Westlock native to head Team Alberta U18 female hockey team

WESTLOCK – Westlock-native Brett Wold continues to climb the ranks of the hockey world and would be the head coach of the Crew Alberta U18 feminine hockey group on the 2023 Canada Winter Video games in Prince Edward Island.

Wold, together with the remainder of the teaching workers that features assistants Ally Bendfeld and Evan Vossen, was introduced by Hockey Alberta June 1. That is the second time Wold has coached on the nationwide stage as he was an assistant on the gold-medal profitable 2019 U18 Ladies’s nationwide championship group — that membership was coached by Kendall Newell, who’s director of hockey operations for the 2023 group. The remainder of the workers contains video coach Jessie Olfert, goaltending coach Marlène Boissonnault and apprentice coach Shanya Shwetz.

Wold, who’s additionally a hockey teacher on the Notre Dame Hockey Academy in Purple Deer, has spent the final 4 years as the top coach of the U18 ‘AAA’ Purple Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs and received the Alberta Feminine Hockey League’s coach of the 12 months award final season. The 32-year-old married father of two was humbled by the announcement and stated it’s an honour and a “privilege” to be named head coach.

“I utilized for it and also you hope for one of the best, however you’re by no means certain. It was fairly the information to get, it’s fairly thrilling to get your title referred to as,” he stated June 7.

Wold, who coached one 12 months on the midget ‘AAA’ boys degree earlier than transferring to the ladies facet, stated “he’d by no means change again because it’s been an ideal expertise thus far.”

“I felt like I used to be going to get extra a chance to teach and show myself,” he stated. “Actually, I used to push for the subsequent factor and attempt to get to the subsequent degree. However for the final couple of years, I’ve been actually content material and I’m going to benefit from the second and admire this chance. And no matter occurs from it, occurs.”

With the Video games solely eight months away, Wold and his teaching workers will get cracking quickly as the primary camp is slated to run July 12-17 in Purple Deer. That occasion will embody the Prime 68 gamers within the province, who’ll then be paired right down to 30 earlier than remaining cuts are made later within the 12 months. Wold stated whereas the primary purpose will likely be to defend the gold medal that they received again in 2019, they need to be certain that “that these women develop they usually develop into higher individuals on and off the ice.”

“The time goes to burn by quick and we don’t get lots of interplay with the children both. We solely actually get this July camp after which just a few weekends main up,” stated Wold. “They’re with their membership groups throughout the season, so we’re going to deal with good habits to have like laborious work, effort and backchecking. Our mindset with the ladies is simply to remain targeted on the easy issues and have enjoyable.”

Wold performed his minor hockey in Westlock, then performed a season with the NCAA Div. 3 for the College of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets and a 12 months with the Purple Deer Faculty Kings within the Alberta Schools Athletic Convention, the place he earned a Bachelors of Training diploma.

Trying again on his minor hockey profession, Wold singled out coaches Ken Schuster, Terry Kloberdanz, Bryan Carnegie and Rob Waldner for serving to him to get to the place he’s right this moment.

“I wouldn’t be the place I’m with out these guys volunteering their time and serving to form me into the particular person I’m right this moment,” stated Wold. “These have been my solely 4 coaches from novice to midget. They have been incredible and to volunteer their time, it was fairly essential not solely to me, however all the children they have been concerned with through the years.”

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com