London youth hockey teammates reconnect in women’s coaching program

Article content

Since playing together on the city’s top girls minor hockey team, two former London Devilettes have focused on coaching. Now, they’re part of a program that aims to empower women in the highest levels of leadership in the sport.

Kelly Paton and Shannon Wise played together on the Devilettes two decades ago. Since then, they both have helped shape the next generation of players as coaches at various levels of the game. They soon will be reunited in a program that aims to develop female leaders in hockey by offering opportunities to network, expand skills and advance careers.

Article content

“We’re really looking forward to meeting new people and, more specifically, female leaders that are helping to grow the game of hockey,” said Paton, head coach of women’s hockey at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.

With more than 12 years of experience behind the bench, the Woodstock native says admittance to the program is “really special” for people like her and Wise who have a passion for the game and a desire to develop as coaches and leaders.

The program is focused on developing coaches and supporting women interested in getting into higher levels of coaching, Paton said.

For Paton, that includes leadership roles in semi-professional or professional hockey, where she anticipates seeing more women in the coming years. “Long term, that’s certainly a space that . . . I think I could do well in,” she said.

Wise was drawn to apply for the program by the prospect of “learning from the pros” and the opportunities to engage with National Hockey League and American Hockey League staff as part of the program.

“I can’t think of a better way to gain knowledge and advance potential career opportunities,” she said.

Article content

Article content

The daughter of a former London Knights assistant coach, Wise grew up playing boys’ hockey with the St. Thomas Minor Hockey Association, and now serves as a head coach with the same association.

She played with the Devilettes from 1998 to 2005, overlapping with Paton for two seasons on the same team. Paton, who is two years older than Wise, spent four years with the Devilettes.

Since then, the number of opportunities for women in hockey has grown, with the inaugural season of the six-team Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) this past year shifting the landscape of women’s hockey, according to Wise.

“It’s been incredible to watch the PWHL come to life and for there to be so many more opportunities than we ever dreamed of when we played for the Devilettes,” she said. “To see how the game has progressed and how we’re closing the gender gap . . . is pretty remarkable.”

The female coaches’ program is run by the NHL Coaches’ Association, which was established in 2001 by coaching legend Scotty Bowman along with other big names such as Roger Neilson, Larry Robinson and Pat Quinn.

Article content

The organization supports all coaches of the NHL’s 32 teams and aims to develop future bench bosses with programs such as the female coaches’ effort, now in its fifth year.

The program’s membership includes Jessica Campbell, who recently became the first female behind-the-bench coach in NHL history, with Seattle. That’s a testament to the effectiveness of the coaches organization and its work empowering women to leadership in a league dominated by men, Wise said.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a male or a female or however you identify,” Wise said. “As long as your heart’s in the right place, and your passion for the game is there.”

nbrennan@postmedia.com

Article content