HALIFAX – A new era for women’s hockey in Canada is underway as the national team introduced its new head coach. “I had a lot of emotions, I was in shock and I was excited,” said Kori Cheverie, as she described her reaction when she was named as the team’s new bench boss. Cheverie, who previously served as an assistant coach with the national team, will take the lead at the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark this November. In addition to hoping to lead her team to a gold medal, Cheverie shared other goals she had in mind. “I want to continue to provide our country with a program that they can be proud of, a program that the players are going to keep getting better,” she said. Cheverie disclosed how she was first introduced to hockey as a child in Pictou County, N.S., almost 30 years ago. “Hockey was something that I saw my friends play. It was on TV, and I loved “The Mighty Ducks” movie and that was my big push and draw towards the sport,” she said. “At the time, my mom was a single parent starting a business, and with three kids, there wasn’t a lot of money to go into extracurricular activities. So, I asked her if I could have a yard sale to come up with the money for the equipment, and she agreed to pay for the registration, and that’s how my story started. “I think that’s really important, because that’s where I get my work ethic from,” she added. Cheverie fell in love with hockey and she always clung to her dream of one day being named to the national team. “At the time when I was a young girl, I didn’t think it would be through coaching,” said Cheverie. “I thought I was going to play on the team, but the moment came and it is a pretty surreal moment.” Young female hockey coaches see Cheverie’s career trajectory as an example and path to follow. “I think seeing her there is going to encourage a lot of girls to go into leadership positions, not necessarily coaching hockey, but just being confident in leadership roles,” said Jennifer Marando, who coaches an under-15 girl’s AAA hockey team in Dartmouth. “I think this is the ‘see her, be her’ kind of mentality,” added former Boston University defender Savannah Newton, who played four seasons of NCAA hockey. “Because Kori is taking this on, it’s exactly what young girls need to see.” Cheverie has assumed her new head coaching job at an exciting time for women’s hockey in this country. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has surged in popularity, and the league’s first-ever All-Star event will take place in March. “I get to be a part of this extremely special time, and I want to continue to help build,” said Cheverie, who is also the head coach of the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire. “I’m still a pioneer in the game. I want to put the game in a better place every time I step on the ice, every time I step behind the bench and when I get in front of the players.”
