Delaney Collins will serve as an assistant coach for both the female prep team and the newly-formed female varsity team.
Collins joins OHA after working as an assistant coach at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2016, where she helped guide the Division 1 NCAA school to two Frozen Four appearances and two CHA League Playoff Championships.
“I really enjoyed my time at Mercyhurst, but I felt I was ready for a change,” Collins said. “All of my family is in Western Canada or Western U.S., so I wanted to be closer to my family and be in Canada. I also wanted a change of coaching scenery so I could continue developing as a coach.”
Collins has also been an assistant coach for the Canadian National Women’s Under-18 team and the Canadian National Women’s Development team.
Prior to her career as a coach, she represented Canada as a member of the Canadian National Women’s team from 1999 to 2011, winning three gold and two silver medals at the IIHF World Women’s Championship. Collins also played for the University of Alberta from 2004 to 2006, where she was named an All-Canadian twice and was part of the 2005 CIS National Championship team.
“I originally wasn’t overly interested in coaching, but as soon as I got involved in it I found I was very interested in it,” Collins said. “I’ve learned a lot coaching, and as soon as I started working with our national team programs I really loved it.”
Collins believes a coach should always be well prepared, positive and interested in the development of the athlete so they can have an optimal performance.
“I think I bring a good mix of intensity, anticipation and also a calmness so the players can relax and play,” she said.
Collins will begin coaching on Aug. 1, and in the meantime she is focused on getting settled in Penticton and doing whatever is necessary to help the hockey program over the summer.
“I’m very excited, I know that OHA is an elite program,” she said. “I’m looking forward to learning to focusing on coaching and learning from (head coaches) Christina (Sharun) and Jim (Fetter).”
