ASSINIBOIA - Rachelle DeWulf, the head coach for the U13 female Lafleche/Wood River Ice Cats, was announced as the Saskatchewan Hockey Association’s (SHA) Coach of the Year award.
“Coaching in a small town isn’t the same as coaching in a city. DeWulf arrives at least an hour and a half early at the rink, unlocks the kitchen, sets up the score clock, and even helped clean at the end of the season when there was no longer a janitor.
“In regards to coaching, Rachelle spends endless hours finding drills to help each member of her team,” said the SHA media release. “One parent was hesitant about their daughter playing girls’ hockey, having only played mixed previously, but Rachelle started having meetings in the summer to make sure there would be enough players to make a female team. Rachelle took this little team of 12 skaters and two goalies – made from seven different communities – and taught them that they could play against any team in the league.”
The Ice Cats finished the season with 18 wins, one loss, and a tie. A fellow coach said “positive female role models such as Rachelle are the reason why more girls are involved in the sport today.”
For her outstanding patience and passion for coaching with the Lafleche Minor Hockey Association, DeWulf is deserving of the Hockey Saskatchewan’s Outstanding Coach of the Year Award.
