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BC HOCKEY ANNOUNCES 2024 FEMALE U18 PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE COACHING STAFF

For Immediate Release

April 2, 2024

Saanichton, B.C. - BC Hockey is proud to announce the Female U18 hockey staff for the 2024 Program of Excellence (POE) season, which will be led by head coach Megan Price and assistant coaches Kelsey Firkus and Kira Makuk.

Price will take charge of the bench for her first season as a member of Team BC's coaching staff. Price joins Team BC with seven years of coaching experience, along with a successful collegiate playing career.

"We are excited to have Megan Price and the staff lead the Female U18 POE program for the 2024 season." Commissioner, Program of Excellence Fred Zweep said, "The development of female coaches in our high performance program has been a focus of ours, and it is thrilling for the first time to have an all-female coaching staff lead the way this season."

Regional Camps are set to begin in April. After Regional Camps, a selection of players will be invited to move on to the Provincial Camp stage that will take place July 25-28, 2024, in Chilliwack, B.C.. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Ultimately, 20 players will be selected to represent Team BC at the 2024 National Women's U18 Championship in November.


Megan Price

Head Coach

Hometown: Calgary, AB

2024-25 Team: Shawnigan Lake School Female U18 Prep (CSSHL)

Background: 

Megan Price will make her debut behind the Team BC bench as head coach for the 2024 season. Price is currently an assistant coach with the Shawnigan Lake School Female U18 Prep Team. Over the past seven years, Price has had stops with the Northern Capitals (BCEHL) from 2017-2019, Edge School (CSSHL) from 2020-2021, Victoria Minor Hockey Association from 2021-2022, and RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg (CSSHL) and Ontario Hockey Academy (CSSHL) during the 2022-23 season.

Price's playing career included years at Niagara University (NCAA) from 2006-2009, and the 2010-11 season with Mount Royal University (USports). Price is a graduate of Mount Royal University with a Bachelor of Business in Sport and Recreation, and also has a Master of Education - Coaching Studies from the University of Victoria.

Kelsey Firkus

Assistant Coach

Hometown: Chilliwack, B.C. 

2024-25 Team: Chilliwack MHA U15 Tier 1

Background: The 2024 season will mark the first for Kelsey Firkus behind the Team BC bench. Involved in coaching for two seasons, Firkus has coached with the Chilliwack MHA U15 A1 team and the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association U15 Development team. Firkus has also volunteered with the Program of Excellence over the past two seasons as a Regional Camp coach and evaluator.

Firkus grew up playing in the BC Hockey ranks with Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association, the Fraser Valley Phantoms of the Female Midget AAA league (now BCEHL). Firkus moved on to the collegiate ranks with the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where she played four seasons and graduated with a Bachelor of Science - Psychology.

 

Kira Makuk

Assistant Coach

Hometown: Calgary, AB

2024-25 Team: Female U18 Development Program (Hockey Yukon)

Background: Kira Makuk will join the Team BC coaching staff for the first time during the 2024 season. Residing in Whitehorse, Yukon, Makuk currently serves as a skills coach with the Female U18 Yukon Wild Hockey Club. She has been a member of the Female Team Yukon coaching staff at various tournaments, including the 2023 Canada Winter Games, and the 2023 and 2024 Arctic Winter Games.

Makuk's playing career included a four-year stint with the University of Calgary from 2016-2020, where she obtained a Bachelor of Health Sciences, majoring in Health and Society. She currently works as a Project Manager for the Yukon First Nation Cancer Care Initiative.