OAKVILLE, Ont. – Today, Tim Hortons announced its new partnership with Hockey Canada. The four-year partnership is a natural next step in Tim’s long-standing relationship with hockey in Canada. 

Alongside the partnership, Tim’s also announced the title sponsorship of Hockey Canada’s Initiation Program. The Tim Hortons Timbits Hockey Canada Initiation Program is the official entry level for hockey in Canada and Tim’s support is an ongoing demonstration of the company’s commitment to bringing communities together through a shared passion for Canada’s favourite sport. Tim’s will work with Hockey Canada to support its delivery of the Timbits Initiation Program developing young hockey players in a positive and fun environment in all corners of the country. With the new partnership, Tim Hortons will be supporting over 100,000 children in hockey across Canada.  

“This partnership speaks to our intrinsic connection with Canada’s game and the foundation of Tim Hortons, beginning with our founder who was an amazing talent in the restaurant and on the ice,”says Jorge Zaidan, head of marketing, Tim Hortons Canada. “The relationship with Hockey Canada demonstrates our continued love, passion and commitment to supporting hockey development for the youth at every level, in communities across Canada.”

The Timbits Initiation Program is a structured, learn-to-play hockey program designed to introduce young players to the game’s basic skills in an atmosphere of fun and fair play. It is the basis from which Canadians get their start in hockey by having fun, learning skills, and developing confidence.

“Much like Hockey Canada, Tim Hortons has built its brand around ‘community’ and it is community that is at the very heart of our game,” said Mike Ross, chief business development officer for Hockey Canada. “The Tim Hortons Timbits Hockey Canada Initiation Program is traditionally a child’s first experience in hockey, and we believe in ensuring that is a positive experience that fills young players with confidence and develops their skills so that they can enjoy hockey – regardless of what level they play at – as a life-long sport.”  

Developed more than 35 years ago, the Timbits Initiation Program is designed for players five and six years old, and it aims to create participants and instructors who will continue in the game by focusing on progressive skill-development and fun.

“A positive first experience on the ice is so important to growing a love for the sport. I know that’s something I’ve always believed in, having had my start as a Timbits hockey player,” says Sidney Crosby, a Timbits alumnus who has played for Team Canada seven times to-date. “The Tim Hortons Timbits Initiation Program makes sure kids learn basic skills while having a good time and can go on to playing hockey for years to come.”

The new partnership with Tim Hortons will also see the organization supporting Canada’s national teams, and as an international partner, Tim Hortons will work with Hockey Canada to enhance the fan and volunteer experience through promotions and product at national championships as well as at key international events such as the IIHF World Junior Championship and IIHF Women’s World Championship.

Every member of Canada’s National Women’s Team began their careers the same way: by playing at the grassroots of our game. Along the way, they had coaches that helped to shape their playing style and boost their love of hockey.

Here’s a look at two players, two coaches and two lasting impressions.

Kristen Campbell and Bill Brown

Bill Brown coached goaltender Kristen Campbell alongside his daughter through the Brandon Minor Hockey Association. Brown noticed Campbell’s talent early on and worked hard to grow the game in the province for her and other girls coming through the program.

Hockey Canada (HC): You started coaching Kristen at a very young age. What are some of your memories of her as a player back then?

Bill Brown (BB): I can remember when we did our draft, the fellow I was volunteering with, he said we have a girl and she wants to be goalie. It was perfect because we were [rotating through] everybody at the time. But Kristen, right from day one, she was a goalie and that's what she wanted to be. Being the old goalie that I was, I had someone in love with the sport who’s is in love with the position. The first thing I saw with Kristen, even at that very, very young age was just so much natural ability. It was things I was showing her about stance and gloves and how to hold your stick. It was like ‘Oh, she's already doing that.’ So, there’s just that natural ability.

HC: Is there anything that stood out to you about Kristen?

BB: When she was playing U18 and then she went to a prep school in Winnipeg, she initiated that change because she saw it as a way to make herself better. And then when [the University of North Dakota] folded [its women’s hockey program] and she was there, I remember messaging her at that time, ‘You'll keep going kid.’ Of course, she found a home [at the University of Wisconsin] and it turned out to be very, very good. But I think the one thing that I tried to pass on to my kids is if you want something, go get it. She's a shining example of wanting something and having the support in order to do it. All of us are so proud of her but she's done so much of it herself.

HC: Bill, what message would you give to Kristen?

BB: Enjoy the moment. Live in the moment, keep working hard and have fun because those moments, they're here and then they're gone. Enjoy the hard work you put in and where it's taken you and see how far it can take you now.

HC: Kristen, what message would you give to Bill?

Kristen Campbell: I would just thank him for everything he did for me when I was younger. I think he recognized potential in me from a young age, and he really pushed me to be better and knew that I wanted to get to the highest level possible.

Emma Maltais and Bradi Cochrane

After an injury during her NCAA hockey career, Bradi Cochrane transitioned into coaching to stay connected with the game. Cochrane helped the Oakville Hornets establish their high-performance program, where she coached forward Emma Maltais from U15 AA through to the Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).

HC: Can you talk about how you started coaching Emma?

Bradi Cochrane (BC): We were trying to develop this high-performance program with our U15, U18, and U22 programs and Emma was playing U13 boys at the time and we knew she'd be around the transition [age] to come over to girls. We got lucky enough to have her in our U15 program. I'm coaching [in the PWHL] at the time and she was so talented, she played 22 games with me as a U15. So right from a young age when we first got her to the Hornets program, she was [playing in the PWHL]. And then she was with me for three years.

HC: When you first began coaching Emma, what qualities stood out to you?

BC: There's a word that always jumps to my head when I think of Emma and it's the word relentless. She's just relentless in everything she does. I honestly can't tell you that she’s ever had a bad practice. You fight the puck and all that type of stuff, but her effort level and her intensity never changes. And I think that's a special piece; obviously it's special because she is where she is right now. But yeah, relentless. Her work ethic on and off the ice. She's a gym rat, she loves to be in the gym. She loves hard workouts. She's just so passionate about anything she does. I personally feel blessed that I had an opportunity to help her develop.

HC: Bradi, what message would you give to Emma?

BC: First and foremost, I'm just so proud of her. I'm proud of the person and player that she's become. But I see so much more for her in the future, too. I feel like her national team career is really, truly just beginning. If my little [son] can grow up to be like Emma, I'd be pretty happy.

HC: Emma, is there a message you would like to give Bradi?

Emma Maltais: She's incredible. I still talk to her all the time. She's such a good hockey brain, just always watching the game. She really taught me not only how to play the game, but how to think the game. And that's really helped me moving forward into college and into the national level. I think she saw something in me and pushed me to look farther into the game, and look farther into my own future, to believe in myself so I could make it one day.

Looking to get involved behind the bench in your community? Contact your local hockey association and visit HockeyCanada.ca/Coaching for more information.

There’s excitement buzzing around rinks from coast to coast to coast. Skates are freshly sharpened, sticks are newly taped and Canadians are celebrating the return of hockey.

After a season full of uncertainty last year, the return to a sense of normalcy is a welcomed sight for local hockey associations and Hockey Canada Skills Academies (HCSA).

“There’s tournament planning going on and exhibition games going on. Everybody’s just excited to get going,” says Trevor Hanley, a U18 AA coach from Martensville, Sask.

All the programs in Dave Tressor’s school board in Kenora, Ont., were not able to run last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the return of our game, the program at Beaver Brae Secondary School is set to be reinstated in February.

“We’re so excited to have an opportunity to get the academy back and get the students going again,” says Tressor, who is the vice-principal at Beaver Brae.

In Athabasca, Alta., 2020 was supposed to be the inaugural year of its HCSA at Edwin Parr Composite School. The anticipation has grown over the extended start date, but the wait has paid off for the Grade 8 and Grade 9 students.

“Anytime somebody talks to me about hockey academy, I get the stupidest grin on my face because I’m just so excited,” says assistant principal Brenna Liddell. “I’m like a kid on Christmas Day, it’s so exciting. Our kids are having a great time and our parents are really adjusting well.

“I spent two weeks before November break meeting with each of our kids that are in it. We talk about academics, we talk about attendance and then I say, ‘Hey, tell me how hockey academy is going,’ and every single kid smiles and says it is the best thing in the world.”

For Porter Creek Secondary School in Whitehorse, Y.T., it was able to run its HCSA last year, but it focused mainly on skill development due to the restrictions from COVID-19 safety guidelines.

“I think [the students] are excited about the fact that they can do more gameplay [this season],” says Amy Vermeulen, the lead instructor at Porter Creek.

The program at Porter Creek runs in the second semester of the school year, but the buzz about the return of a more normal hockey program is already affecting the students.

“I see a few of them all the time in the halls,” Vermeulen says. “They talk about how excited they are to just get the semester over so they can start the hockey program.”

Local hockey associations across the country are also looking forward to getting back to a sense of normalcy. In Prince Edward Island, teams are back on the ice, but the main difference this season is the amount of time teams are allowed at the rink before practices or games.

Blaine Fitzpatrick, a Charlottetown Minor Hockey coach for the U15 AAA female team, knows the socialization before hitting the ice is beneficial for his team.

“They just wanted to get back to the way it was, be able to hang out, have some fun and chit-chat beforehand. We’re getting closer to that, we’re allowed in 30 minutes before now on a consistent basis, so that gives them that fun time at the rink,” Fitzpatrick says. “The excitement level is much higher because of the opportunity to potentially have a normal season as it was before COVID.”

One thing players in Yellowknife, N.W.T., are looking forward to is the return of tournaments.

“We generally get to play against the other smaller communities,” says U7 assistant coach Patricia Parker. “They come here, we go there and then we get to see a little bit of the town, they get to go to the swimming pools, and that’s the one thing they’re really missing right now.”

Hanley says everyone is back on the ice in his association, with U7 through to U11 teams practicing while U13, U15 and U18 teams have already started league play or are gearing up to begin. Last year, Saskatchewan teams were able to practice throughout the season, but they were limited to eight players on the ice at one time.

“It stretched a lot of guys to be creative and keep it innovative and exciting for the kids, so they’re excited to get back to full teams, working with everybody at once and certainly having the opportunity to coach in games,” Hanley says.

Creativity and adaption have certainly flourished over the past 18 months. With locker room restrictions in Yellowknife, Parker had to adapt to helping her young players get ready.

“They came fully dressed, but we had to tie their skates, untie them and bring them back to the parents,” she says. “We actually got to bond with them more because you got to talk to each kid as you were tying their skates and get to hear what they did on the weekend, or they would tell you what they had for dinner.”

Inspired by the NFL, Fitzpatrick created a playbook with all the team’s basic coverage systems last season so each player on his team can review it whenever they please.

“We don’t have as much time at the rink to go over lines with the group, so [each player] has that in a booklet at home,” he says. “They can spend their own time getting familiarized with that aspect of the game.”

Despite the uncertainties and challenges the pandemic brought, communities from coast to coast to coast are looking forward to using hockey to promote an active lifestyle.

“Mental health was a real concern, and I think this concern was not only throughout the province, but throughout the country,” Tressor says. “The hockey academy program provides a great avenue for students to exercise and get back and socialize again.”

Now that Our Game is Back, everyone is ready to get back to playing the game they love.

“It’s nice to see that they’re going to hopefully have a normal rest of their minor hockey careers and be able to enjoy their time at the rink with their friends,” Fitzpatrick says. “They’re going to work hard and develop, and you never know, maybe give themselves some opportunities down the road. I’m really excited for the kids.”

Every member of Canada’s National Women’s Team began their career the same way: by playing at the grassroots of our game. Along the way, they had coaches who helped to shape their playing style and boost their love of hockey.

Here’s a look at two players, two coaches and two lasting impressions.

Sarah Nurse and Stacey Marnoch

Stacey Marnoch coached Sarah Nurse in the latter part of her minor hockey career. She was head coach while Nurse played two years with the Stoney Creek Sabres (Intermediate AA), and the two have continued to stay in touch along Nurse’s hockey journey.

Hockey Canada (HC): How did you get into coaching?

Stacey Marnoch (SM): I played for a coach that asked us to give back. He was kind of my most impactful coach, so that was important to me. Back in the day, it was parents that were coaching and there were no certifications necessary, so I didn’t know where to start. I contacted the [Ontario Women’s Hockey Association], they put me in touch with Diane Boles who, at the time, was coaching the Stoney Creek Intermediate AA Sabres, and I joined her staff. I was an assistant coach for four years and then took the team over.

HC: Do any memories stand out from coaching Sarah?

SM: There’s a bunch of them… We were out for dinner as a team and my general rule was no fried foods, no dessert. And she convinced me to let them order dessert and everyone would share it, so they’d each have half. When this dessert was coming to the table, to me it just looked like they had all ordered dessert and it just kept coming and I was angry… She was just like ‘Coach, can I talk to you for a second?’ And we stepped aside and she’s like, ‘Listen, I wasn’t cheating, I wasn’t lying. This is a big dessert […] Coach, just breathe because I followed instructions, no worries here.’ She coached me for a minute. I needed it and they needed it. It was wise beyond her years for sure.

HC: Stacey, what message would you give to Sarah?

SM: Just keep being her. I think she really has it figured out. She knows who she is. She’s confident, she’s well spoken. She is aware of her platform and how she chooses to use it. Just keep being you because she is genuinely her in every situation I see her in. And that’s all we can be, right?

HC: Sarah, what message would you give to Stacey?

Sarah Nurse: Stacey, thank you so much. You know how much of an impact you’ve had on me and my hockey career, and also my family as well. I definitely wouldn’t be the player, the person that I am today without you. And I know that you continue to inspire future generations of young girls and your journey is not over. It’s still continuing. And I’m so grateful that you’ve had such an impact on me. Thank you.

Emerance Maschmeyer and Erick Robertson

Erick Robertson began his coaching journey after growing up playing hockey. He began working with Emerance Maschmeyer in her earliest years as a goaltender, and they continue to work together.

HC: Erick, how did you and Emerance start working together?

Erick Robertson (ER): I first met Emerance when she was six or seven years old… I met her through her dad, Arlan, who at the time wanted her to make Team Brick Alberta, the big [U9] tournament out here. So of course, Emerance worked hard and made that tournament. I’ve been coaching Emerance ever since. Not too many 10-year-olds say that they want to go to Harvard, but that was one of her goals when she was 10 years old. Of course, later on, that’s where she ended up going and playing hockey on a scholarship.

HC: When you first began coaching Emerance, what qualities stood out to you?

ER: Em was really special from the beginning… I think there was some pretty strong family values there too with all her siblings playing hockey. Of course, I think that’s how she ended up becoming the goalie she is, for sure. But right from day one, she had that drive and that work ethic and always played at a top level, not only with the girls, but [she was also] able to compete with the boys all the way growing up through minor hockey. That competitor was in her right from day one.

HC: Erick, what message would you give to Emerance?

ER: We’re so very proud of her. Just all the hard work that she’s put into her game. I’m blown away every summer that I do see her, just her improvement and especially lately leading up to the worlds, then obviously now the Olympics, [it’s] that determination and drive that she [has] to succeed. She’s willing to do anything to get there.

HC: Emerance, what message would you give to Erick?

Emerance Maschmeyer: I would say that this gold medal that I received [from the IIHF Women’s World Championship in August], part of it is for him and I wouldn’t have it without him. I know that I wouldn’t be at the level I’m at right now in my game if I didn’t ever cross paths with him. I have a lot to thank him for. He’s great.

Looking to get involved behind the bench in your community? Contact your local hockey association and visit HockeyCanada.ca/coaching for more information.

Soon after the Cincinnati Cyclones’ head coach position became vacant ahead of the 2021-22 season, Jason Payne found himself sitting in the office of general manager Kristin Ropp.

Payne, a Toronto native, had spent three years with the Cyclones after joining the ECHL organization as an assistant coach prior to the 2018-19 season.

“I said, ‘Do you think you’re ready?’” Ropp recalls. “And he said, ‘Of course, yes.’”

After years of working with the 45-year-old coach, Ropp knew there was no need to interview anyone else for the position. In her mind, making Payne the organization’s sixth head coach was a “no brainer.”

“He was excited,” she says. “He did say, ‘I think you should know that this might get national attention.’ And I said, ‘Oh, okay.’ I didn’t really think about it.”

That’s because when Payne was officially named head coach on Aug. 31, he became the only active Black head coach in North American professional hockey. He is only the sixth BIPOC head coach in pro hockey history.

“It’s humbling,” Payne says. “It’s an honour, for sure.”

The road to becoming the head coach of a pro team has certainly not been easy for Payne. When he started playing, he was initially a goaltender before becoming a skater. His played minor hockey with the Toronto Devils, Hillcrest Summits, Wexford Raiders and Mississauga Senators.

“As a young hockey player, my mother didn’t have a vehicle,” Payne says. “Her and I used to take the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) to games and to try-outs.”

When he reached junior hockey, he bounced around between teams and leagues to try to find an organization that clicked with him.

“I wanted to do everything I could to make it, so playing with the [St. Michael’s] Buzzers to going out west to the [Western Hockey League], to going to the [Quebec Major Junior Hockey League] and finally landing back in the [Ontario Hockey League] with the London Knights and Barrie Colts, and then making the jump from there into pro hockey.”

Payne spent 14 years in the pro game, including time with multiple teams in the ECHL and AHL. While playing pro, he took an interest in coaching and even began his own coaching company. He finished his playing career in 2008-09, splitting the season between the ECHL’s Reading Royals and Wheeling Nailers before moving into coaching full-time.

“I fought every night, and I battled every night,” he says. “I've done the same thing [with coaching]. I've worked hard every day, wanting opportunities... It’s a lengthy process sometimes and it takes time. But I was persistent, and I continued to work at it.”

Early in his coaching career, Payne went back to minor hockey to coach the next generation. He wanted to understand the mindset of young players coming up in the game and how his coaching should evolve to best communicate with his teams. One of his most memorable coaching experiences was with the 2002 age group of his former team, the Mississauga Senators in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, because he had the opportunity to coach the same group of players for multiple years.

“I'd like to think that I had an influence and impact some way, somehow in their lives. And that was my ultimate goal,” he says, adding that he still speaks with those players and checks in on them periodically. “My goal is not just to make them better players, but to make them better people.”

Happy Birthday Coach, it's going to be a good year! @JasonPayne67 pic.twitter.com/RevjZAHm7T

— Cincinnati Cyclones (@CincyCyclones) September 21, 2021

For Ropp, Payne’s communication skills, relatability and people-style of coaching were all attributing factors for why she was very confident with his promotion. With his wealth of experience, she knew he was more than capable to make the transition to head coach.

“It’s one of those situations where you stop and think, ‘Well, why was he never given this opportunity before?’ It seems crazy,” she says. “You don’t want to think that his race had anything to do with it.”

Ropp, who is the only woman actively serving as general manager in the ECHL, AHL or NHL, has looked to hire qualified individuals that match the Cyclones’ family-focused office culture. Those standards were no different when she hired Payne.

“It’s almost kind of sad that in 2021, it’s such a big deal. But I’m thrilled to be able to give him the opportunity, our organization is thrilled,” she says. “At the end of the day, the man earned his spot as our head coach. He has grinded it out for decades in every level of hockey and a ton of years in pro hockey.”

“They've allowed me to coach this team because they know that I've worked for it and I deserve it,” Payne says. “It has nothing to do with I'm a coach of colour. You know, that's just the way the cards have played out.

“They hired me here because they think I'm the best person for the job.”

Although he faced adversity along his journey, Payne’s perseverance has paid off. There has only been one Black head coach in NHL history – Dirk Graham coached the Chicago Blackhawks for 59 games during the 1998-99 season – but Payne aspires to join him at the next level of coaching one day.

In the meantime, he’s excited to be behind the bench with Cincinnati in his new role for the 2021-22 season, hopefully leading his team to a Kelly Cup championship.

“Just seeing it all come to fruition as it has, I'm grateful. I'm thankful,” he says. “And I'm going to continue to work as hard as I've been, if not harder.”

As defensive partners growing up, Piper Hays and Hayley Palmer have great chemistry on the ice. That chemistry jumped to a new level when the two 18-year-olds began their coaching journeys five years ago.

After becoming friends as teammates, they decided to become on-ice assistants with the Vancouver Female Ice Hockey Association (VFIHA) when they were just 13. Since then, they have continuously played on the ice together and coached younger girls with the Vancouver Angels.

“I always liked working with children,” Palmer says. “I just thought it would be nice to have younger coaches and female coaches, especially for a group of young girls.”

“It’s just nice to give back,” Hays says. “I think [the girls] get an extra kick out of seeing someone who’s older and still playing doing the same thing that they’re doing. They get to kind of see what they can achieve.”

Both Hays and Palmer had few women as coaches in their hockey careers until they reached the Vancouver Angels U18 team. Although they had positive experiences with men coaching them growing up, they found having a woman behind the bench fostered an even stronger relationship.

“The dynamic is just very different. It’s a lot more comfortable, a lot more open,” Hays explains. “I think it’s easier to take criticisms from people who understand where you’ve come from.”

The growth of women in coaching roles is an important mandate for the VFIHA. When James Nedila became president of the association in 2014, he says there were very few women coaching.

“They were like unicorns, we just couldn’t find them,” Nedila says. “It was a big gap in our coaching where we are a female hockey association but the vast majority of [our coaches] were male.”

The association launched several initiatives to increase the number of women coaching, including mentorships and support for unexperienced coaches and encouraging graduating players to return to the game to coach. Their efforts paid off, and Nedila says people now routinely reach out their association to coach and volunteer.

The hockey community has also flourished with more women actively involved in hockey.

“The culture that we built in this association has definitely improved because of representation,” Nedila says. “It feels like a more inclusive place, it feels like a place where people can help out and see the impact of their efforts immediately.”

After two years as on-ice assistants, Hays and Palmer took a coaching course to become assistant coaches. Although they were the youngest and only girls in the room back then, they have both noticed an influx of women getting involved in hockey as coaches and volunteers.

“I think it’s just very important that more and more girls play, more and more people coach, because there’s so many people that you want to have represented,” Palmer says.

“The way things are going, it’s been pretty exponential growth,” Hays says. “I’m hoping for at least 50% female coaches [in hockey in the future], which I know seems like a pretty big, drastic number. But there’s a lot of untapped potential right now, and I think once we get this steam train going, I don’t think it’s going to stop for a while.”

The increase of women has also had a large impact on the young players, too.

“I have had girls tell me they want to coach when they’re older,” Palmer says. “It’s great because I think they definitely see it as more of a possibility when they see like me or Piper versus if they see like their dads or their parents coaching.”

The feedback from parents about Hays’ and Palmer’s coaching has been overwhelming positive from parents.

“Their attitude is infectious. It has an effect on everybody around them,” Nedila says. “It’s good to see that feedback reflected back at them to say you know what, you guys are really doing a great job.”

A new chapter in their coaching journeys began this fall with Hays and Palmer beginning university. Hays left Vancouver to attend the University of Toronto, but she already has started building connections in Ontario to continue coaching.

“It’s an interesting transition,” she says. “I think bringing that sort of experience into a new team is going to be pretty important just because I want to provide that sort of energy and stability that I had with my previous team. I know that a lot of places still don’t have that many female coaches, so I’m hoping I can be someone that [the players] can come to if they ever need anyone.”

With Palmer attending the University of British Columbia, she has continued coaching and playing with the Vancouver Angels, although this will be the first season without Hays by her side. She says several of the players she coached were overcome with joy when they saw her back at the rink to start the season.

“It really makes me feel like what I’m doing does affect other people and it does affect the girls that I’m helping,” Palmer says. “Having them remember me and having positive memories about me is really, really nice.”

The distance may have changed, but the friendship between Hays and Palmer remains just as close. Despite being in different provinces now, coaching is a special connection they will share for life.

“The entire time I’ve been coaching, my best friend and ‘D’ partner has been there the whole time,” Hays says. “And to be honest, without her I never would have gotten here.”

“We got to have the coaching bond, we got to have the hockey bond, the defence partner bond,” Palmer says. “I think coaching together really made our friendship even stronger.”

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Hockey Canada is a leader in the game, and the organization is stepping up by providing opportunities for more women to get involved.

Through initiatives like Pond to Podium , We Are Coaches and the Women Master Coach Developer program, Hockey Canada is putting a focus on coach certification and getting more women behind the bench.

“If we want the game to grow, we need women involved. If we want the game to continue to be welcoming and have a positive environment, we need women,” says Teal Gove, manager of hockey development with Hockey Canada. “Having women as coaches increases the likelihood that girls will continue to play and then also get involved in leadership positions, which just makes the game better at all levels.”

That’s where a program like We Are Coaches is important. It was designed to increase the number of women coaching across the country. The clinics – taught by women, for women – help build infrastructure to support and sustain women's participation in hockey by removing barriers to coaching education.

“Sometimes it's pretty intimidating going into a room full of male coaches to get coaching certification, and many [women] may hesitate because of that,” says Gina Kingsbury, director of women’s national teams. “So, we have to make sure we break down those barriers, make it as accessible as possible, and, not only to grow our female presence and provide growth to ensure that we have large numbers, but also, there's a lot of knowledge in these female leaders.”

The women leading the We Are Coaches clinics are products of the Women Master Coach Developer program, which was launched in 2019. Delegates are selected for the program, and they must complete online modules and in-person sessions, as well as collaborate with their Member to deliver a We Are Coaches program in their province or territory in order to receive their certification.

“You can’t be what you can’t see. If women don’t see other women coaching, they’re not going to coach,” says Gove. “It is important that girls have role models that they can drive to be, and seeing women in leadership positions is key to that.”

Over the next year, with financial support from the Hockey Canada Foundation, more than 40 We Are Coaches clinics will be held across Canada, bringing hundreds of future coaches into the game.

That list includes a number of university players; every single student-athlete competing in women’s hockey across U SPORTS was offered NCCP Coach 1 and Coach 2 training through We Are Coaches.

“When Hockey Canada offered the opportunity, it was huge for our players,” says Caroline Ouellette, a four-time Olympic gold medallist and member of the coaching staff at Concordia University, which had 18 current players and eight alumna register. “Many saw the value of getting their coaching certification. We know that many of them will become the coaches of tomorrow.”

The program isn’t just about developing the tactical skills needed to coach. It’s far more than that. The women also learn about leadership skills.

“Coaching is a collaboration, and you want to work closely with the players and get involved in how they are doing and feeling,” Ouellette says. “[The We Are Coaches participants] realize that there is so much to cover in coaching; you never take decisions that are personal towards a player, you do what will help the team perform the best, and I think they realize it is harder than it looks.”

In her role as the head of the women’s program at Hockey Canada, Kingsbury has seen the benefits of these programs firsthand. The more women at the highest levels that go through the training, the better the chances they stay in the game.

“From a national team perspective, it provides a lot of opportunity for our athletes in their transition. A lot of them are taking these courses, or they're taking these opportunities to enhance their second career,” she says. “They're already thinking ahead of when they are done playing; they still want to be a part of this game and want to be a part of growing this game. These programs are allowing our athletes and staff to be able to continue to grow and think of the possibility of transitioning into the game in a different role, which I think it's huge.”

Inspiring future generations comes by showing young girls that they can see themselves in their role models, on and off the ice. As the push for a sustainable professional league is led by some of the best women in the game, Hockey Canada is leading the way in developing leaders behind the bench.

“Hockey Canada is world-leading in the game of hockey and certainly world-leading in the game of women’s hockey. Not only are we part of the movement, but we are now leading that movement,” says Kingsbury. “I think Hockey Canada sees that, values that and certainly demonstrates that with our initiatives and our focus through these programs. Our overall goal is to get women into those [leadership] roles.”

While Canada’s National Women’s Team got on the ice for the first time at training camp last month, more than 6,100 people involved in hockey – players, coaches and parents – participated in the Pond to Podium Development Series.

Participants at all levels of the game connected directly with national team athletes and staff through 16 webinars that included skills sessions, holistic hockey training sessions, panel discussions and We Are Coaches clinics led by Hockey Canada women master coach developers.

“The participation of girls and women at all levels of hockey elevates our game and creates a thriving sport system,” says Teal Gove, manager of hockey development with Hockey Canada. “We hope the Pond to Podium Development Series encouraged all participants, in whatever their role, to strive for their personal podium so they can continue to gain all of the benefits hockey has to offer along the way.”

What did the participants take away from Pond to Podium? Check out a few testimonials.

“I was excited to attend the Core Values of Leadership session that was run by Gina Kingsbury. There were two areas that I felt made me better understand how I can become a better leader for my teammates. First and foremost, I learned it is important to be myself and not change who I am. Although I have the honour of wearing a letter on my jersey, I do not have to be serious all the time. I learned that it is important to have a balance with having fun with my teammates, connecting with them and being serious when I need to be. Secondly, I learned it is important to learn who my teammates are personally, to understand who they are on and off the ice. As a leader, it is important to create friendship and trust with your teammates, to ensure they feel comfortable talking to me. The session has given me a different perspective of what leadership is and how I can apply what I have learned to be a better leader, a better athlete and a better student.”

-- Ava Irwin, player (Burlington Girls Hockey Club)

“In the never-ending pursuit of being their best, highly-motivated coaches (from house league to national teams) seek information, advice and feedback. Ideally, you want to get those things from people with outstanding credentials and the right values. Hockey Canada’s Pond to Podium Development Series brought the best in girls and women’s hockey to our computer/phone screen. From Tara Watchorn’s A, B, Cs of playing defence to Howie Draper’s four Fs (fun, fast, fight, family) to Kori Cheverie and Vicky Sunohara addressing the importance of making the game enjoyable for their players, Pond to Podium is informative, insightful and interactive.”

-- Steve McAllister, coach (Kincardine Minor Hockey Association)

“As a parent of a young girl, it was inspirational to hear what leaders at the highest levels, such as Gina Kingsbury and Teal Gove, believe in. Having not been on the ice with her teammates during the pandemic, these webinars reinvigorated my daughter's passion for hockey and reminded her why she loves the game. The advice she received from two tremendous role models advanced her knowledge of the game, which will in turn motivate her and her team when they return to the ice.”

-- Melina Ducharme, parent (Burlington Girls Hockey Club)

“Watching the Pond to Podium sessions became a family affair! My U18 daughter (a defenceman), my U15 son (a goaltender) and I all thoroughly enjoyed the webinars. They were well-organized with very knowledgeable presenters who covered a wide range of useful teaching points and concepts that can be easily incorporated into practices or into a player’s regimen. I especially enjoyed Tara Watchorn’s concept of communicating the purpose of drills so players understand why and can more readily internalize the lesson (Developing Defence); Jessica Campbell’s philosophy of continuous development of skating skills being essential for all players to get a leg up in the game (Specialized Skating Skills); Gord Woodhall’s identification of the foundation of stance in everything a goalie does (Goaltending); and Paula McQuaid’s assertion that confidence and mental toughness are learned skills that can be improved through understanding what one can control, reframing situations positively and managing one’s emotions (Mental Training). A wealth of great ideas and lessons for players and coaches to take their game to the next level!”

-- Jeff Partrick, coach (Gloucester-Cumberland Girls Hockey Association)

“I thoroughly enjoyed the We Are Coaches programming during the Pond to Podium series. I have taken coach courses in the past, but this was my first experience in an all-women coaching program geared toward coaching women. I took so much more away from this than I have in previous courses. It made me think about things that I hadn’t thought of, and the group dynamic created an atmosphere that allowed for collaboration between coaches across our country. It was motivating, inspiring and what I think is needed to get more women involved in coaching and, ultimately, to continue to grow the women’s game. Thank you so much for this opportunity!”

-- Kristy Provost, coach (Nampa Minor Hockey Association)

“The broad scope and variety of the Pond to Podium topics was impressive. Athletes, coaches and parents could all learn from the various sessions. For our athletes to hear from women at the highest levels speaking openly and honestly about their experience, the ups and downs they have gone through, was very impactful. I love that the focus for the players was off the ice (mental, leadership and off-ice workouts) and all were topics within their control to take ownership of and work on to improve. The sessions were inspiring to those of us who love the game, who are proud to be a part of Hockey Canada and who are driven to keep getting better.”

-- Ryan Essex, coach (Central York Girls Hockey Association)

Would you like to be kept in the know regarding the next Pond to Podium Development Series? Register below to receive more information as it becomes available.

Like so many other great ideas in 2020, the genesis of the Women in Sport Speaker Series came from finding ways to pass the time at home during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While some Canadians binge-watched their favourite shows or read a good book, Amy de Bree set about to use her newfound free time in a more fulfilling way.

“I spent a lot of time watching webinar series and just really trying to find a way to use the time to better myself, both as an individual and as a leader and as a coach,” she says. “And what I noticed was that as I watched all of these webinars, the female voices were really missing.

“I knew that there were some amazing women doing some great things in coaching and in really all aspects of sport from the research side to the business side. And so I wanted to give an opportunity for these women to actually have a voice.”

De Bree is herself one of those amazing women doing some great things in coaching. In addition to her teaching position at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in Vancouver, she is video coordinator for the women’s hockey team at the University of British Columbia, and coaches in the Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey Association and Vancouver Female Ice Hockey Association.

Add in her time with the B.C. Hockey provincial program, which has included roles as assistant coach at the 2019 National Women’s Under-18 Championship and as head coach at the 2017 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, along with a handful of provincial camps, and de Bree spends an awful lot of time behind the bench.

“I truly enjoy the game,” she says of why she coaches. “I enjoy approaching the game from different ways. But even more than that, I really just enjoy working with kids. I enjoy helping them reach their potential, whatever that avenue may be. As a teacher, I get to do that every day. And as a coach, we get a different angle to that.”

With her passion and her experience, it was little surprise – except to de Bree herself, who says she was shocked to get a call from Team Canada legend Cassie Campbell-Pascall – that she was selected as the B.C. winner of the BFL Female Coach of the Year Award in the high performance category.

While the national recognition was great, it was the $1,000 monetary prize that pushed de Bree to make her seminar idea a reality and move on to the next step – putting together a list of speakers.

She went to work reaching out to her contacts in the sports world, working connections in some cases and just relying on blind ambition in others.

“A lot of vulnerability, and just sending out emails to women and saying, ‘Hey, this is what we're doing. This is why we're doing it. We would love if you would participate.’ It was just a great experience of women helping women and bringing together some amazing voices.”

In the end, de Bree gathered 18 women across 10 different presentations for the Women in Sport Speaker Series, which ran virtually from July 20-24. The line-up included a Q&A with National Women’s Team alumna Vicky Sunohara, and sessions on being a Black female coach, consent culture, the advancement of women in coaching and loving your body as a female athlete, among others.

All of the Women in Sport Speaker Series seminars are available on the official website. 

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the push has already begun towards the 2021 series.

“It was fantastic to hear from the other women who tuned in and watched, and even the different men,” de Bree says. “One of our top referees in the area, he watched all of the talks and it was fantastic to see the different people engaging and kind of thinking through topics and just expanding their way of thinking.”

De Bree is working closely with Shiayli Toni, a fifth-year forward on the UBC women’s team who led the Championing Consent Culture webinar, to push forward and keep the conversation going.

A call went out in late August through social media, and nominations are being accepted for women who are making a difference in sports. Every month, one deserving woman will be celebrated on Twitter and Instagram.

For de Bree, the return of autumn means a return to the rink, albeit in a new-look hockey world thanks to the pandemic. While she navigates her way through another season behind the bench, she has a little bit of advice for girls and women who want to follow her path.

“One of the biggest hurdles that women have in getting into coaching is the time commitment. It can be really tough. And as women, when we come out of college or we come out of the end of our [playing] careers, we're still trying to financially set ourselves up. So find a role where you can start to get your feet wet and then build out that commitment. As soon as you make your name for yourself, you start to be able to find those roles where you do get financially compensated, so it makes it a lot easier to balance the work and life, and still be able to coach and give back to the game.”