Photo Credit: The Athlete Training Centre
Recently, the Arizona Coyotes hired Dawn Braid as their skating coach. Making history, Braid became the first woman hired as a full-time coach in the NHL. She has a long history of involvement with the NHL. In fact, one of her past accomplishments includes working with Islanders captain John Tavares to become a better skater. She worked part-time with Arizona and consulted other teams in the league. Coyotes GM John Chayka stated that Braid is one of the best in her field and it was a no-brainer to hire her.
Braid joins a small group of women in major league sports working as full-time coaches. In both the NBA and NFL a team has a female working on the coaching staff. The NHL now joins them in ushering in new opportunities for women in sports . These women are breaking down barriers to be involved in coaching men’s sports. As these coaches show that the ability to coach and their area of expertise are just the same as the coaches that came before them, there may be more women in big time sports positions than ever before.
Since this hiring marks a new dawn for the NHL, it is an exciting time for women in hockey. With the NWHL’s successful inaugural season and Dawn Braid as Coyotes’ skating coach, there are only positive things in store for the future for women in hockey.
