Ryerson's Haley named head coach of Canadian Women's U18s

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has named the coaching staff for Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team for the 2015-16 season.

The coaching staff was selected by Melody Davidson, Hockey Canada's general manager of national women's team programs, in consultation with Tom Renney, Hockey Canada's chief executive officer, and Scott Smith, Hockey Canada's chief operating officer.

"Our development and under-18 women's teams are key stepping stones to representing the country as part of the National Women's Team," said Davidson. "We're confident that our coaching staff selected will move these programs forward, not only developing the players as hockey players but as people. We're looking forward to watching the growth of both programs through our camps, series against the USA, and winter competitions."

Lisa Haley (Westville, N.S./Ryerson, CIS) has been named head coach of Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team, along with assistant coaches Greg Fargo (Kingston, Ont./Colgate, ECAC) and Britni Smith (Port Perry, Ont./Clarkson, ECAC), and goaltending coach Perry Wilson (Lasalle, Ont./Windsor, OUA).

Haley won gold as an assistant coach for Canada's National Women's Team during the 2013-14 season at the 2014 Winter Olympics. She won one gold medal (2012) and three silver medals (2013, 2011, 2008) as an assistant coach with Canada's National Women's Team at the IIHF Women's World Championship. With Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team, she won gold as an assistant coach at the 2010 IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championship. Haley currently serves as the head coach of women's hockey at Ryerson University.

Fargo has been the head coach of women's hockey at Colgate University since 2012. He served as an assistant coach at Canada's National Women's Development Team summer camp during the 2014-15 season.

Smith was an assistant coach at Canada's National Women's Team camp during the 2014-15 season and recently completed her first season as assistant coach at Clarkson University. As a player, she captured the 2014 Clarkson Cup with the CWHL's Toronto Furies and won three gold medals with Canada's National Women's Development Team at the MLP Cup (2010, 2008, 2007).

Wilson was the goaltending coach at Canada's National Women's Under-18 team selection camp in 2014. He won gold as goalie coach for Canada's National Women's Team at the 2012 IIHF Women's World Championship and also with the National Women's Development Team's at the 2010 MLP Cup.

Hockey Canada also announced the support staff that will work with Canada's National Women's Team, including:

• video coach W. Adam Tresoor (Edmonton/Hockey Alberta)
• therapist Emma Jack (London, Ont./Hockey Canada)
• Dr. Wanda Millard (London, Ont./Hockey Canada)
• massage therapist Brandy Osborne (Kelowna, B.C./Hockey Canada)
• mental skills coach Sommer Christie (Ottawa/CSI Calgary)
• equipment manager Serge Leblanc (Moncton, N.B./Moncton, AUS)

Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team will hold a selection camp in Calgary from Aug. 6-16, 2015, followed by a three-game series against the United States' Women's Under-18 Select Team from Aug. 20-23 in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's Championship will take place from Jan. 8-15, 2016 in St. Catharines, Ont.

Note: Throughout the 2015-16 season coach Haley will balance the duties of both the Ryerson Rams women's hockey team and the National Women's Under-18 Team with a focus on achieving success on both benches. Haley will be absent from the Rams bench for just three games as the IIHF championship begins as the Rams' winter schedule commences.

Source: Hockey Canada