Shawnigan Lake School’s Carly Haggard has received the British Columbia BFL Women in Coaching Award in the Competitive Category.
The BFL Female Coach of the Year Awards recognize and honor coaches who exemplify the positive values of hockey and sport, for their successful and outstanding achievements in player development and the leadership of their players and teams, while making outstanding contributions over an extended period of time coaching hockey programs within Hockey Canada female or minor hockey programs.
The Competitive Coach category is defined as a woman coaching athletes who play and compete in divisions where the participants are eligible to compete in National Championships, accredited Sport Schools Championships, or provincially designated Programs of Excellence. (ex. Sport Schools, U15-U18 AAA, U22 Elite).
Haggard, has spent the last eight seasons as the Female U18 Prep head coach for Shawnigan Lake. She was nominated by her assistant coaches, players and athletic director who thought it was important that she was recognized for what she has done for female hockey.
“Coach Carly is someone who is always there for every individual athlete on the team. Not only does she care for you on the ice, but off the ice just as much, if not more. She understands each individual as a unique person and always makes sure that we are okay or in need of help in whatever aspect hockey brings on us,” said Morgan Jackson who spent the last two seasons on the Shawnigan Female U18 Prep team. “Whether it’s on the ice, off the ice, your mental side, video, in the gym, etc. She always makes sure everyone is pushing themselves beyond, but always makes sure it’s with a smile. I am so lucky to have been coached by her, and I know not only do I speak for myself, but for all of the other amazing athletes that have/had the opportunity to be coached by her would say the same.”
As the BC BFL Women ins Coaching Award winner, Haggard will receive a $1,000 bursary to further her coaching development.
“It’s such an honor to win this award. It was a surprise that’s for sure. When you get into coaching, you do it because you love it, not for awards, but it’s feels great to be recognized,” said Haggard.
“I absolutely love coaching at Shawnigan Lake School. I always say it would be very hard to coach anywhere else as Shawnigan is such a special place. I love the community atmosphere where I get to know the players at such a deeper level. This connection helps me be able to coach them at my best, understanding what makes them tick,” added Haggard. “The CSSHL is an amazing league. It always has the players interest at the forefront. The league understands there’s so much more than hockey.”
Haggard joins Brittany Kirby (Delta Hockey Academy, 2022) and Cassea Schols (Okanagan Hockey Academy, 2021) as recent CSSHL recipients of the British Columbia BFL Women in Coaching Award in the Competitive Category.
