A two-time Olympic women’s hockey gold medallist is the new head coach for the Edge School for Athlete Mountaineers girls’ prep hockey team.
Calgary’s Carla MacLeod was named as the program’s new bench boss on April 28, and has been busy getting herself acclimatized to her new surroundings.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind for me, but it’s been pretty good so far,” MacLeod said. “I’m trying to hit the ground running as best as I can, especially in defining the direction that the team is headed and what our next steps are here.”
“Everything is really fresh and exciting for me, and everyone here at the school has been great so far in helping me out along the way,” she added.
The 31 year old, who retired from hockey in September 2010, has been behind the bench for the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Mount Royal University and also served as an assistant coach for Japan’s women’s national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
“The experience that I have had as an assistant coach has been just as rewarding, if not more so than it was to be a player,” MacLeod said.
“I always wanted to be involved in coaching even as I was playing, and to be able to learn things behind the bench as an assistant has really helped me towards this next step.”
“I really enjoy working with the young girls in helping them to achieve their goals, no matter what it may be,” she added. “I’ve known about the Edge School since I live in Calgary, and I’m excited to be a part of their team.”
Having been a member of the Canadian women’s national hockey team for seven years, along with being the captain for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2003 to 2005, MacLeod hopes to use her experiences to help the Edge School for Athletes players in any situations they might encounter.
“Having been down the path that they are currently on, I’m going to do my best to help them out,” MacLeod said. “It’s an exciting time for these young girls when they come out of high school, as they have a chance to play for schools in Canada and the United States, but it can be overwhelming.”
MacLeod’s first major event will be from May 30 to June 1, when the girls’ prep team will hold a tryout camp at the Kyle Stuart Arena in Calgary.
“It’s going to be exciting for me to see where we are at and to see the players that will be coming out,” MacLeod said. “By then I will have my feet fully under me, and it will be great to see different things starting to come together ahead of the new season.”
