SUDBURY, Ontario — When the Sudbury Wolves returned from COVID-19 lockdown this season, they had some new faces to their coaching staff. While Craig Duncanson replaced Cory Stillman as the club’s head coach, the Wolves also welcomed a new skating coach to the fold: Ms. Samantha Skene.

A figure skater from an early age, Skene took her passion to the coaching ranks in 2013, working for such organizations as the prestigious Skate Canada as well as Universal Hockey and the Canadian Ice Academy. With this wealth of experience, the Sudbury Wolves came calling this past September, hiring Skene to be their new skating coach.

In her new role, the 25-year-old is working with major-junior talent at arguably the most crucial juncture of a hockey player’s career.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Skene, who began by describing how she felt upon being hired by the Wolves.

“I was very excited, especially coming out of almost a year of lockdowns and closed arenas,” Skene reflected. “I was eager to get out there and get to know the players and their different skating styles to see the areas that could be improved.”

As for being a woman in a predominantly male sport, it’s the bigger picture that matters most for the Toronto native.

“It can be intimidating being a woman working in hockey, but having many powerhouse female skating coaches out there to look up to has been a great inspiration,” a proud Skene added.

Among her extensive resume, however, it has been Skene’s work with the aforementioned Skate Canada that has predominantly prepared her most for her current role. The preparation given by Skate Canada has done wonders, not only for Skene’s career but her unwavering confidence as well.

“I obtained my Skate Canada coaching certification as early as I was able to,” Skene said. “At 16, I knew that I could translate skills that I learned as a skater to help players to be quicker and lighter on their feet. Even after years of working with many different players of all ages, I feel that I continue to learn new things every day.”

The Wolves’ new skating coach elaborated.

“It truly was working with the young hockey players that opened my eyes to how crucial skating and edgework (are) at a young age. The nitty-gritty of building skating fundamentals from the ground up and watching them grow into AAA-level players that can dominate in a game has been the most rewarding and encouraging part of my coaching experience thus far. If you can teach basic skating skills really well, you can really notice the things that are lacking in an older player. Sometimes, it can be really quick fixes.”

As for how things have been going in Sudbury so far, Skene has fit in very well with her new family off the ice and enjoying her new challenge to the fullest on the ice.

“I am fortunate to have a great group of players that give 100% effort every time they step on the ice, as well as a staff that stands behind their players and encourages them to be their best,” beamed the Toronto native. “The coaching staff provided me with support and resources, as well as positive feedback.”

While she may have expected them to show up and do their work, the players have gone above and beyond for Skene, showing their new skating coach refreshing initiative and an unparalleled desire to become better hockey players.

“Each player was given video analysis after our first session so they could see themselves and really embody their corrections,” Skene noted. “The feedback from the players was positive, and they asked questions throughout the sessions which are extremely important because players must have a comprehension of their strengths and weaknesses in order to apply changes. They were given some exercises they could do even without me present to keep the consistency in their edgework.”

So far in 2021-22, the Sudbury Wolves sit ninth out of 10 teams in the OHL’s Eastern Conference. Of course, while this isn’t to suggest that they aren’t important, it could be argued that the on-ice performance of the league’s teams is secondary to the development of each player, especially those with their sights set on a professional playing career.

Nevertheless, the Wolves, while not where they want to be in the standings, are poised for promising things down the road. That is thanks to Coach Skene, who is helping a plethora of players master what is arguably the most important skill of any player young or old.

While her hiring may have elicited headlines promoting gender equality, and rightfully so, Skene’s entrance into the Canadian major-junior ranks goes beyond that. In a short time, the 25-year-old has brought the game of hockey, and especially its stars of tomorrow, to a whole new playing surface, both figuratively and literally.

For the Sudbury Wolves in particular, their players will be all the more prepared for the next level. After all, with the wealth of patience, discipline and grace taught by her, Coach Skene has already made the Wolves a more formidable team from both group and individual standpoints.

Be sure to keep an eye on Skene and the Wolves in the new year and what’s in store. You’ll be glad you did.

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