Lethbridge ringette coaches to soak in first Alberta Winter Games

By Lethbridge Herald on February 15, 2024.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Jaylin Maclean and Kailey Piercey will be experiencing their first Alberta Winter Games as coaches on two different teams this weekend.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

For two Lethbridge Ringette Association coaches, this weekend at the Alberta Winter Games in Grande Prairie will be an experience of a life time this far into their coaching careers.

Both Kailey Piercey and Jaylin Maclean are volunteer university-aged coaches in the LRA and  will be on different benches at the AWG in their first time at the event.

Piercey coaches the U14C Rattlers team in Lethbridge and will be on the Zone 1 as an assistant coach at the Games.

“Well I’ve personally never been to the Games,” said Piercey.

“So it’s a really great opportunity to first be … there because once you get kind of past the age that they’re playing at , you don’t really think about going back or anything. So it was really nice to have like some coaches from the previous year be like you should apply to this because I think you’ll be really good.”

Piercey said it’s unique to see all these different skills coming together.

“I just kind of want to see how we manage with all the different personalities and not knowing any of the players,” said Piercey.

The goal for  her is make a difference in a way to make the experience great for the athlete.

“So not necessarily about winning, we would love to, but it’s really just  about having a great time,” said Piercey.

She’s looking forward to watching the skiing and snowboarding.

Piercey moved to Lethbridge when she was 18 from Calgary and played Open League before stepping away from playing to coach.  

Maclean will be on the Zone 2 bench.

“It (was) actually Kailey,” said Maclean, on what interested her in the opportunity.

“She messaged me and she’s like  we’re looking for another coach, like would you be interested. And I jumped at the opportunity right away because I also did not compete in the Alberta Winter Games and coaching is my whole heart right now.”

She thinks the AWG will bring coaching to a different level.

“I think we’re going to have to change things on the fly as these are girls that we have not coached before,” said Maclean.

“And every game’s going to be different with different athletes, different skill levels.”

Maclean agreed that the AWG will grow the game of ringette.

“This is a great opportunity and they’re putting the Games in  Grande Prairie this year because ringette’s not as common out there,” said Maclean.

Maclean is looking forward to taking in the sports that she normally doesn’t get to watch and the opening ceremonies.

Maclean coaches the U14A Rattlers and came to Lethbridge from Strathmore.

The Alberta Winter Games is from Feb. 16-19 in Grande Prairie.

It was announced earlier this week that over 130 athletes and coaches from Lethbridge and area were going to represent Zone 1  at  the AWG.