High Performance Program (Barrie Women's Hockey Association)

Inspire athletes that will be leaders in the association, and in the community.

Help athletes to develop integrity, courage and self-esteem

Support the overall emotional and physical well-being of our players.

Foster a high-performance environment that is positive, safe, and respectful at all times.

To bring maximum effort to every activities, on and off the ice.

To be exceptional teammates to each other, and all players

To represents the Barrie Sharks with honour and integrity, and to be a role model of the association’s core values

Frequent player assessment designed to encourage continuous growth and development

On-Ice activities to advance mastery of the highest level of hockey skills and tactics.

Off-ice physical training activities to challenge players to increase their physical abilities.

Mental training to provide athletes with the tools and mindsets to promote positive mental health.

Integrated approach to promote a higher level of interaction between teams and players in the high-performance program.

Higher level of coordination between teams to maximize opportunities for players to play and practice with higher level teams.

Duane Eldridge -[email protected]

Duane Eldridge is a highly experienced coach with over 20 years of coaching and player development experience. He has led teams at the AA level for all age groups, including our Barrie Jr. Sharks (Intermediate AA) team. During his time with us, he helped over 20 players achieve their goal of playing competitive USPORTS/NCAA hockey in Canada and the United States. Duane is passionate about player development. He has a proven track record of assessing player skills, creating team and individual development plans, and successfully executing these plans to help players achieve their goals.

Jay Zealand -[email protected]

Jay has been involved in minor league sports for almost 25 years with coaching experience in competitive levels for hockey, lacrosse and baseball. Teams and associations he has worked with include York Simcoe Express, Barrie Minor Lacrosse, Bradford Minor Hockey and most recently the BWHA. Jay also brings leadership and strategy experience from his years working with the OMHA as a convenor and Bradford Minor Hockey as the VP of House league & Hockey Canada Pathway Development.

U22 Jr. Sharks

Duane Eldridge -[email protected]

Coach Eldridge possesses extensive coaching and player development expertise of over 20 years, encompassing positions across all age groups at the AA level. Notably, he previously spearheaded our Barrie Jr. Sharks (Intermediate AA) team from 2014 to 2018, where he facilitated the achievement of the competitive goals of over 20 players who successfully transitioned to play USPORTS/NCAA hockey in Canada and the United States.

U18AA

Mike White -[email protected]

We are thrilled to announce that Mike White will be returning to the U18AA team for a second season. Mike has dedicated over a decade to coaching with the BWHA. Throughout his tenure, Coach White has led an impressive total of 9 different teams, serving as head coach for various age groups including U9-A, U11-AA, U13-AA, U15-A, U18-A, and U18-AA teams.

In addition to his significant contributions to our association, Coach White also serves as an assistant coach with our U22-AA Barrie Jr Sharks team. His coaching prowess has resulted in numerous accolades for his teams, including multiple regular season titles and league championships.

Coach White's teams have also clinched victories in prestigious tournaments, notably securing an International Silver Stick Final and back-to-back wins at the Bell Capital Cup in 2016 and 2017.

We are incredibly grateful to have Mike as part of our High Performance once again, and are glad to have Coach Mike’s dedication and success shaping the future of our players within the BWHA!

Coach Mike White can be reached at [email protected]

U15AA

Kayley Powers -[email protected]

We are delighted to welcome back Kaley Powers, a seasoned hockey player with over 25 years of experience in the sport. Kaley's journey began at the AA level as a youth player, where she honed her skills and passion for the game. She then continued her hockey career at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she proudly represented the Golden Hawks in what is now U-Sports, previously known as Canadian Interuniversity Sports.

Upon relocating to Barrie, Kaley transitioned seamlessly into coaching, joining our U15-AA Sharks as an assistant coach for the 2022-23 season, and co-coach with the U18-AA team in 2023-24. With her wealth of experience as both a player and a coach, Kaley brings invaluable insights into the high-performance realm of hockey.

Having navigated the highs and lows of the competitive hockey landscape, Kaley understands firsthand what it takes for our players to achieve success at the elite level, both on and off the ice. Her dedication and expertise will undoubtedly serve as a guiding light for our players as they strive to reach their full potential.

Coach Kaley Powers can be reached at [email protected]

U15AA

Brittany Kellington - [email protected]

We are thrilled to announce that Brittany Kellington, with nearly two decades of hockey experience at an elite level, will be joining our U15-AA program next season. Hailing from Brussels, Ontario, Brittany's journey in hockey began in her hometown, where she excelled in elite-level boys hockey before transitioning to U15-AA with the Saugeen-Maitland Association.

Upon moving to Barrie in her late teens, Brittany continued her hockey career with the Sr AA Sharks and has remained a valued member of the team ever since. Currently serving as an assistant coach with our U15-AA Sharks, Brittany brings a wealth of leadership, knowledge, and passion for the game to our program.
We are confident that Brittany's expertise and dedication will greatly benefit our U15-AA players, and we look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly make next season. 

Coach Brittany Kellington can be reached at [email protected]

Taylor Staden, Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC)

Taylor Staden is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC), administered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA). A lifelong athlete, he became passionate about mental performance while still in high-school. Fast-forward to now, this passion has led him to learn from world-renowned professors and consultants.

Since founding Upper Mentality in 2019, he has been actively providing mental training services to athletes and teams across ice hockey, baseball, tennis, marathon running, swimming, canoe slalom, and more. Past and current clientele include National Team athletes, as well as others across the AHL, OHL, NCAA, U SPORTS, ‘AAA’ hockey and more.

Jackie McKenzie - Registered Dietitian & Sports Nutritionist

Jackie McKenzie is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Western Ontario (1997) and a combined Dietetic Internship and Masters of Science degree in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph and Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (1999). In 2013, she completed the Intensive Sports Nutrition Course with the Sports Dietitians of Australia.

Practicing as a Registered Dietitian for over 20 years, Jackie has worked in a variety of clinic settings offering practical and leading edge nutrition solutions for general wellness, weight management, eating disorders, disease prevention and sports performance

Heather Dix - Collegiate Academic Advisor

As an educational advisor, Heather provides advice and direction based on each student’s specific needs after in-depth consultation and research. After working with the student exploring their interests, learning style, expectations and career aspirations, she will recommend programs/areas of study and universities and colleges that match the student’s needs. Her extensive experience and knowledge of Ontario, Canadian and US university and college systems enables her to provide both prospective and current post-secondary students, objective advice and guidance, allowing the student to make an informed choice.

Dawn Stephens- Academic Advisor Committee Lead

Dawn Stephens is an experienced educator with over 20 years in secondary education. Dawn has supported many athletes in their post-secondary athletic careers and is very knowledgeable of the requirements of academic readiness to pursue a successful student-athlete pathway. Dawn has been a volunteer with the BWHA and a former player. She is very excited to work with our athletes to support their academic and athletic success.

Randii-Lynn Welsh - Academic Advisory Committee Member

Randii-Lynn Welsh is a Registered Social Worker with a Masters of Social Work (Specialization in Health & Mental Health) from the University of Toronto. She has worked in Children and Youth Mental Health in both community and hospital settings supporting children and youth aged 0-18, as well as transitional aged youth (18-25) in a post-secondary environment. Randii-Lynn has 25 years experience playing hockey, including playing both boys and girls high performance programs. She is also a certified Development 1 Coach with Hockey Canada with experience coaching U15 A/BB girls hockey teams in Toronto. Randii-Lynn is looking forward to combining her two passions, mental health and hockey, to assist the talented young women prepare for life in hockey, school, and other life endeavours.

Julie Valentine - Academic Advisory Committee Member

Julie Valentine is a high school history teacher and Curriculum Leader of the Canadian and World Studies Department with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. With 19 years of experience in education in Simcoe County, she has taught students in all grades and levels and is qualified in History, Geography, Guidance and First Nations, Metis and Inuit Studies. Julie has been coaching youth athletes for over 20 years. In community sports she has coached minor hockey and softball, and at the high school level she has coached both Flag Football and Girls Rugby. She has experience teaching and coaching high level athletes, many of which have played at provincial and national levels. Julie understands the pressures faced by high level athletes and looks forward to developing a framework for Student-Athletes, their parents, and coaches to ensure a strong foundation for academic success.

Gillian Van Iderstine -Academic Advisory Committee Member

Gillian is an education coordinator with a degree in psychology from the University of Guelph and a post-graduate specialization in Mental Health. She is knowledgeable of the secondary and post-secondary school systems, and is eager to help our athletes navigate the difficulties of being a student athlete. Growing up in Barrie, Gillian is a Sharks alumni having played nine years in the BWHA at the AA level. She is very excited to be an active participant in the organization once again

Two Way Hockey School

• Ran by skill development coaches Greg Eskedjian & Mike Berry
• 30+ years of on and off-ice hockey instruction, from minor hockey through professional hockey
• Both Greg and Mike are former professional hockey players in both North America & Europe

Greg Eskedjian:

• NCAA National Champion & All American
• Director of Hockey Training @ Mind to Muscle
• Team Nutritionist for Barrie Colts (OHL)
• Professor of Fitness & Health @ Georgian College

Mike Berry:

• Hockey Canada High Performance Level 1 certified Coach
• Former Barrie Colts AAA Head Coach
• SCDSB Grade 8 Teacher

Mandy will be joining the BWHA this season as a HPP Goalie Coach and Goalie Development Advisor. Mandy Cronin is an American ice hockey executive and former player and was the general manager of the National Women's Hockey League's (NWHL) Buffalo Beauts and Toronto Six, as well as one of the co-founders of the Canadian Women's Hockey League. Mandy played four seasons for the University of Maine Black Bears women's ice hockey program from 1998 to 2002. She would serve as team captain in her final two seasons and graduated with a program record nine shutouts. After 10 years as a goalie in the NWHL and CWHL Mandy has opened and operated her own hockey school as well as a goaltending coach for the University of Toronto and has even served as a goaltending coach for USA Hockey.

Vanessa is a former Canadian Olympic ice dancer and has competed on the world stage from 2005-2011. Since 2013 she has focused her efforts on skating programs and worked with numerous companies, teams, organizations, coaches and players from Canada, USA, and Europe. She has developed a specialized training system (Crone system) that provides instant results and long-term skating improvements for players. The success of her program is evident in the athletes she has trained with who are currently at the OHL/AHL/NHL level and the BWHA is excited to have her on board to be working with our athletes.