CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada and U SPORTS have announced that Creating Coaches, a program designed to increase the number of women coaching hockey in Canada, has expanded to welcome 12 student-athletes as part of its fifth cohort.
Waterloo's Sarah Bestic (Waterloo, ON/) will join teammate Keiara Raitt (Ancaster, ON/), who joined the program as part of last year's cohort.
"As a coach in the women's game, it's been incredibly rewarding to see our student athletes take part in Hockey Canada's Creating Coaches program," said Warriors Head Coach Shaun Reagan. Over the years, our team has had two student athletes take part in the program. Each has come back with new confidence, knowledge, and experience within the coaching community."
"This season we are proud to have Sarah Bestic (Waterloo, ON/) join the Creating Coaches program. Sarah will represent our team and community well, and we cannot wait to see how this experience shapes her future both on and off the ice."
Bestic and the other eleven student-athletes will continue to play U SPORTS women's hockey while serving as assistant coaches for U13, U15 or U18 girls hockey teams in their respective communities. Each student-athlete will receive training, mentorship, education and an honorarium throughout the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.
This year's cohort includes student-athletes from 12 U SPORTS women's hockey programs across all four of its conferences:
• Grace Beer (Dalhousie University, AUS)
• Sarah Bestic (Waterloo, ON/) (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)
"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," said Marin Hickox, vice-president of women's and girls' hockey for Hockey Canada. "Last season set a record for the most women coaching hockey in Canadian history, and we know that programs like Creating Coaches are critical for continuing to support the recruitment, retention and development of women and girls in hockey leadership roles.
"To each of our new Creating Coaches participants, congratulations on being nominated and selected to join this program. We cannot wait to follow your journeys behind the bench for years to come."
Creating Coaches was launched in 2021 through a partnership between Hockey Canada, U SPORTS and the Hockey Canada Foundation to provide current U SPORTS student-athletes with opportunities to begin their coaching careers while still playing university women's hockey.
Since its inception, Creating Coaches has included student-athletes from 23 U SPORTS women's hockey programs and all four of its conferences.
"During National Coaches Week, it's fitting to celebrate the investment in people who will shape the future of our sport," said Pierre Arsenault, chief executive officer of U SPORTS. "Creating Coaches gives U SPORTS athletes a clear, supported runway to develop as coaches and mentors, and we're proud to expand this program with Hockey Canada and the Hockey Canada Foundation."
The Creating Coaches selection committee includes representation from Hockey Canada, U SPORTS, Hockey Canada's Members and the Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors.
With files from Hockey Canada
