Concordia Stingers women’s hockey player Camille Richard has been selected to participate in Hockey Canada and U SPORTS’ Creating Coaches program, joining 21 other U SPORTS student-athletes in the 2026-27 cohort.
The two-year program is designed to increase the number of women coaching hockey in Canada by providing current U SPORTS women’s hockey players with training, mentorship and education as they begin their coaching careers. Participants also receive an honourarium while serving as assistant coaches for U13, U15 or U18 girls’ hockey teams in their respective communities.
Launched in 2021 through a partnership between Hockey Canada, U SPORTS and the Hockey Canada Foundation, Creating Coaches provides student-athletes with an opportunity to develop their leadership skills while helping shape the next generation of hockey players.
Richard is one of 22 student-athletes selected for this year’s cohort, which includes representation from all four U SPORTS conferences. She is one of three RSEQ representatives, joining Juliette Rolland of the Université de Montréal and Gabrielle Santerre of Bishop’s University.
“As women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada continues to set participation records each season, expanding the Creating Coaches program is an important milestone to increase the number of women behind the bench and connect more girls in communities across the country with mentors who continue to compete in U SPORTS hockey,” said Marin Hickox, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of women’s and girls’ hockey.
“Creating Coaches gives U SPORTS student-athletes a meaningful opportunity to develop as leaders while helping to shape the next generation of players,” added Pierre Arsenault, chief executive officer of U SPORTS. “We are proud to continue working with Hockey Canada and the Hockey Canada Foundation to expand pathways for women in coaching and strengthen the future of the game across Canada.”
A growing Stingers coaching legacy
Richard becomes the latest Stingers women’s hockey player to take part in the Creating Coaches program.
She joins a growing list of Concordia players and alumni who have participated in the initiative, including Jordyn Verbeek, Jessymaude Drapeau, Emmy Fecteau and Alex Boulanger.
The Stingers have now been represented by five student-athletes through the program, providing Concordia players with opportunities to gain coaching experience and develop their leadership skills while continuing their U SPORTS careers.
The 2026-27 Creating Coaches cohort features student-athletes from programs across Atlantic University Sport, Canada West, Ontario University Athletics and the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec.
For Richard, the program provides an opportunity to gain valuable coaching experience while helping young girls develop their own passion for hockey.
The Creating Coaches program is supported financially by the Hockey Canada Foundation, with the selection committee including representatives from Hockey Canada, U SPORTS, Hockey Canada’s Members and the Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors.
