During my first session with every team I work with, I ask players to tell me how important mental skills are to their performance in comparison to their physical skills. Without hesitation, they will shout out “50/50,” “60/40,” “70/30,” or even “80/20.”

The next question I ask is if they spend as much time working on mental skills as they do physical skills, and the answer is always “no.” That’s because most players think mental skills practice has to occur at its own designated time, exclusive from physical practice. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

As coaches and parents, we are uniquely positioned to help young athletes practice mental performance skills during every drill, game, whistle break and car ride home. Our knowledge of mental performance skills does not have to be high to effectively do this. As Samuel Johnson once said, “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.”

What should you be reminding your young athletes about? Here are three simple ideas to help foster a growth mindset and a resilient attitude.

Self-talk

Hockey is a game of mistakes and, by default, our brains are negative. Young athletes regularly revert to negative self-talk when they make mistakes without understanding the consequences. Sometimes it’s simply a public display of self-berating to show their coach and teammates they aren’t happy with their poor performance, and other times it is simply frustration rising to the surface.

We can’t ask athletes to lie to themselves and say, “It’s ok, you will succeed,” or “Don’t worry, next shift will be better,” because it may not be, and failure may occur no matter what. But talking negatively to themselves has a similar effect on their physiology to when a coach or teammate is berating them.

What we can ask them to repeat to themselves are constructive phrases that focus on attributes that are not attached to their physical skills. They can say, “You’re a warrior, you will compete not matter what,” “You’re a battler, you won’t stay down for long,” or “You’re a problem solver, you’ll keep working figure this out.” These qualities will soon become what the athlete identifies themself by, and unlike heavy legs or rusty hands, they can’t be stripped away from them on a bad day.

Focusing techniques

I once heard LeBron James say, “I don’t rest on the bench, I recover.” Ever since then, I have talked to athletes about turning their rest intervals between shifts in a game, or even between drill repetitions at practice, into a recovery interval. During that time, I ask them to revert to a brief breathing routine that allows them to mentally reset.

The neuroscientist Andrew Huberman has described using multiple physiological sighs (inhale, followed by another inhale, followed by a long exhale) in succession to improve mental recovery. I ask athletes to practice a few repetitions of a technique like this before thinking about anything else after a shift/drill. Once the brain is settled, they can resume visualizing what they need to do next to be successful.

Deliberate practice

Failure is essential to improvement, and overcoming failure helps athletes become resilient people with a growth mindset. Deliberate practice, also known as deep practice, is the purposeful execution of a skill. It is not the perfect execution of a skill. It is the opposite of “auto-pilot.”

Athletes frequently need to be reminded that pushing themselves to fail, and then using the feedback they get from that failure to minimize it next time, is the best thing they can do for their development. When an athlete is going through the motions, nothing is being imprinted on their brain.

According to author Mathew Syed, when athletes push themselves beyond their limits and force themselves to “jumble” a task, that microsecond of struggle is where improvement takes place. A practice without failure is likely a practice without improvement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A certified member of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA), Lucas Madill has worked as a mental performance consultant with teams throughout the Program of Excellence since 2017, including with Canada’s gold medal-winning National Junior Team in 2023. A native of Kirkland, Quebec, Lucas holds a master’s degree in sport psychology from the University of New Brunswick, along with bachelor’s degrees from UNB (education) and McGill University (kinesiology). He played university hockey at McGill and UNB, earning academic-all Canadian honours at both schools.

7 COACHING PRINCIPLES: Skating | Puck Control | Vision & Scanning | Deception | Creative & Dynamic | Angling | Goaltending

Angling is a critical defensive technique in hockey that involves positioning yourself to force an opponent into a less advantageous area of the ice, typically towards the boards or away from the net. This tactic helps limit the opponent’s options, slow down their speed, create opportunities to regain control of the puck and stop their advance.

Limiting Opponent Options

By effectively using angling, a player can reduce the space and time an opponent has to make a play. Forcing the opponent into a confined area of the ice not only disrupts their momentum, but also limits their passing and shooting options. This technique is a key defensive strategy for preventing scoring chances and containing offensive players.

Anticipation & Body Positioning

Successful angling requires anticipation, strong body positioning and stick control. By reading the opponent’s movements and positioning your body properly, a player can control the direction of the play without committing a penalty. The ability to angle well allows players to remain disciplined while still applying pressure and disrupting the opponent’s flow.

Practicing Angling Skills

Incorporating angling drills into practice is essential for mastering this skill. While it’s difficult to replicate the exact game situations players will face, regular practice and repetition are key to becoming proficient. Each angling scenario varies in terms of pace, ice position and the size of the opposing players. Practicing under different conditions helps players to adapt and improve.

Crucial for All Players

Angling is an important skill for both defence and forwards. By mastering angling, players can become more effective in shutting down opponents and regaining puck possession for their team.

Here are three drills that can be used at all ages to teach angling:

Drill #1 – 1-Up/1-Down – Gap Angling Drill

• Spilt players into four groups using each corner of the ice. Alternate sides.
• Coach starts the play with “GO.”
• The defensive player must touch goal line, and the forward with puck must touch the blue line.
• The defensive player’s goal is to clear puck or skate the puck past the ringette line if they steal it.
• The forward’s goal is to try to score—one shot/one rebound is allowed per pair.

Drill #2 – Puck Steal Angling Warm-up

• Line up players at centre ice.
• Coach in the corner with pucks.
• The first player in line (Player 1) skates in and takes a shot on net.
• Player 1 then proceeds to the corner to retrieve a new puck.
• Player 2 follows Player 1 in for their shot, then steers the player up the boards.
• Ensure Player 2 executes good stick-on puck and hips-to-glove technique to separate the puck from Player 1.
• Player 2 goes in for a shot on net.
• Player 3 follows Player 2 in to repeat the drill.

Drill #3 – Checking Skills – Forecheck Progression

• Defender 1 and Forward 1 head out to the pylon together.
• Forward 1 dumps the puck in on Defender 1.
• Forward 1 attempts to steer Defender 1 out of the play.
• A second forward can join the forecheck and support Forward 1.
• Forward 1 and Forward 2 take puck to the net after a change of possession.

The Hockey Canada Network gives coaches and players the tools to succeed with drills, skills, videos, practice plans and articles on their tablet or phone. There are over 1,500 drills and more than 100 lesson plans available.

Looking for more skills and drills? Hockey Canada frequently posts skill videos on its social channels that can be incorporated into practice plans. Search the #HCSkillsCoach and #HCGoalieCoach on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to find more drill videos to utilize on the ice.

7 COACHING PRINCIPLES: Skating | Puck Control | Vision & Scanning | Deception | Creative & Dynamic | Angling | Goaltending

A creative and dynamic player in today’s game is one that plays with pace, is deceptive and thrives in small spaces. These players create confusion within the opposing team’s defensive structure and can separate themselves from defenders to give them a technical advantage. Their ability to read the game and react quickly allows them to consistently outmaneuver opponents.

Impact on Playmaking & Team Success

Creative and dynamic players don’t just showcase their skills—they make plays that drive success for their team. By utilizing their creativity, they extend puck possession, make smarter next plays and create more offensive opportunities for their teammates. This unpredictability keeps defenders guessing and opens the ice for others to capitalize on.

Skills for a Creative & Dynamic Game

Players looking to enhance their creativity and become more dynamic often work on specific skills during practice, such as cutbacks, escapes, jab steps, jukes, stick fakes and head and foot fakes. These techniques allow players to evade defenders while creating time and space, leading to better decision-making and game play execution.

Energizing the Team

Creative and dynamic players boost their own performance while energizing their teammates. Their style of play can lift the entire team’s morale and create a positive ripple effect on the ice. These players often elevate the performance of those around them, making their team more effective and difficult to defend against.

Teaching Creativity & Dynamism at All Age Levels

Fostering creativity and dynamic play should start early and be reinforced at all levels. Encouraging young players to experiment with new moves and take risks builds confidence and adaptability. As they advance, these skills become vital in keeping up with the increasing pace of the game, ensuring they continue to thrive as game-changers.

Here are three drills that can be used at all ages to teach creativity and dynamics:

Drill #1 – Warm Up / 10-Second Conditioning

• Players line up in three lines along the red line.
• On the coach’s whistle, players skate into the zone with a puck.
• Players perform the communicated skill within that area until the next whistle.
• The coach will vary the desired skills to be performed with the puck.
• Players should have their eyes up, head on a swivel and keep their feet moving.

Progressions:

1. Navigate/heel skate
2. Heel-to-heel
3. Cutbacks
4. Two players per puck
5. 1v1 keep-away

Drill #2 – Puck Control / 1-on-1 Small Space Attack Sequences

• Players start on the goal line.
• Set up pylon – player – pylon on the ice.
• Weave up and back, attacking the stationary player in the middle and finishing with a shot on net.
• Alternate sides so the goaltender has time to get set for next shot.

Progressions:

1. Attack triangle (up and back)
2. Open to backhand to protect – cut hands
3. Disrupt stick (stick lift/stick swipe)
4. Add chaser
5. Player in the middle turns and gaps up the puck carrier to play 1v1
6. Chaser and regroup 1v1 (front and back pressure)

Drill #3 – Defence / Puck Control / 3 Puck Stop-and-Go Shooting

• Three pylons are placed in a triangle formation close to the blue line.
• Players skate inside out, around outside pylon and visualizing pressure while skating backwards away from it.
• Players skate around other outside pylon, still visualizing pressure against and incorporating fakes to evade.
• Repeat one more time, then head in for a shot on net.

The Hockey Canada Network gives coaches and players the tools to succeed with drills, skills, videos, practice plans and articles on their tablet or phone. There are over 1,500 drills and more than 100 lesson plans available.

Looking for more skills and drills? Hockey Canada frequently posts skill videos on its social channels that can be incorporated into practice plans. Search the #HCSkillsCoach and #HCGoalieCoach on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to find more drill videos to utilize on the ice.

7 COACHING PRINCIPLES: Skating | Puck Control | Vision & Scanning | Deception | Creative & Dynamic | Angling | Goaltending

Deception is the art of misleading your opponent, making them believe you’re going one way when you’re planning to escape in another. This can be a game-changer, creating more time and space with the puck, helping you out-maneuver the opposition and capitalize on opportunities that can turn the tide of a game.

Creating Time & Space

A primary benefit of using deception is the creation of time and space. By deceiving your opponent, you can make them hesitate or commit to a direction, giving you the precious seconds needed to execute your next move.

Vision & Scanning

Successful deception isn’t just about the moves you make; it’s also about vision and awareness. Before attempting a deceptive maneuver, it’s crucial to develop good scanning habits—constantly reading the play, assessing the position of defenders and identifying the safest areas of the ice.

Teaching Deception at All Age Levels

For younger players, deception introduces creativity and critical thinking, allowing them to explore the game in a fun, dynamic way while building confidence and laying the foundation for more advanced techniques as they develop. For older, more experienced players, deception becomes an essential element of elevating their game. Incorporating deception into practice from a young age helps players build the instincts and awareness needed for long-term success.

Here are three drills you can use in practice with all age groups to teach deception:

Drill #1 – Three Line Deception

• Put players in two or three lines in each end zone. (Goalies/Goalie coach can use NZ for skating skills.
• Players start near the hashmarks and skate to blue line to perform the move and then skate back to the back of the line.
• Maximize repetitions and use progressions for players to create deception, quick hands and puck control skills.
• Forwards and defence perform same skills.
• Coaches are encouraged to be creative with this template.

Drill #2 – Puck Control – Wall Retrieval – Stick Fakes

• Place pucks near the hashmark.
• Player B dumps a puck into the corner for Player A to retrieve.
• Player A shoulder checks and incorporate a head, stick or foot fake to escape, then proceeds to net for a shot.
• Player B provide soft pressure.

Drill #3 – Shooting – Fake pass – Off-wing shot

• Players start lined up, side by side, in the middle of the ice at the blue line.
• Players cross and proceed together towards the net.
• Using deception, show a pass and take a shot.
• Use deception, show a shot and make a pass.

The Hockey Canada Network gives coaches and players the tools to succeed with drills, skills, videos, practice plans and articles on their tablet or phone. There are over 1,500 drills and more than 100 lesson plans available.

Looking for more skills and drills? Hockey Canada frequently posts skill videos on its social channels that can be incorporated into practice plans. Search the #HCSkillsCoach and #HCGoalieCoach on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to find more drill videos to utilize on the ice.

7 COACHING PRINCIPLES: Skating | Puck Control | Vision & Scanning | Deception | Creative & Dynamic | Angling | Goaltending

Hockey’s fast pace requires players to process visual information quickly to give them a competitive edge. The faster a player can gather, analyze and act on information, the better their chances of executing the next play. This ability to make rapid decisions under pressure can significantly impact overall performance.

A Crucial Skill for All Positions

Scanning, often referred to as shoulder-checking, benefits every position on the ice. It is essential in all areas, allowing players to assess their surroundings. However, simply looking isn’t enough; players must actively “see” and understand the information they’re taking in.

Key Information to Identify

When scanning or looking around on the ice, players should focus on two main sources of information: where their teammates are and where the opposition’s pressure is coming from. Being able to quickly identify these factors will assist in making better decisions with the puck under pressure.

Incorporating Vision Into Training

Vision and scanning habits can be easily practiced and should be a regular part of daily training. When this skill becomes second nature, players will consistently find themselves making successful plays in games, greatly benefiting both their individual performance and the team’s success.

Teaching Puck Control 

Teaching vision and scanning skills at all ages levels is essential for developing well-rounded hockey players. For younger players, learning to consistently scan the ice and identify key information builds a foundation for advance gameplay, improving their overall hockey IQ. As players mature and the speed of the game increases, the ability to process information quickly becomes even more critical. By reinforcing these skills across all age groups, players will become more confident and capable of making smart, spilt-second decisions.

Here are three drills that can be used at all ages to teach puck control:

Drill #1 – Forwards / Puck Protection / Vision Sequence

Progression A

• Players find a dot and partner.
• Players position themselves two stick lengths away from each other.
• One player on the dot turns and protects the puck from their partner.
• The non-protecting player shows a number on their hand and moves in a circular motion around puck protector.
• Protecting players must keep their back to partner and should check for changing numbers on the hand.
• The protecting player calls out the number as their partner moves around.

Progression B

• Add new player to the group; three players will now execute.
• Use the same puck protection sequence above on and off the coach’s whistle.
• The new player adds stress to the situation and hinders the protector’s use of vision and ease of protecting the puck.

Progression C

• Still in a group of three, remove the number calling and make the player a passing outlet.

Drill #2 – Figure 8 Scanning

Defence:

• Defence starts up at the blue line in between two pylons.
• The player will skate in a figure 8 with the puck always facing the net.
• Coach should face the player, holding a hand up in the air to show numbers.
• Defence will visually identify the number and call it out.
• After 20-25 seconds, the player will go in for a shot.

Forwards:

• Forwards start on the dot in the corner.
• Coaches will surround the player, holding one hand in the air.
• The forward will spot puck along the boards and retrieve it.
• The forward will skate in a figure 8 puck protection pattern along the wall, while at the same time identifying the number the coach is showing on their hand.
• After 20-25 seconds, the player will go in for a shot.

Drill #3 – Reading Pressure / Corner Situations

• One player starts in the corner, one player has a puck on the dot.
• The player on the dot passes to the player in corner with pressure to the left or right side.

Progressions

• Nose-to-nose pressure
• Shoulder check turn pressure
• Absorb and spin from pressure
• Build to 1v1 out of the corner

The Hockey Canada Network gives coaches and players the tools to succeed with drills, skills, videos, practice plans and articles on their tablet or phone. There are over 1,500 drills and more than 100 lesson plans available.

Looking for more skills and drills? Hockey Canada frequently posts skill videos on its social channels that can be incorporated into practice plans. Search the #HCSkillsCoach and #HCGoalieCoach on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to find more drill videos to utilize on the ice.

7 COACHING PRINCIPLES: Skating | Puck Control | Vision & Scanning | Deception | Creative & Dynamic | Angling | Goaltending

Puck control is a fundamental skill that can significantly enhance a player's effectiveness on the ice. At its core, puck control involves the ability to maintain possession, create opportunities and contribute to your team's success. Mastering puck control allows players to maneuver confidently under pressure, execute precise plays and ultimately influence the outcome of the game.

Enhancing Time & Space

By skillfully handling the puck, players force defenders to react, often opening gaps in the defence. This extra time and space allows players to make better decisions, whether it’s passing, shooting or setting up the next play, giving them an advantage over opponents.

Building Skills Through Progression

Players should start with stationary puck-handling before moving onto handling the puck while moving, then adding teammates and game scenarios. This structured approach ensures they build confidence and can handle the puck in competitive situations.

Incorporating Vision & Scanning

Effective puck control isn’t just about technical skills; it also requires good vision and awareness. Developing strong scanning habits is essential—constantly reading the play, assessing the positions of defenders and identifying open areas of the ice. Combining puck control with situational awareness, players can make smarter decisions, avoid pressure and improve overall performance.

Teaching Puck Control at All Age Levels

Puck control is a skill that should be taught and reinforced at all age levels. For younger players, learning these skills early lays a solid foundation for their development, enabling them to build confidence and enjoy the game more. As players advance, refining puck control becomes even more critical as the speed and complexity of the game increase. Regardless of a player's age or skill level, strong puck control is an essential component of hockey that can lead to long-term success and enjoyment of the game.

Here are three drills that can be used at all ages to teach puck control:

Drill #1 – Puck Control Combinations

• Form two lines in one end. Players will perform skills down the middle of the ice and back along the boards.
• Maximize reps and use progressions for players to create deception; use quick hands and puck control skills.
• Forwards and defence perform the same skills.
• Goalie coach works with goalies at far end.

Forward puck control skills:

1. Heel skate
2. Heel skate / stride combination
3. Wide narrow stick handles
4. Heel to heel
5. Stride / one-crossover combination
6. Cutbacks
7. Continuous crossovers
8. 1v1 triangle moves

Drill #2 – Defence Escape Triangle

• Place three pylons in a triangle, set up on each side of the ice.
• Transition at top pylon (heels first/toes first) and turn away from each of the bottom pylons.
• Teach skating first, then add a puck.

Skill progressions at the bottom of the triangle:

1. Ride inside edge—toes up ice (No puck / add puck)
2. Escape turns
3. Half-escape turns
4. Random escapes, add touch passes with coach

Drill #3 – Scoring / Corner Drive D / Double Delay

• Players start in the corner with pucks.
• Player leaves corner, drives hard around circle, performs a tight turn and delays back towards corner.
• Perform another tight turn and skate in the original direction towards the net.
• Finish with a shot on net.
• Add a defender for a progression.

The Hockey Canada Network gives coaches and players the tools to succeed with drills, skills, videos, practice plans and articles on their tablet or phone. There are over 1,500 drills and more than 100 lesson plans available.

Looking for more skills and drills? Hockey Canada frequently posts skill videos on its social channels that can be incorporated into practice plans. Search the #HCSkillsCoach and #HCGoalieCoach on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to find more drill videos to utilize on the ice.

7 COACHING PRINCIPLES: Skating | Puck Control | Vision & Scanning | Deception | Creative & Dynamic | Angling | Goaltending

Skating is a fundamental skill required for every position in hockey. Speed, acceleration, agility and power are essential for forwards, defence and goaltenders alike. Without strong skating abilities, players are unable to perform to their full potential on the ice.

Importance of Skating 

Skating is not about moving up and down the ice; it plays a crucial role in maximizing puck control, passing accuracy and shooting opportunities. Strong skating allows players to separate from opponents and keep pace with the play, enabling them to create better scoring chances and make smarter decisions with the puck.

Focus on Small-Space Skating

A significant portion of the game is now being played below the goal line or along the boards, making small-space skating critical. When working on skating, players should focus on agility, balance, edge work and turning in these confined areas. These transferable skills are key to maintaining control and out-maneuvering opponents in tight situations.

Incorporating Vision & Scanning

As the pace of hockey continues to increase, developing strong vision and scanning habits are essential. Players must learn to read the ice instinctually, adapting quickly to make effective plays. Good vision paired with solid skating skills will help players stay ahead of the game and make successful decisions on the fly.

Teaching Skating at All Age Levels

Skating is the foundation upon which all other skills are built. Teaching proper skating techniques early on will help young players develop balance, agility and confidence.

Here are three drills that can be used at all ages to teach skating:

Drill #1 – Skating Agility Combinations

• Form two lines at hash marks; players perform skills down the middle of the ice and back along the boards.
• Repetitions and progressions to create deception, quick hands and puck control skills.
• Forwards and defence perform same skills.
• Goalie coach works with goalies at far end.

Forward puck control skills to be done: No puck

1. Inside edge/Inside edge hops
2. Outside edges
3. Heel-to-heel left/right
4. Heel-to-heel double pump
5. Undercut (left/right leg)
6. Backwards
7. Backwards inside edge holds
8. Backwards one crossover
9. Backwards shuffle
10. Lateral crossovers

Drill #2 – Four-Pylon Agility Forwards

• Place four pylons on the circle (use both end zones to maximize player activity).
• Players start by going around the pylons in a random fashion.
• Multiple players at the same time: one is a puck carrier and one is chasing trying to steal puck.
• Progress to having no pylons, playing keep away.
• Set up in each end to give forwards more reps.
• Finish with a shot on net.

Drill #3 – Five-Puck Agility Defence

• Place five pucks in neutral zone as shown.
• Player must skate around each of the outside pucks.
• Always come back to the middle before skating around outside pucks again, toe pointing forward during transitions.
• Progress to using pucks, adding a chaser and to removing the obstacles to make it game applicable.

The Hockey Canada Network gives coaches and players the tools to succeed with drills, skills, videos, practice plans and articles on their tablet or phone. There are over 1,500 drills and more than 100 lesson plans available.

Looking for more skills and drills? Hockey Canada frequently posts skill videos on its social channels that can be incorporated into practice plans. Search the #HCSkillsCoach and #HCGoalieCoach on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to find more drill videos to utilize on the ice.

“It was seeing my son on the ice and just having that want and desire to be out there with him and experience what he was experiencing, helping him learn,” she says.

That was almost six years ago.

Today, Keeley is the national BFL CANADA Women in Coaching Award recipient in the Community category, and the creator of a thriving coach development program with the Knights Hockey Club in Calgary.

“I think it’s important for women to realize that they have so much to offer and that what they have to offer is recognized and is appreciated,” Keeley says of the BFL CANADA honour. “This award gives that; it brings light to [the fact] that we can do this. We’re here now, and let’s keep blazing trails and breaking ceilings and all of those amazing things.”

A ringette player growing up who dabbled in hockey when the boys’ team in her northern Saskatchewan community needed bodies to fill out the lineup, Keeley had never given much thought to coaching until her son got into the game at the Timbits U7 level in the fall of 2018.

When she wasn’t selected to coach the following season in U9, her attention turned back to her first athletic love and she joined the Bow View Ringette Association, working as an assistant coach and head coach at U10 and U12.

“[It was about] learning and gaining the confidence that I needed to step back into hockey and make a difference,” she says of her three years with Bow View.

The word that continually comes up is process – Keeley spent those seasons observing other coaches, ensuring she was surrounded by the right people, building her coaching support system, filling her toolbox and learning how to be a coach in the competitive space.

One of her biggest takeaways? No one does it alone.

“What I believe makes the most successful coach is to surround themselves with people for the skills that they don’t currently have,” Keeley says. “And so for me, I always make sure that I have a very, very rounded team of people that can offset the skills that I don’t have, that I can learn from.”

When the 2022-23 hockey season rolled around, Keeley was ready to get back behind the bench with her son at the U11 level.

But she didn’t come back to hockey empty-handed. In addition to the skills she had learned with Bow View, Keeley came armed with a proposal for a coach development program targeted at women.

“The program was not so much about giving women all the tools they needed to be a coach,” she says. “It starts with having the confidence to put up their hand and say, ‘Yeah, I have something to offer.’ It was really about just helping the ladies to make that decision to put up their hand and to help them have that confidence to step on the ice.

“One of the objectives was to make sure that we had strong female leadership to keep girls in sport, because that’s important. What if we have strong leadership from the same gender on the ice? Would that make a difference? Would girls want to stay [involved in hockey] if they saw strong female coaches on the ice?”

The association was quick to jump at the proposal, and Keeley was off and running.

“Where we started was I held one on-ice session to begin with, and we had 12 ladies that put up their hand and came out,” she says. “And really what it was about more than anything was just to see what this program was all about.

“I had an hour-and-a-half ice time, and I think we spent 20 minutes on the ice. What we spent more time doing was talking about if this was the right fit for them, if they had the confidence to put their skates on and what this was going to look like if they actually got selected to be on the ice with their kid. It was amazing to hear females talk about challenges and obstacles and barriers, and me as a part of launching this program, being able to provide that space to have those open and honest conversations that they wouldn’t have anywhere else.”

What was originally meant to be a local program for women in the Knights program rapidly turned into something much bigger, much to Keeley’s delight.

Next was a training course, with the help of Hockey Alberta – the province’s first women-only Coach 2 clinic.

“At first, I was just opening it to the [local] group that had shown interest. Then we decided to open up to all of Alberta. And so on a very snowy November day, we had 24 females sitting in a room from across Alberta. We did the four-hour classroom, and then the next day we met for another seven [hours].

“That’s where the network started. A lot of us still keep in contact, and we send out emails to each other, and when there is an event happening for all female coaches, we make sure that we share and attend.”

In that first season, nine women were behind the bench with the Knights Hockey Club. During the 2023-24 season, that number grew to 14 – two as head coaches and 12 as assistants.

Keeley hosted a start-of-season meeting in September to teach coaches how to prepare a season plan and build practice plans, and had regular check-ins with every coach involved in the program, working through any challenges they were facing and ensuring they were getting what they needed from the experience.

She also continues to work closely with Hockey Calgary, participating in ongoing opportunities for women in coaching, including on- and off-ice development sessions.

But her No. 1 role is still being a mom, and there are few things that give her more joy than sharing hockey with her son. This season, Keeley led the U13 Tier 4 team.

“I always ask if he wants me to coach,” she says of her son. “And that even existed when I went and coached ringette because, of course, I wasn’t with him. I was always a non-parent coach in ringette, and I would ask him every season, ‘Are you okay if I do this?’

“When I coached the U12 AA team [in the spring of 2022], I was away quite a bit. We were on the ice five times a week. That was the first time he ever said to me, ‘Mom, I miss you. Can you come coach me?’

“We’re just in the midst of filling out our application for this upcoming season, which is his second year of U13. And he said, ‘Mom, are you going to coach again?’ I said, ‘Do you want me to?’ He said, ‘As long as you want to.’ So yes, I’m going to apply to be a coach again.”

That’s a lucky son, and a lucky association that gets to benefit from what Keeley has to offer.

But ask her, and she’ll tell you just the opposite – that she’s the lucky one, benefitting from what the players can offer her.

“I have had some really amazing experiences both on and off the ice, just learning from these players. The amount, if you sit back and you listen, that you can learn is just unbelievable, and they always make you smile.”

It was a full circle moment for Shakita Jensen when she stepped on the bench as head coach of Team Northwest Territories at the 2024 Arctic Winter Games.

In 2014, she played in the tournament in Alaska. A decade later, she returned to Alaska to coach.

“I felt a lot of emotions,” says Jensen, the national BFL CANADA Women in Coaching Award winner in the Competitive category.

Jensen, from the Tahltan First Nation, started as an on-ice volunteer with the Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association in 2014. Since then, her passion for giving back has driven her to continue her coaching journey.

“The hockey community has given me so much that I felt an obligation to want to give back to the hockey community in any way I could,” Jensen says. “When I got back from school, I was like, ‘I should probably try coaching, see if I like it.’ And of course I liked it right away.”

In addition to giving back, a few impactful women who coached Jensen growing up opened her eyes to her own potential journey.

“Having my first female head coach was super cool, and that made me want to get into coaching,” she says. “Growing up, being sometimes the only girl on my hockey teams, not really many women coaching, and then having my first few female coaches thinking, ‘Wow they’re so cool, I want to be like them one day.’”

The position of being a role model and a leader for youth in her community was also a driving factor in wanting to become a coach.

“I’ve had so many influential coaches in my own playing career. [There are] everlasting impacts they can have on their players, not only on the ice, but off the ice as people as well, what you can teach your players as a coach. I felt that I had lots to offer [as a head coach] and I wanted to be there for kids.”

 Jensen was in the right place at the right time to get her first head coaching position. There was a shortage of coaches in her association, so they asked Jensen—who initially applied to be an on-ice helper—if she wanted to be a head coach.

“It was a lot of quick learning and kind of being thrown into it, but I felt confident in myself the whole time,” the 26-year-old explains. “I just tried to network with past coaches as much as I could to have a successful season, which I think I did.”

Early in her career, Jensen decided to apply to be a part of the 2023 Canada Winter Games coaching staff for Team NWT, but she wasn’t selected. However, one of the coaches recommended she apply for the Aboriginal Apprentice Coach program with the Aboriginal Sports Circle.

“They chose one woman and one man from the territory, and it could be from any sport, so I knew that it was a bit of a long shot, but when I heard I got in for hockey, I was super excited.”

Through the apprenticeship program, Jensen was able to attend last year’s Canada Winter Games on Prince Edward Island and work with Team NWT leading up to the event. Afterwards, she became an assistant coach for Team NWT for the 2023 Arctic Winter Games before being promoted to head coach for the 2024 tournament.

“I think that definitely opened a lot of doors,” she says. “It was cool to see the progression and to allow me to gain all the tools and resources that I needed to prepare my team.”

As head coach of Team NWT, the location of each player’s hometowns can often be difficult to navigate—sometimes resulting in very few full team practices before an event.

“It was definitely a challenge wanting to build your team culture and work on your strategies and trying to prepare for a high-performance, short-term competition when your team is scattered all over the territories, in some places that are fly in/fly out or just a lot of money barriers,” she explains. “I think one thing that was super helpful was our ability to connect online leading up to the Games.”

Another huge opportunity for Jensen’s team this year was February’s One For All event in Yellowknife. With more than 300 participants over four days, the event celebrated women’s and girls’ hockey with Try Hockey events, on-ice skills, coaching clinics and more.

Team Northwest Territories and Team Nunavut gathered to practice and face off in an exhibition game.

“It was an overwhelming successful weekend—players putting on their hockey gear for the first time and then other players who were about to be graduating minor hockey,” says Jensen, who volunteered with the event. “It felt super to contribute to that program, give back and hopefully keep that program on a yearly basis here.”

When Jensen found out she was the BFL CANADA Women in Coaching Award winner for Hockey North in the Competitive category, she was shocked.

“I was so surprised, kind of caught off guard. I felt so much pride and gratitude.”

Jensen was unsure if she would be able to compete with the great provincial and territorial candidates across the country. But when she saw Cassie Campbell-Pascall on a video call congratulating her for winning the national award, she was in disbelief all over again.

“There are really no words,” she says of winning the national award. “There are so many influential coaches who go unrecognized sometimes for all the work they do. [I’m] really feeling proud of myself, but also feeling proud of everyone else across Canada who’s doing so much for the women’s game.”