Woodstock native wins prestigious women’s coaching award

Kelly Paton talks to her Laurier women’s team during a university game. (Rebecca Le, Laurier Athletics photo)

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Woodstock native Kelly Paton has been awarded what may be the biggest women’s hockey coaching award in Canada.

The current manager of women's hockey operations and head coach at Wilfred Laurier University was recently given the BFL Women in Coaching Award.

Each year, Hockey Canada and BFL Canada look to highlight the country's best women behind the benches, calling on players and parents from coast to coast to nominate hockey coaches who have made significant contributions to the game.

Kelly is entering her sixth season leading the Golden Hawks and was named as the top high-performance coach, which is defined as a woman coaching athletes that are above the age of 16 and compete at the U SPORTS, Canadian collegiate, or professional levels.

The Echo caught up with Kelly this week while she was on the ice coaching at a private hockey clinic on Vancouver Island where a number of elite female hockey players are attending. She said winning the award was a humbling experience.

“Some of the opportunities that come out of it are most rewarding to me. Just knowing I am getting my foot in the door at Hockey Canada camps with the national teams. The recognition is nice and I haven’t been in the spotlight like that in a very long time. I’m just getting used to all the compliments. It’s been an adjustment for me.”

Kelly said her start in hockey was playing in the boys minor hockey program in Woodstock and she has fond memories of her teammates and coaches.

“The boys definitely made space for me to feel included. They saw value in what I brought to the team and they made their best attempt to ensure I wasn’t an outsider on a make team. I was a team member of equal value in their eyes.”

Her father was her first coach in minor hockey before her uncle took the reigns.

“The rest of the staff stuck around for a good run of five or six years. We won Alliance titles and Silver Sticks but more importantly, the relationships I made then to this day set the foundation of what I wanted my friendships to be.”

Kelly left Woodstock to play in the London Devilittes program during her second year of bantam, or U15 hockey. As for what’s next in her career, she’s open to moving up the ladder.

“Most coaches want the opportunity to be a part of a Canadian national team. At this point, I am looking to keep my experiences open to continue to grow as a coach and put my players in the best position for them to develop.”

After her final year of minor hockey, she spent four years at New Hampshire University on a scholarship, serving as captain and finishing as a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award as a senior in the 2009-10 season.

She added she is keeping a close eye on the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

“A lot of my counterparts have been a part of those programs for the last few years. It’s an exciting time right now to be involved in women’s hockey and I’m sure there will be growing opportunities.”

Former Team Canada player Jessica Campbell will be the first woman to be on the bench of an NHL team this coming season with the Seattle Kraken.

“I am really excited to see how that dynamic works and I think she has the right head coach (Dave Hakstol) knowing they have worked together in the past and I am sure he will put her in a position to have success. Give her a chance knowing it is a new era of having a female on the bench of a pro team. But I think it’s the confidence and skill of the individual that is being recognized regardless of gender.”

As the national winner in her category, Kelly will receive a $5,000 bursary and an invite to Canada's National Women's Team camp this September.