Hockey Alberta has named their coaches for the hockey squads competing in the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, with Carla MacLeod coaching the Under-18 Female team, and Serge Lajoie as head coach of the Under-16 Male team.
Both have previous experience in the Canada Winter Games and Team Alberta programs. MacLeod was a member of Team Alberta as a player at two Canada Winter Games (1995 and 1999), and was the head coach of Team Alberta at the National Women’s U18 Championship in 2016. As a player, her international experience includes Olympic Gold Medals in 2006 and 2010. She also coached Team Japan at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Currently, she is the Midget Female Prep head coach at the Edge School for Athletes.
The former Canadian Olympian said she’s very excited to apart of the event in Red Deer.
“This is a tremendous honour. It has been a goal to get back involved with the Canada Games. Having been involved as a player, it almost feels like I’m coming full circle to come back as a coach. I know the magnitude of the games, and I’m excited to have a front-row seat to some kids living that dream,” said MacLeod.
Lajoie was an assistant coach with the Team Alberta Male squad that won the bronze medal at the 2011 Games in Halifax, and head coach of the gold medal U16 male squad at the 2013 Western Canada Challenge Cup. He also was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship. As a player, Lajoie participated in the inaugural Alberta Cup, winning a silver medal in 1986. Currently, he is the head coach of the University of Alberta Golden Bears.
Lajoie is looking forward to his second chance to coach at the Winter Games, with this being his first as a head coach.
“This is quite an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to coach at the Canada Winter Games. I had the experience in 2011, and I know it is a big event,” said Lajoie. “I really look forward to the opportunity and the challenge to get the most out of the players and make it an experience they will remember for a long time.”
Bobby Fox will join Lajoie as the U16 Male team’s associate coach. Fox, currently an assistant coach with the Medicine Hat Tigers, has coached Team Alberta U16 squads twice, including as head coach of the gold medal squad at the 2015 Western Canada Challenge Cup.
The Canada Winter Games is scheduled for Feb. 14 to 23, 2019, for the Male squad, and Feb. 23 to March 2 for the Female squad.
