New Horizon for Women in Hockey: Creating Coaches Program Welcomes New Participants
The exciting landscape of women’s hockey in Canada is set to expand further with the introduction of twelve new student-athletes into the Creating Coaches Program run by Hockey Canada and U Sports. This program, now in its fifth iteration, aims to cultivate coaching talent among U Sports women’s hockey players as they step into assistant coaching roles for U-13, U-15, and U-18 teams.
Commitment to Growth
Marin Hickox, vice-president of women’s and girls’ hockey for Hockey Canada, expressed enthusiasm about the program’s ongoing development, stating, “We are very excited to expand the Creating Coaches program to welcome even more incredible student-athletes from across U SPORTS this season, thanks to the generous financial support of the Hockey Canada Foundation.”
The previous season notably marked a historic milestone, achieving the highest number of women in coaching roles within Canadian hockey history. Hickox emphasized the vital role programs like Creating Coaches play in nurturing the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women and girls in hockey leadership positions.
Meet the New Cohort
Congratulations go out to the newly selected participants, whose journeys in coaching are anticipated with great interest. The new cohort includes:
- Grace Beer – Dalhousie University (AUS)
- Sarah Bestic – University of Waterloo (OUA)
- Anika Cormier – McGill University (RSEQ)
- Hayleigh Craig – University of Alberta (CW)
- Cailey Davis – Toronto Metropolitan University (OUA)
- Kara den Hoed – Wilfrid Laurier University (OUA)
- Alexa Giantsopoulos – York University (OUA)
- Payton Hargreaves – University of New Brunswick (AUS)
- Kaitlyn McKnight – University of Toronto (OUA)
- Angélique Proulx – University of Ottawa (OUA)
- Cassidy Rhodes – University of British Columbia (CW)
- Jordyn Verbeek – Concordia University (RSEQ)
Training and Support Opportunities
Participants in the Creating Coaches Program will benefit from various resources, including training, mentorship, education, and an honorarium, set to cover the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons. This comprehensive support is designed to ensure these aspiring coaches are well-equipped to contribute meaningfully to their teams and the broader hockey community.
As this program continues to foster leadership among women in sports, the focus remains clear: empowering the next generation of hockey coaches to break barriers and inspire future athletes.
