CALGARY, Alta. – Laurier women's hockey defender Kara den Hoed is among 12 student-athletes who have been selected by Hockey Canada and U SPORTS to join the fifth cohort of Creating Coaches, a program designed to increase the number of women coaching hockey in Canada.

den Hoed, a 22 year-old criminology master's student from Centre Wellington, Ont., will receive training and mentorship through the program during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.

Each student-athlete will be an assistant coach for a U13, U15 or U18 girls' hockey team and receive coach education, professional development opportunities and an honorarium. den Hoed will be working primarily with the U15AA Kitchener Lady Rangers, specifically.

"Being selected for the Creating Coaches program is an incredible honour," said den Hoed, who was the OUA's Defender of the Year two seasons ago. "The opportunity to gain more coaching knowledge through this program and learn from experienced mentors is something I will always be grateful for. I am excited to discover new ways to connect with athletes, and to be able to build trust."

The former OUA first-team all-star and U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian emphasized how a large priority for her as a coach is to also help players "grow as individuals in a safe and supportive environment."

"I'm beyond excited to be part of a program that empowers women to lead, inspire, and create lasting change for young athletes, and I look forward to helping other girls believe that they too belong in the game."

Laurier's manager of women's hockey operations and head coach Kelly Paton expressed how the staff "is incredibly proud of Kara for being selected to Hockey Canada's Creating Coaches Program."

"This is a tremendous opportunity for her to take the next step in her development as a leader, and it speaks to her passion for the game and her commitment to inspiring the next generation of players," Paton said. "Kara has always led by example with her work ethic, communication, and ability to bring out the best in those around her."

"We know she will thrive in this program and continue to be a positive role model for young athletes in our community and beyond."
 
This year's cohort includes student-athletes from across all four U SPORTS women's hockey conferences:

• Grace Beer (Dalhousie University, AUS)
• Sarah Bestic (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)

 
Recent Golden Hawks alum Brianna Bowman is also one of nine individuals entering year two of the program. 

"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.