Over the previous two Canada West seasons, Christine Bumstead has turn into a key piece of the College of Saskatchewan Huskies girls’s hockey crew.
A instructor by day and assistant coach by night time, the 27-year-old from Winnipeg has already earned a U Sports activities nationwide bronze medal and can be behind the bench for the 2024 nationwide championship event hosted by the Huskies in 2024.
It was over the summer season, nonetheless, that she acquired a name from one other staple of the Saskatoon hockey scene.
“Truthfully it was the final telephone name I used to be anticipating to get,” mentioned Bumstead.
On the opposite line of that decision was Saskatoon Blades head coach Brennan Sonne, inquiring about the potential for her becoming a member of the WHL group.
It was a chance to which Bumstead mentioned it was exhausting to say no.
“It’s cool, it’s thrilling and it’s humbling,” mentioned Bumstead. “But it surely additionally simply makes me need to make it possible for I’m prepared for it and I’m going to do a enough job.”
On Tuesday, the Blades formally introduced the hiring of Bumstead because the crew’s new efficiency coach for the 2023-24 WHL season.
She now provides main junior hockey to her rising resume.
“She got here extremely really helpful from an NHL coach,” mentioned Sonne. “We reached out to her, chatted along with her. I used to be actually impressed, truthfully.”
A graduate of the NHL Coaches Affiliation’s Feminine Mentorship Program, Bumstead will help Blades coaches in quite a lot of roles together with working follow, offering in-game and post-game evaluation and giving suggestions to gamers, all whereas persevering with on in her present teaching function with the Huskies.
“Extremely hard-working, a proficient communicator,” mentioned Sonne. “She’s actually good at speaking with gamers and the remainder of the workers, she’s an excellent hockey thoughts as nicely. So we’re excited we will steal her once we can.”
It’s a historic rent for the Blades group, as Bumstead turns into the primary lady to ever be part of the crew’s teaching workers in 59 years as a franchise.
Nevertheless, it’s a chance she feels has little to do with gender.
“It by no means was, ‘That is Christine and he or she’s the primary feminine,’” mentioned Bumstead. “It was, ‘That is Christine and he or she’s part of our workers.’ I felt welcomed due to what I convey as a coach and who I’m as an individual, greater than checking a field.”
Bumstead may even earn some expertise this fall teaching Crew Manitoba on the 2023 Nationwide Ladies’s U18 Hockey Championship in Dawson Creek, B.C.
Whereas pleased with the history-making distinction, Bumstead is assured her work proven on the ice would be the true story as she hopes to now make an influence on the WHL degree.
“I believe long-term, the longevity of it’s who you’re,” mentioned Bumstead. “Not what you’re.”
The Blades kick off their 2023-24 WHL season on Saturday in Regina, whereas the Huskies girls’s hockey crew will host the Manitoba Bisons for his or her season opener on Sept. 29.
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