Alex Boulanger used to spend her working hours waiting for the weekend. To get away from the office and back to the rink. She didn’t care about the level; she just wanted to spend more time around hockey. Then it finally occurred to her that she could. She just had to try.

“What was tough for me was [worrying about] what other people were going to think … but at the end of the day, it’s what you’re going to think if you don’t,” Boulanger said. “Have the courage to just go … often times [success] is just the audacity to go and try.”

So, at 29 years old, the product of Brossard, Quebec, went back to university in pursuit of a career in hockey.

She enrolled at the Université de Montréal and played two seasons with the Carabins, until there was no longer room for her on the roster. Though disappointing at the time, being forced to find a new team (and therefore a new school) was a stroke of luck for Boulanger.

She reached out to Concordia University coach Caroline Ouellette and asked for a tryout. It went well and she was invited to join the team.

“I didn’t know Alex very much, but I had heard great things about her character, her leadership and about her as a teammate,” said Ouellette, a four-time Olympic gold medallist and 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee. “I knew she was very involved in the community already as a student-athlete, in coaching and volunteering in different areas of hockey, so for us at Concordia it just made sense to have that type of leadership and character and experience.”

“That’s where the passion and the goal to coach really grew, especially under [Ouellette], who I can now call a good friend and a good mentor to me,” Boulanger said. “She and Julie [Chu] have been very kind to me, took me under their wings.”

U SPORTS transfer rules require a player to redshirt for a season before being eligible with a new school, so by the time Boulanger suited up for the Stingers, she was in her fourth year of university. Which, coincidentally, meant she was eligible for Creating Coaches, a program launched by Hockey Canada and the Hockey Canada Foundation (HCF) in 2021. It is designed to encourage more women into leadership positions by supporting senior student-athletes to try coaching.

“It’s tough when you want to start coaching and you’re a player … you need training, but you also need the connection to a team,” Boulanger said, explaining how the Hockey Canada program facilitates the needs of the student-athlete and the minor hockey teams they coach.

In addition to providing coaching certification, Creating Coaches connects the athletes with a minor hockey organization to build a coaching resume. A financial subsidy from the HCF enables athletes to commit more easily to the whole program by not having to balance part-time work on top of everything else.

“If it wasn’t for the program and the financial support that’s through the Hockey Canada Foundation, there’s no way I could have committed all my free time to a team,” Boulanger said, who spent two seasons with CEGEP teams while finishing up her own schooling.

“You can tell right away as a coach yourself, there’s a certain few that have what it takes to become a coach,” Ouellette explained. “I think Alex always had the intangibles: the work ethic, the passion, the dedication for the game to better herself, to better her teammates and to want to study the game.

“We were really, really so proud that she was chosen as part of the Creating Coaches program because we really believe it’s truly an important program to build and to give opportunities to more student-athletes to start coaching and to develop a passion for it.”

Boulanger graduated from Concordia (and Creating Coaches) in 2023 and felt ready to make a living out of hockey. A longtime friend and former minor hockey teammate, Valérie Bois, had just been named head coach of the women’s hockey team at Bishop’s University, so Boulanger made a call. One brief, formal meeting later, she was a full-time assistant coach.

“I was coaching players I had just played against for the past two seasons,” Boulanger pointed out. “But at some point, you just have to take the opportunity when it comes.”

Boulanger is no stranger to opportunity. With the Stingers, she was part of back-to-back U SPORTS national championship drives, including one title win. With the Gaiters, she was back in the national championship game in just her second season behind the bench. But this time, Boulanger was facing down a friendly foe. Waterloo Warriors assistant coach Emma Cheeseman was in the inaugural Creating Coaches cohort with Boulanger.

“Emma and I, during the starting [lineup] presentation, looked at each other and were just like ‘Let’s go!’” Boulanger remembered. “It was just like coming full circle.”

“We were so very proud for her and Valérie Bois, who is also a great friend in coaching,” Ouellette said. “We felt a lot of pride for Alex in her young coaching career because we know how hard she worked to bring Bishop’s to the level they were playing at when it mattered the most.”

Coming off the national title, Bois was offered a position in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. When it was time to tell Boulanger, she just had one question.

“She gave me a call and said, ‘When would you be ready to be a head coach?’” Boulanger said with a grin.

Boulanger was named Bishop’s head coach for the 2025-26 season. Eight years after starting a journey to break away from a desk, Boulanger was living her dream.

The Kananaskis Country Golf Course was buzzing with excitement on Aug. 27 as donors, a who’s-who of Team Canada athletes and Assist Fund families came together for a day that blended hockey, golf and a world-class setting with a powerful purpose.

The Great Assist Golf Tournament helped mark a special milestone—the fifth anniversary of the Assist Fund, which has been breaking down barriers to keep kids on the ice and in the game. Celebrating five years, $5 million and 10,000 assists, the event brought together 36 generous donors and a star-studded lineup of players, coaches and staff from Canada’s men’s, women’s and para hockey programs who were gathered in Calgary for National Teams Orientation Camp on the road to Italy.

In true “only at Hockey Canada” fashion, every group had the rare chance to share the fairways with Team Canada athletes—creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Laughter and friendly competition filled both courses at Kananaskis as influential business leaders and community builders teamed up with Canada’s best to raise funds and awareness for the HCF’s work across the country. The presence of Assist Fund families served as a powerful reminder of the real impact this program has made over the past five years—and why the support of events like this matters so much.

Thanks to the generosity of our participants and partners, the tournament raised more than $500,000, helping ensure more kids have the chance to experience everything hockey has to offer. The day was highlighted by not only great scores, but a renewed sense of purpose: continuing to make hockey accessible to all, no matter the barriers.

TORONTO, Ontario - The Hockey Canada Foundation has announced that it has committed $1 million for its Assist Fund during the 2025-26 hockey season, which will be distributed as registration-fee subsidies for young Canadians playing hockey and facing financial barriers.

Since it launched in 2020, the Assist Fund has helped over 10,000 Canadian children from diverse backgrounds to participate in competitive and non-competitive hockey, including over 4,000 who identify with Black, Indigenous or racialized communities.

“The Assist Fund is a critical program for our foundation to help more children get on the ice and experience the positive benefits of playing hockey from coast to coast to coast,” said Donna Iampieri, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “As we celebrate its five-year anniversary, we are grateful to the leadership and contributions of our volunteer board of directors, partners, staff and the many Canadians who donate to the Assist Fund each year.”

Each approved recipient will receive up to a $500 assist, which can be applied to registration fees this season with minor hockey associations sanctioned by Hockey Canada.

To enhance the impact of the Assist Fund, 100 per cent of all donated funds from Canadians will go towards applicants of the program. Donations can be made at AssistFund.HockeyCanadaFoundation.ca.

The application process for the Assist Fund is now open and can be found here.

To learn more about the Hockey Canada Foundation, please visit HockeyCanadaFoundation.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram.

The Hockey Canada Foundation (HCF) is proud to support Creating Coaches — a groundbreaking program helping to shape the next generation of women leaders in hockey. Now in its fourth year, the initiative provides mentorship, training and hands-on coaching experience to U SPORTS student-athletes as they begin their journey behind the bench.

With targeted grant funding from the HCF, a total of 16 student-athletes received on-going support during the 2024–25 season while serving as assistant coaches with U13, U15 or U18 girls’ teams. As active players themselves, these young women gain vital experience, receive professional development opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the sport’s growth at the grassroots level.

The impact is already being felt. In March 2025, Creating Coaches alumna Alex Boulanger helped guide Bishop’s University to its first-ever U SPORTS national championship, while Emma Cheeseman was behind the bench for Waterloo University in its run to the championship game.

Current coaches in the program are also making waves — Izzy Lajoie (University of Alberta) was on the coaching staff with the 2025 Esso Cup champions, the Edmonton Jr. Oilers!

Another win off the ice, Charlotte Melindy (Queen’s University) was the 2025 recipient of the OUA Champion of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Award while also mentoring a U18 AA girls’ team in Kingston, Ontario.

With the continued support of the HCF, the program will expand to accept 11 new student-athletes for the 2025-26 season, totaling 20 Creating Coaches for the program’s fifth year. The highest enrollment number to date for the program!

By investing in programs like Creating Coaches, the HCF is helping close the gender gap in coaching and ensuring more women are empowered to lead — both on and off the ice.

In rinks across the country – and even beyond our borders – the hockey community continues to show what makes this sport so special: a deep, shared belief that every child deserves the chance to play.

This spring, that spirit came to life through two unforgettable Assist Fund events hosted by the Hockey Canada Foundation (HCF). Thanks to the commitment of the board of directors of the HCF and Canadian Hockey Foundation US (CHFUS), along with the generosity of partners, over $200,000 was raised to help more kids lace up their skates and find their place in the game.

In Tampa Bay, the first-ever U.S.-based fundraiser – led by CHFUS vice-chair Steve Griggs – brought together hockey legends, NHL leadership and passionate supporters. Just days later, the tradition continued in Montreal, where long-time HCF director Barry F. Lorenzetti hosted a powerful evening at the Bell Centre, uniting donors, alumni and Team Canada greats in support of a shared mission.

These nights weren’t just about raising funds – they were about rallying the hockey community around a simple but powerful goal: to ensure financial barriers are never the reason a child is left off the ice. From coast to coast to coast and across generations, this is what hockey looks like at its best – united, generous and full of heart.

Together, we’re breaking down barriers and keeping the game we love open to all.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada and U SPORTS have announced the nine student-athletes who have been selected to join Creating Coaches, a program designed to increase the number of women coaching hockey in Canada, as part of its fourth cohort.

The student-athletes will receive training and mentorship through the program during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

Creating Coaches was launched in 2021 through a partnership between Hockey Canada, U SPORTS and the Hockey Canada Foundation to provide current U SPORTS student-athletes with opportunities to begin their coaching careers while still playing university women’s hockey.

Each student-athlete will be an assistant coach for a U13, U15 or U18 girls’ hockey team and receive coach education, professional development opportunities and an honorarium.

This year’s cohort includes student-athletes from nine U SPORTS women’s hockey programs across all four of its conferences:

• Allie Barter (Saint Mary’s University, AUS)
• Jordyn Blais (University of Regina, CW)
• Annick Boudreau (Université de Moncton, AUS)
• Brianna Bowman (Wilfrid Laurier University, OUA)
• Madison Cronkwright (Brock University, OUA)
• Maggi Dewolf-Russ (University of Windsor, OUA)
• Jessymaude Drapeau (Concordia University, RSEQ)
• Charlotte Melindy (Queen’s University, OUA)
• Keiara Raitt (University of Waterloo, OUA)
  
  

“We are so grateful to the U SPORTS coaches who nominated these nine incredible women to join Creating Coaches at such an exciting and important time for women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada,” said Marin Hickox, vice-president of women’s and girls’ hockey at Hockey Canada. “The first three cohorts of participants have positively impacted the game in so many ways, and we are thrilled to expand this year’s group to include more deserving student-athletes, thanks to the generous financial support of the Hockey Canada Foundation.

“Girls who have been coached by a woman are more likely to transition into a coaching role at the end of their playing careers, and it is our intention that this program will continue to positively influence the recruitment and retention of girls and women in leadership roles in the sport.”

Since its inception, Creating Coaches has included student-athletes from 19 U SPORTS women’s hockey programs and all four of its conferences.

“We are incredibly proud of the U SPORTS athletes who have been selected to join the Creating Coaches program,” said Pierre Arsenault, chief executive officer of U SPORTS. “These student-athletes represent the future of leadership in sport, and their involvement in this program will not only elevate their own careers but also inspire countless others. By stepping into coaching roles, they are helping to build a stronger, more inclusive sports community across Canada.”

The Creating Coaches selection committee includes representation from Hockey Canada, U SPORTS, Hockey Canada’s Members and the Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors.

During National Coaches Week, Hockey Canada is celebrating the positive impact coaches have on athletes in communities from coast to coast to coast, with #ThanksCoach resources and features shared here.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

TORONTO, Ontario - The Hockey Canada Foundation has committed $1 million for its Assist Fund during the 2024-25 hockey season, which will be distributed as registration-fee subsidies for young Canadians playing hockey and facing financial barriers.

Since it launched in 2020, the Assist Fund has helped nearly 10,000 Canadian children from diverse backgrounds to participate in competitive and non-competitive hockey, including over 3,000 who identify with Black, Indigenous or racialized communities.

“The Assist Fund is a critical program for our foundation to help more children get on the ice and experience the positive benefits of playing hockey from coast to coast to coast,” said Donna Iampieri, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “Through the leadership and contributions of our volunteer board of directors, partners, staff and the many Canadians who donate to the Hockey Canada Foundation each year, we are proud to commit $1 million in assists to those who need it the most in our communities.”

Each approved recipient will receive up to a $500 assist, which can be applied to registration fees this season with minor hockey associations sanctioned by Hockey Canada.

To enhance the impact of the Assist Fund, 100 per cent of all donated funds from Canadians will go towards applicants of the program. Donations can be made at AssistFund.HockeyCanadaFoundation.ca.

The application process for the Assist Fund is now open and can be found here.

To learn more about the Hockey Canada Foundation, please visit HockeyCanadaFoundation.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alberta – The Hockey Canada Foundation has announced that 3,322 young players across the country will receive subsidies towards hockey registration fees for the 2023-24 season through its Assist Fund, which is the most in the program’s four-year history.

More than $1.5 million will be distributed to approved participants this season, with assists going to kids in each of Hockey Canada’s 13 Members. 

This year’s record number of assists represents a 30% increase compared to last season, and 38% of assists are to participants who identify with the Black, Indigenous and racialized community.

“The Assist Fund is such an important program that helps more children and families register for hockey and create lifelong memories through the sport we all love,” said Donna Iampieri, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “This initiative would not be possible without the generosity of Canadians and our partners, and with their support, we look forward to providing more assists to those facing financial barriers to hockey in the future.”

Since 2020, the Assist Fund has provided financial support to more than 8,000 kids, including over 3,000 who identify with the Black, Indigenous and racialized community. The Assist Fund was launched ahead of the 2020-21 season in response to the many families experiencing financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has continued to provide subsidies to help more young Canadians enjoy the game they love.

The Hockey Canada Foundation Assist Fund – parent testimonials

“Tucker loves everything hockey, and he is so thankful for organizations like this that let him get on the ice. Thank you for helping my child be active and healthy!” – Jesse in Ontario

“Our community has a growing number of Indigenous players and we wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of the Assist Fund.” – Averil in British Columbia

“Jaxon eats, sleeps and plays hockey and his love for it is something I could never take away from him. We are honoured to be part of the Hockey Canada Foundation and look forward to keeping him doing what he loves.” – Charlene in Alberta

Canadians can give an assist of their own this holiday season, with 100% of donations going towards subsidized registration fees for additional Canadian kids. More information can be found at AssistFund.HockeyCanadaFoundation.ca.

To learn more about the Hockey Canada Foundation, please visit HockeyCanadaFoundation.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – The Hockey Canada Foundation (HCF) has welcomed three new members to its board of directors, with the appointments of Steven Albiani (Toronto, Ont.), Angela James (Toronto, Ont.) and Brad Morris (Unionville, Ont.).

“We are excited to have Steven, Angela and Brad join the Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors, as each of them bring unique perspectives and experiences in hockey,” said Doug Goss, chair of the HCF Board of Directors. “Their expertise will be important to furthering our efforts in communities across the country, and we look forward to working with them to enhance our programs that help eliminate barriers in the game.”

Albiani is the managing partner of Stratum Advisory Group Inc., a boutique tax and insurance planning firm. A certified financial planner who holds a certificate as a family business advisor from the Family Firm Institute, Albiani is a volunteer member of the SickKids Foundation Professional Advisory Board, and sits on the boards of a number of private companies. He has also been a guest instructor at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University, his alma mater.

Widely considered as the first superstar in women’s hockey, James led Canada’s National Women’s Team to win a gold medal at four IIHF World Women’s Championships, scoring a record 11 goals at the inaugural edition in 1990. She was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010, appointed to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021 and was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2022. James is the co-owner and general manager of the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation.

Morris is currently a global executive with Grote Industries LLC, a leading worldwide innovator of transportation safety systems. From 2012 to 2017, Morris was the chair of the board of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) and received the 2018 CWHL Humanitarian of the Year Award. Morris has also served on many other not-for-profit boards, most recently as chair of the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, and has been a long-time advocate for growing women’s and girls’ hockey.

To unite all Canadians and achieve its mission, the Hockey Canada Foundation is committed to three strategic priorities: enable, educate and engage. Each year, HCF programs remove barriers to the game, provide resources and tools to better equip kids, parents and coaches, and promote nation-building, citizenship, mentorship and community involvement.

HCF programs include the Assist Fund, which provided registration subsidies to a record 2,349 children in 2022-23, Dreams Come True, a financial assistance program designed to introduce participants to hockey by providing head-to-toe equipment and assisting with registration fees, and Hockey Is Hers, which focuses on impacting girls and women in the game. 

The HCF Board of Directors also includes Goss, Ashif Mawji (vice-chair), Peter Brauti (secretary), Allan Matthews (treasurer), David Andrews (past chair) and directors Susan Anderson, Sean Finn and Barry F. Lorenzetti. In addition, the Hockey Canada Foundation U.S. board includes Bill Ackerman (chair), Mike Humes (vice-chair), Adam Graves (secretary) and Paul Delparte (treasurer).