CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Thursday that a change has been made to Canada’s National Women’s Team coaching staff.

Dan Church has resigned as head coach for personal reasons. As a head coach, Church led Canada’s National Women’s Team to a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship and silver medal at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship.

Hockey Canada chief operating officer Scott Smith, along with general manager of female national teams Melody Davidson, also announced that assistant coaches Danielle Goyette and Lisa Haley will be interim co-coaches for the immediate future.

“Hockey Canada would like to thank Dan for his great work with Canada’s National Women’s Program not only this year, but over a number of years,” said Smith. “I would like to wish him well in his future endeavours.”

“We understand that this was a very difficult decision for Dan,” said Davidson. “We are certainly very appreciative that he came to this conclusion with the best interests of the team in mind.”

“I would like to thank Hockey Canada for the opportunity to reach my goal of coaching and winning gold at the international level,” said Church. “I wish the players and staff all the best going forward. I have understood from the beginning of this process that winning gold in Sochi was this team’s only focus. I believe that stepping aside for personal reasons at this time will help the team achieve its goal.”

For more information on Hockey Canada, Canada’s National Women’s Team and other hockey programs, visit www.hockeycanada.ca, and follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_women.