ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ

Mel Davidson – Commissioner

Mel joined the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ as it’s first ever Commissioner on May 1, 2026.

One of the most important figures in Canadian Women’s hockey history, Melody’s resume is unparalleled in the game. With four gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games, five more at the IIHF Women’s World Championship and 10 at the 4 Nations Cup, her time with Hockey Canada spanned 27 years. Her tenure included 36 events with Team Canada as head coach, assistant coach, general manager and head scout – and every one of them ended with a medal.

Hailing from Oyen, Alta., Melody began her coaching career with grassroots sports in rural Alberta. As the Recreation Director in Castor, Alta., from 1987-1996, she volunteered her time to coaching local swimming, volleyball, softball and hockey. She first stepped onto the international stage in 1993 as an assistant coach with a select women’s team participating in the US Olympic Festival. She followed that appearance as an assistant coach at the 1994 Women’s World Championships, winning gold. In 1995, she took her talents to the provincial level, where she coached Team Alberta at the Canada Winter Games. Melody first took the reins of the national team at the 1997 4 Nations Cup, finishing with silver, before leading Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team to gold at the 1998 Christmas Cup.

By 1999, Melody was a mainstay behind the national team bench for much of the next decade; she was head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 1999-2000 season and again from 2004-07 and 2009-10, winning Olympic gold in 2006 and 2010 and served as an assistant from 2000-02, culminating in Canada’s first Olympic gold in 2002.

In between stints as bench boss of the national team, Melody served as head coach of the women’s hockey teams at Connecticut College (1997-2000) and Cornell University (2003-06), as well as Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 team in 2007-08. She also honed her skills in the Alberta Junior Hockey League as the assistant coach for the Calgary Canucks from 2006-09 and 2010-11.

After guiding Team Canada to home-ice gold in Vancouver in 2010, Melody transitioned to become the head scout for Canada’s national women’s teams and later the general manager of Hockey Canada’s women’s program. She was instrumental in building the team that won Canada’s 10th World Championship title in 2012, a fourth consecutive Olympic gold in 2014 and a silver in 2018.

In 2020, Melody’s passion for multi-sport led her to her current role as a Summer Sport High Performance Advisor with Own the Podium, where she supports several national organizations including, Baseball Canada, Canada Basketball, Rugby Canada Sevens, Softball Canada and Wheelchair Basketball Canada.

Melody is an Honoured Member of the IIHF Hall of Fame (2024), Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (2011 for her coaching exploits, 2012 as part of the 2006 Olympic team and 2019 with the 2010 Olympic team), Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (2017) and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (2008). She was an honourable mention for the International Olympic Committee Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and received the Jack Donohue Coach of the Year Award from the Coaches Association of Canada in 2010. In 2006, she was honoured with the University of Alberta Alumni Association Award of Excellence and named a Distinguished Alumna by Red Deer College.

Kevin Goodwin – Chief Administrative Officer

Kevin serves as Chief Administrative Officer of the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, bringing more than 30 years of hockey experience and executive leadership across administration, operations, and governance. He is committed to supporting the League’s continued growth while advancing its mission, vision, and values.

Kevin has been involved with the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ since its inception, including the initial meetings that led to the League’s establishment in 2009-10. He was appointed Executive Director in 2013, named Chief Operating Officer in 2016, and assumed the role of Chief Administrative Officer in 2026. During his leadership tenure, the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ has grown from 15 teams across British Columbia, Alberta, and Idaho to 135 teams spanning from British Columbia to Nova Scotia and the Pacific Northwest.

In addition to his ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ leadership, Kevin has been involved Hockey Canada Accredited School programming since 2002, gaining extensive knowledge of school-based hockey operations and governance across Canada. He also contributes as a member of Hockey Canada Accredited School quality assessment teams and has served on various Hockey Canada and Hockey Canada Member committees.

Kevin lives in Penticton, British Columbia, with his wife, Helen. They have an adult son, an adult daughter, and a dog named Daisy. Outside of hockey, Kevin enjoys golf, mountain biking, time at the lake and beach, and relaxing on a patio with family and friends.

Chris Bell – Chief Business Officer

As the Chief Business Officer, Chris is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of initiatives related to sponsorship, partnership, revenue generation, and events.

During his 25-year executive career in sport and; entertainment property management, brand builder and partnership development, Chris has developed a network of key industry leaders and business relationships, based on his deep expertise in programming ideation, strategy formulation, planning, and execution.

Chris’s consulting, and agency background experience, includes the development of a facility utilization strategy at Cape Breton University (CBU) and Chairing two National USports Championships: Women’s Basketball Final 8 in March and the Men’s Soccer Championships in November of 2023. Chris also assisted in the development and launch of the first Home of Female Hockey at the renovated Canada Games Complex on campus at CBU. This facility will be the first arena where the primary tenant will be the CBU Women’s’ hockey team and the home of the Cape Breton Blizzards female minor hockey association.

Chris’s agency background includes selling the intellectual property rights for the Canadian Olympic Committee
(COC), business development initiatives for Playdium Entertainment, and national marketing and promotional planning for MR. SUB, Gatorade, and Lykes Pasco brands, Old South & Sunkist orange juice.

Key proprietary properties that Chris has developed and executed include Molson Canadian Snow Jam, Coors Light Trauma Tour, Coors Light Mystery Mansion, Molson Canadian Hockey House (2010 Vancouver Olympics) and the launch of the Professional Bull Riders national tour in Canada. Most recently, Chris launched the Halifax Thunderbirds National Lacrosse League franchise in Atlantic Canada.

Chris is passionate about grass root programs, and the emphasis they place on building strong community engagement. As a proud past volunteer member of the Strategic Fundraising cabinet with United Way Halifax, he showcases the importance of community involvement and; support. Chris is a resident of Baddeck, NS where he lives with his wife Denise and their two dogs. When not working, Chris enjoys the cottage life, cycling and playing the many great golf courses Cape Breton has to offer.

Luke Pierce – Chief Operating Officer

Luke Pierce is the Chief Operating Officer and a senior sports executive with nearly 20 years of leadership experience in hockey operations, coaching, and organizational leadership. He oversees strategic and operational initiatives that support the growth and development of education-based hockey programs across Canada.

Prior to joining league operations, Luke spent 10 seasons coaching in the Western Hockey League, most recently as Head Coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings. He also served as Head Coach and General Manager in the BCHL and represented Hockey Canada as a coach at both the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

Luke holds an MBA in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the Royal Military College of Canada. He also serves as Vice President and Chair of the Board for Hockey Gives Blood, a national non-profit dedicated to strengthening Canada’s blood supply through education, awareness, and community engagement.

Luke resides in St. Albert, Alberta, with his wife and three teenage sons.

Sara Caissie – VP of Marketing & Communications

As the VP of Marketing & Communications, Sara is responsible for creating, leading, and executing the marketing strategy for the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ while driving brand awareness, lead generation, and customer engagement through a variety of marketing initiatives.

With 15+ years of experience in the marketing industry in Vancouver, Sara brings a variety of expertise leading global brands including Destination Canada & Nature’s Path. She also led marketing & communicationsÌýfor the BC Sports Hall of Fame and launched the Digital Indigenous Sport Gallery.

Sara holds a Bachelor Commerce in Marketing from UBC, as well as a PMP designation. She volunteers on the Board of Directors with Hostelling International Canada, and also as an editor with the Starfish Canada. You can find her cheering on the Vancouver Canucks every chance she gets.

Jen Crawford – Administrative AssistantÌý

As an Administrative Assistant, Jen helps support our Board of Directors and all administrative tasks for the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

Jen has experience in all levels of administration including governance, event management, and strategic planning with companies such as Hockey Canada, the Forzani Group, the Health Quality Council of Alberta, and the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation.

Jordan Martin – Content Development Strategist

Jordan started with the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ in 2021 as Manager of Media & Communications and has since transitioned into his role as Content Development Strategist. Jordan is responsible for developing strategies to promote ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ student-athletes and teams, building and managing partnerships with junior and post secondary programs, and assisting the Hockey Operations team as needed, while overseeing the production, publishing and editing of all necessary digital content on all social media and website platforms.

Before joining the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Jordan spent three seasons in the league with the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) as Marketing & Communications Manager and assistant coach, winning a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U16 Prep Western Championship in 2019. Prior to his time at NAX he attended MacEwan University, earning a degree in Bachelor of Communication Studies, Majoring in Journalism, while covering the University sports teams. He has spent time developing his skills as a contract worker for the NHL with SportsMEDIA Technology, and as a reporter for the Leduc Representative.

Jordan lives in Edmonton with his wife and two cats.

Carl Michaelson – Manager of Eastern Operations

Current Co-Founder, and Head of Recruitment & Scouting for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ member program Bourget College, Michaelson joins the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ League Staff as Manager of Eastern Operations. Michaelson comes to the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ with a highly decorated resume, having worked in various roles at both the elite minor hockey, junior stream and a total of six years coaching in the NCAA and European professional leagues. In his new position Michaelson will be responsible for guiding the Eastern division growth and expansion, while providing league insight and standards at showcases and other events.

ÌýKevin Hill – Eastern Operations Coordinator

As the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Coordinator for Eastern Operations, Kevin Hill oversees the successful planning, growth, and execution of league activities across Eastern Canada.

With over 20 years of experience in operations management, sales leadership, and elite- level hockey development, Kevin plays a pivotal role in expanding the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s footprint in the region. Fluent in both English and French, Kevin brings a strong background in logistics and organizational management, having held key leadership roles in the transportation, machinery, and manufacturing sectors.

Kevin is well-regarded for his extensive scouting experience and leadership across QMJHL and Junior A programs. He currently serves as Quebec Head Scout for the Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL), after previous tenures with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Saint John Sea Dogs, Gatineau Flames, and St-Jérôme Panthers. His work has spanned over a decade of scouting major events, including QMJHL Entry Drafts, Challenges, and elite showcases across Quebec, the Maritimes, and the United States.

Kevin holds certifications in CAD Drafting from Herzing College and completed the NHL GM & Scouting Program through Sports Management Worldwide, where he was mentored by renowned executives Harry Sinden and Mike Oke. He is also proficient with industry-standard scouting and video tools such as SportLogiq, RinkNet, TPE, Hudl, and FloSports.

Off the ice, Kevin is a dedicated coach and community builder, committed to mentoring young athletes and fostering the values of teamwork, leadership, and personal development through sport.

Kai Farenholtz – Digital Media Coordinator