I’d like to thank the London Devilettes for allowing me to return for a second consecutive season. 

This will be my 16^th year as a Devilette coach, including three years previously with the Jr. team (2003-2006). I also helped coach the UWO varsity women’s team in 1999/00 and 2001/02.  From 2006 to 2008 I served as an Assistant coach with Clarke Singer’s UWO Men’s Hockey team.  I have my Advanced NCCP certification and Level 3 theory.  In my time away from hockey I am a Professor at UWO’s Ivey Business School. 

My number one goal during this, and any hockey season, is to develop student-athletes.  This is based on the assumption that almost everyone playing Junior hockey has aspirations for either CIS or NCAA hockey.   As such, we will be running a program to develop our players as student-athletes, the role they will be playing in the next evolution of their hockey career.  The London Devilettes support this policy and have allocated the team two 1.5 hour practices each week.   

Putting an elite hockey program together requires a skilled and committed coaching staff.  First, I am pleased to report that Dwayne Blais will be back to run our player development.  Dwayne played OHA hockey, NCAA (Division I) hockey and also professional hockey. His coaching resume includes one year as the Power Skating Coach for the London Knights (2005-06), one year as an Assistant Coach in the QMJHL (2006-07), and an on-going role as an Assistant Coach with the UWO Mustangs.   

Christina Joliffe is a new addition to our coaching staff.  Her primary role will be to develop our goalies.  Christina has been an assistant coach the last 4 years at the MAA level.  She played goalie for three years at the University of Toronto and has been a goalie coach in Mississauga for the last eight years.  Chris Broadworth will be returning for his second season as a part-time coach.  Chris coached London’s Intermediate A team in 2008/09 and will be the Head Coach of our new Senior AA team in 2009/10. 

Our expectations of our players are simple: hard work, commitment (100% attendance), focus, a willingness to learn, and a desire to be successful:  traits that serve well even in life after hockey.   

The 2008/09 season was a rebuilding year for the Jr. Devilettes with only four returning players from the previous year’s team and 11 players new to Junior hockey.   Nevertheless, London has had recent modest success with a final six showing at Provincials and strong play down the stretch in the PWHL.  With a solid core of returning players and a strong MAA program, we expect to be quite competitive next season. 

If you have any questions about the program please feel free to call me.   For those uncertain about their eligibility to try-out for the JR team based on the LDGHA policies and procedures, please contact Pam Chantler, the registrar, at bapchants@rogers.com.  

Chris Higgins                                                             
(519) 472-2870 (H)                                                    
(519) 661-3269 (W)
chiggins@ivey.uwo.ca