Rebeca Jane Photography University of Alberta Pandas forward Hayleigh Craig is about to add a new title to her resume: Coach.
Craig was one of 12 U Sports players selected to join Hockey Canada’s Creating Coaches program, an initiative aimed at developing more women in coaching roles across the country. The two-year program allows student-athletes to keep playing university hockey while serving as assistant coaches for local girls’ teams.
For Craig, the opportunity connects two parts of her hockey identity: player and mentor.
“Growing up, I think I had one female coach,” she said. “It’s good to have that role model and a different understanding of what female athletes have been through.”
In her fourth season with the Pandas, Craig will help coach a girls’ team in Edmonton while balancing her own playing career and academics. She’ll receive mentorship and training from Hockey Canada and U Sports, as well as an honorarium over the next two seasons.
A chance to give back
The Creating Coaches program launched in 2021 as a collaboration between U Sports and Hockey Canada. This is the fifth cohort of the program, and features representatives from 12 universities from all across the country. Since its creation, it has provided development and mentorship to players from 23 university programs nationwide.
Craig said she sees this opportunity as a chance to give back to the game that shaped her.
“The culture of Pandas hockey is about being a good person and giving back,” she said. “Anything you do to build that culture and create a legacy matters.”
Coaching philosophy
She credits her own coaches for inspiring her to step behind the bench.
“Howie [Draper] was a big influence on me, just studying these programs and being a good leader,” she said.
Craig’s coaching philosophy reflects that influence. “I want to be a calm, systematic coach with lots of pressure and hard work, similar to Pandas coaching,” she said. “I want to be level-headed and logical, and hopefully progress every day.”
It’s an approach that mirrors how she plays: steady, team-focused, and disciplined. She has already tallied five assists this season. She hopes those same traits will help her connect with younger players and model what women can achieve in hockey leadership.
“It’s good to be relatable,” she said. “You understand what female athletes are going through, and you can help them navigate that.”
The Pandas program has long emphasized leadership and community involvement, and Craig’s inclusion adds to that legacy.
“Part of Pandas culture is knowing your role,” she said. “Do whatever it takes. We’re trying to keep the team together as much as possible, especially with new players.”
Craig’s new role isn’t about stepping away from the ice, it’s about creating an impact on the community that shaped her.
