A CHAMPIONSHIP COACH

By MARIO ANNICCHIARICO

It’s been a year to remember for Karen Kos with a league and BC Hockey Championship at the U13 Female division, an invite to the prestigious Quebec Invitational Pee Wee tournament, and all capped with BC Hockey’s Ernie Gare Award, recognizing B.C. and  Yukon’s coach of the year.

“To take in this team and to have the season that we’ve had; sometimes I just have to pinch myself,” said Kos, the head coach of the North Shore Winter Club’s Female U13 A1 Winterhawks.

“The goal is to inspire athletes in general. Every day when you go on the ice, you just want to help them get better and better, and then to have the entire team achieve the amazing goals that we set out to do, and to pick off every one of our goals on our checklist was so rewarding for them. To watch how excited they were to realize they were doing this, that was the real icing on the cake for me.”

Kos, a power skating coach by day, took on the group more than six years ago and - with some additions along the way – turned them into champions, claiming the league and BC Hockey Championship banners this season and just missing out on the regular-season banner, falling short on sportsmanship points.

“People say it’s like a movie-type story, a group of girls that poured their hearts into training and became a championship team. It’s been an amazing year,” said the native of Hope, B.C., who never got her chance to play hockey back in the day.

Her Winterhawks were also trailblazers, becoming the first girl’s team to represent not only B.C., but Western Canada (at that age level) in Quebec.

“I knew the room and my girls, and there was a lot of fire in them this year that I knew we wanted to capitalize on. They wanted to win for each other and prove to our competitors what we were capable of,” said Kos, who added the team received tremendous backing from the club and community as the team played upwards of 75 games.

“It was the perfect season and I’m super proud of them,” added Kos, whose philosophy is to play an aggressive game, even though there is no hitting at that level. “They could still be physical and battle for the puck through body positioning and using your body accordingly.”

In fact, when they were a younger group, Kos used sumo wrestling competitions in one of the circles on the ice, with players trying to push each other out to get used to the physical component of hockey.

Skating is her number one priority, however, believing that if you’re a great skating team, you can play a high level of hockey, using speed as a weapon. Kos, herself, has trained players in skating for 30 years from the initiation level to the professional ranks.

“I’m very passionate about it. Skating is my passion. I love teaching that aspect of the game and make people realize that if they have a faster pace in them and, if they can tap into the mechanics to make that happen, it becomes a true benefit,” she said.

Kos received the Ernie Gare Award, which is presented to BC Hockey’s top coach who shows leadership to players, demonstrates skill development and has a sound philosophy. The award is presented each year in memory of the late Ernie Gare, of Nelson, B.C., who demonstrated what BC Hockey feels are the ideal elements of a coach.

Kos was nominated by both Susanne MacKillop and Evan Richardson,  who is North Shore Winter Club’s Director of Hockey.

“These young hockey players will never forget this coach, their teammates and the experience this year has provided them. This is due to the dedication of their coach - the mentorship, positivity and understanding that they are one team,” offered MacKillop. We need to lift up our female program and highlight the wins within BC Hockey for our female players.”

“Karen has continued to be a crucial part in her team’s development, on and off the ice, all while being an advocate for equal opportunity in sport and a vocal ambassador for female hockey in the lower mainland,” added Richardson.

“These girls have something to work for beyond their team and personal goals this year, and Karen's dedication has guided them to be the best they can be. She remains an inspiring leader and outstanding role model for all of the girls she coaches. There is no one more deserving of this award, as there is simply no limit to Karen's dedication or passion to coaching female hockey, both now and in the future.”

Mario Annicchiarico is a freelance writer based in Victoria who has previously covered the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers, as well as the Western Hockey League.