By Coleen Dalton
The London Devilettes are excited to announce Kelly Paton as the new head coach of the Intermediate AA/Junior team! Kelly brings with her many years of minor hockey, varsity, training and coaching experience. The players on the team will benefit greatly from Kelly’s knowledge and competitive spirit.
Kelly began her competitive minor hockey career playing AA on a boys’ team in Woodstock. She made the switch to girls’ hockey in her second year of Bantam, playing on the Devilettes’ Bantam AA team. She played on the Devilettes’ Junior team for three years – this is where she believes she developed the most as a hockey player. In minor hockey, she learned what it meant to be a leader far beyond having a “C” or an “A” on her jersey. Kelly believes that “a successful leader is having the courage to hold you and your teammates accountable for the factors leading into performance.” These experiences provided her with a great base to venture into varsity Division I hockey in the U.S.
Kelly had great successes as both a minor hockey and varsity player, winning provincial titles, NCAA East Championships and being named Captain of her varsity team. She brings to the Junior program not only an understanding of where the players currently are in terms of their hockey experience, but also where they have the potential to go in the future!
According to Kelly, the Devilettes’ Junior program can help players bridge the gap between minor and college hockey. Players set long-term goals and then she provides the opportunities and development to help them achieve those goals. She helps players understand the factors that lead to peak performance – including nutrition, training, goal setting and practice.
One of the main reasons Kelly decided to join the coaching staff of the Junior team last season was not only her passion for the sport but also her understanding of the opportunities that exist for female hockey players, particularly in Canada and the U.S. She has gained a university education, travelled internationally and made many professional contacts all through playing the game she loves. Kelly now wants to provide a positive experience and help other female minor hockey players achieve the goals they set out for themselves.
Next season, Kelly will take the helm of the Devilettes’ Junior team not only as a great coach but also as a great role model and mentor for the players. Welcome back to the Devilettes, Kelly!
Please follow our Junior team next season as Kelly makes her head coaching debut.
www.londondevilettes.ca
