Courtney Fraser has been working with the townSA国际影视传媒檚 best young female hockey players over the past season and it would appear her work has not gone unnoticed.

Fraser was named as one of the 21 nationwide winners of the BFL Canada Female Coach of the Year Award. The award, which is given out in conjunction with Hockey Canada, is split into two categories: community and competitive. Fraser was named as the winner for Hockey North in the community category.

Her colleague, Kaylee Grant of Yellowknife, won in the competitive category.

Fraser said it came as a complete surprise and started out as simply an interview SA国际影视传媒� at least thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what she was led to believe.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was told that I would be on a Zoom call to talk about womenSA国际影视传媒檚 hockey,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 logged on and as soon as I did, I was told that it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 an interview and I had won the award.SA国际影视传媒�

Fraser, who works as the townSA国际影视传媒檚 recreation programming supervisor, has been involved with minor hockey ever since moving to Hay River in 2021. She began helping out with her childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 teams and this past season was the first one she had worked on a female development program.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had one ice time per week and it was open to girls in U7 through U18,SA国际影视传媒� said Fraser. SA国际影视传媒淲e would end up splitting the ice based on age groups, keeping the younger ages and older ages together, and we would run our practices that way.SA国际影视传媒�

Hay River has a very strong female hockey presence already and that was seen during this past hockey season. Several girls featured on both the Arctic Winter Games and Canada Winter Games girls teams and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 something Fraser said bodes well for the future.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur U13 group are really phenomenal players,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey put in the work and got to that next level and now, the U11 girls can look at them and think SA国际影视传媒楾hat could be me one daySA国际影视传媒�. That could be their push to improve and maybe put themselves in that same position.SA国际影视传媒�

Fraser also said she would love to see the numbers of girls playing hockey increase, but retention is the key.

SA国际影视传媒淯sing those older players as the example, seeing what theySA国际影视传媒檝e done is so important in giving the younger girls something to strive for,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 would love to see an increase in players SA国际影视传媒� who wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛? - but keeping the players we have is the goal.SA国际影视传媒�

The hope of having more girls vs. girls games is something sheSA国际影视传媒檚 hoping for in the future, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淲e already have a lot of girls playing hockey here, but not enough to have games yet,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淔emale hockey is such a different style of game. All of those girls who went to the AWG and CWG told me it was the first time they had played with just girls. It feels more like a team when itSA国际影视传媒檚 all girls because itSA国际影视传媒檚 what youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to be doing when you move up, whether youSA国际影视传媒檙e on the same team or playing against someone else.

Glenn Smith, the townSA国际影视传媒檚 senior administrative officer, said the town is very proud of Fraser and her well-deserved award.

SA国际影视传媒淪he is an admired coach and an ambassador of recreation.,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he town is privileged to have employees like Courtney who give so much of their time to community both on and off the clock.SA国际影视传媒�

The award also came with a $1,000 bursary and Fraser said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 still thinking about how sheSA国际影视传媒檒l use it, though there is one idea rolling around.

SA国际影视传媒淢aybe some more ice time for the girls,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檒l wait and see what happens, but I would love to get them on the ice more often.SA国际影视传媒�