In addition, Houston been previously involved with Hockey Manitoba’s Program of Excellence.

Kianna Dietz (Hanley, SK) will return as an Assistant Coach for Team Saskatchewan Female U16 (Green). The Saskatoon Stars alumna was also an Assistant Coach for the SFU18AAAHL team in the 2025-26 season. She also played U-Sports women’s hockey with the University of Lethbridge.

Jessica Warren (Saskatoon, SK) will return to serve as an Assistant Coach for Team Saskatchewan Female Under-16 (Green). This will be her fifth straight season with the Sask First program at the Showcase Tournament. The Saskatoon Stars alumna was a Trainer for the SFU18AAAHL team in the 2025-26 season.

Team Saskatchewan Female U16 Program

Coach Mentor

Robin Ulrich (Saskatoon, SK) will return as the Coach Mentor for the Team Saskatchewan Female U16 Program. Ulrich spent last season as Assistant Coach for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey program. In addition, Ulrich has been heavily involved with the Sask First Female program for many years, including being the Head Coach of Team Saskatchewan at the Canada Winter Games and U18 Women’s National Championship.

About SASK FIRST

The Sask First program, introduced by Hockey Saskatchewan in 1988, has been a source of immense pride and achievement in our province. This high-performance initiative was crafted with the dual goal of enhancing the game's comprehension and nurturing the growth of exceptional players, coaches, trainers, officials, and administrators. It empowers participants, enriching them as individuals, fostering self-satisfaction, and enhancing their enjoyment within the hockey community.

About HOCKEY SASKATCHEWAN

Hockey Saskatchewan was established in 1912 and is the governing body for organized hockey in the province. With a mission to advance hockey through innovation, engagement and participation, Hockey Saskatchewan encourages competition at all levels – from recreational to high performance. Hockey Saskatchewan has grown through the years and is Saskatchewan’s largest sports organization with over 53,400 members comprised of players, coaches and officials. For more information, please visit www.hockeysask.ca or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.