Swapping the mountains for the province’s capital, a coach will be missed in helping develop female hockey in Banff.
Cassea Schols will finish her tenure as the Banff Hockey Academy’s head coach for the female prep team at the end of April.
Schols is moving to Edmonton to become head coach of the league rival Northern Alberta Xtreme female prep team starting in the 2016-17 season.
“The opportunity that was presented, and being from Edmonton, it was something I looked at as an opportunity to go back home and be part of girls hockey,” said Schols.
Schols was named head coach for the BHA girls program in July 2014 and spent two seasons with the club.
The BHA female team started in 2010-11 and is for under-18 girls around the globe that want to develop in hockey and academics.
During her tenure, Schols, a former NCAA division I player, greatly aided the development and was a mentor to the teenaged girls, said Bill Doherty, director of BHA.
“Cassea did a wonderful job with us and is going to be missed,” said Doherty.
“We’re going to cross paths with her going to a competing program, but she’s great for women’s hockey, and hockey in general.”
The next step for the mountain program is to hire a new head coach for the female team. Doherty said the goal is to announce the new hiring by the end of April.
“We have our evaluation weekend on April 30 and we’re hoping to have it in place by then,” said Doherty. “Having said that, we’re going to make sure the person that is following in Cassea’s footsteps is qualified.”
The Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) is in the midst of an expansion to its girls program for the upcoming 2016-17 season that will include a full regular season, complete with playoffs, to determine a division champ.
In other news, Schols was named as assistant coach to Team Alberta Female hockey.
“(Team Alberta) is near and dear for me,” she said. “I grew up playing and got into hockey Alberta, so it’s nice to come back and give back as a coach.
“A lot is going on still being head coach of a program and with Team Alberta, it’s going to be exciting. It’ll be busy, but a good busy. I’m looking forward to both opportunities this year.”
