AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM
MEDIA RELEASE
Overseas coach recruited to lead national team
CANBERRA—
Ice Hockey Australia has decided to search abroad for its newest National Women’s Team recruit – head coach Lindsay McAlpine from Alberta, Canada.
“We’re very keen to move up in the world rankings,” says national women’s director and former head coach Rocky Padjen “and hiring someone like Lindsay McAlpine will give us a much better chance of making this a reality.
“Lindsay is a highly qualified coach, a former Canadian national women’s league player in Edmonton, and an all-star university player. She currently coaches the MacEwan University Griffins women’s hockey team, which she will continue to do.
“She is also the founder of High Tempo Hockey, an all-female hockey school, so she brings so much experience and so many strengths to Australia.”
This will be McAlpine’s first foray into international competition, and she says she’s inspired by the opportunity.
“I am excited about working in an elite team environment where I can bring energy, a strong work ethic, and tactics from my lengthy playing and coaching background,” Ms McAlpine said. “My experience with elite women’s ice hockey programs will serve Australia well around planning, implementation, and competitiveness.”
Currently Australia is in Division IIB after finishing 5th in the 2015 world championships. The women’s ice hockey program was formally launched in 2000 when Australia entered its first world championship qualifier. In 2007, an Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League was established to help grow the sport.
Australia’s new coach will join the team for its first training camp preparing for the 2016 world championships in December, before final preparations in the Czech Republic in early February. Dates for the 2016 world championships in Ankara are February 29 – March 6, with Australia competing against New Zealand, Mexico, Spain, Iceland and Turkey.
Lindsay McAlpine – biography
Lindsay brings a wealth of hockey experience to the Australian national women’s ice hockey team program.
- She is the founder of High Tempo Hockey, an all-female ice hockey school and conditioning camp, as well as a former elite level player playing for the Edmonton Chimos.
- The former University of Alberta Panda’s standout is also a five-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national champion and was named the CIS National Player of the Year.
- Following her academic career, she worked as a teacher at Vimy Ridge Academy in the Edmonton School Board where she was also a part of the school’s hockey development academy, The Hockey Program.
- Combining academics and athletics, Lindsay was an Academic All-Canadian while completing her Bachelor of Physical Education and Education degrees at the University of Alberta.
- The Edmonton native has also completed her Masters of Arts in Sport Sociology with a concentration on varsity women’s ice hockey.
- She has been head coach of the MacEwan University Griffins women’s ice hockey team since 2012.