The Banff Hockey Academy Bears have filled a chief coaching role for its girls program ahead of a landmark season for the club.
Former NHL winger Mikko Makela was announced as the BHA women’s athletic director this week.
Makela is a two-time winning coach of the Junior Women’s Hockey League Championship, and he is a former coach for Team Alberta’s U18 and U16 girls.
“From Lethbridge to Banff, it’s really exciting,” said Makela. “I’ve always loved the area of Banff (and) now I have an opportunity to be there every day, so that’s exciting.”
Makela and BHA director Bill Doherty have known each other for almost a decade and Makela said it’s going to be “awesome to work alongside him.”
Doherty described Makela as a “big asset” for the Banff hockey program.
“He’s well known in girls hockey,” said Doherty. “For the program, we’re getting someone that’s capable of development and capable of advancement.
“We’ve been fortunate to have two great coaches precede him. We’ve been fortunate to have some strong coaching staff here.”
Behind the bench with Makela will be assistant coach Naomi Meier, a former player for the Warner School Warriors girls hockey program.
Makela will precede former BHA girl’s coach Cassea Schols, who departed the team in April to become head coach of the Northern Alberta Xtreme female prep team.
The BHA female team started in 2010-11 and is for under-18 girls around the globe who want to develop in hockey and academics.
Makela said a goal would be to develop the girls program to become as strong as the boys program, which he says all starts with work ethic on and off the ice.
“We want to build the team for the future,” said Makela. “Banff could have a strong girls team program, and hopefully in the years to come we will do that.
“I think everyone has to understand you don’t get where you want to go – if they want to get an NCAA scholarship – without honest work. That’s some of the things I’m trying to instill.”
Makela has competed at the highest level, playing seven seasons in the NHL in the ’80s and ’90s and he made two Olympic appearances for his native Finland before transitioning to coaching.
The ‘Flying Finn’ spent the past nine seasons coaching women’s hockey in Alberta and coached the Western Hockey League’s Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2002-04.
The BHA women’s program steps into new ground in 2016-17 as part of a new female division in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
The team will compete in a full 26-game regular season and playoff schedule as well as participate in tournaments.
