Greig giving back to Lethbridge female hockey community

By Lethbridge Herald on September 17, 2024.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Dara Greig is giving back to Lethbridge female hockey by providing her hockey knowledge in her playing career through coaching.

If you were around a couple of city arenas  this past weekend, you might have noticed future PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) and local player Dara Greig helping with Southern Express U18AA female hockey try outs.

Greig, who will look  to crack the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire’s line-up later this fall , is in the city to help coach the U18 team until her departure for camp.

“When I was growing up playing  in Lethbridge there wasn’t a girls program,” said Greig.

“So it’s pretty  awesome to see that there is now and that I can help coach and help develop younger girls, so that the game keeps growing.”

While her sister Kyra had been coaching full time as of last season with the Southern Express U18 team, Greig was influenced after she brought the opportunity up to her.

“It means everything  … to give back … and just to even see that there is a lot of girls and there’s try-outs and enough to make a team,” said Greig.

Greig was on the ice during try-outs on Saturday demonstrating drills.

“I think for them to kind of  be able to see me there and to see how far hockey has taken me, it can kind of give them something to aim for,” said the Colgate University Alumni.

“And obviously me being  from Lethbridge, it kind of shows you can kind of come from anywhere and hockey can take you to cool places.”

She is excited to familiarize herself with the  players and make a difference to begin the player’s seasons.

She thought the tempo at try-outs  was good over the weekend.

“I think the returning players are really pushing the pace and to see that there’s new girls coming in and kind of everyone’s a little bit nervous is cool and exciting,” said Greig.

Greig has also hosted group conditioning skates and a week-long camp for girls in  Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association

Chris Fantazir is Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association’s female director and head coach for the U18 Southern Express and he was thrilled to have Greig on the ice over the weekend.

“ So (for) the girls, to be able to be around that professional and to be around them when they’re training and getting ready to try and crack those rosters, it’s a fantastic thing for them to learn, look up to and just  know where they got to go to achieve their goals,” said Fantazir.

Fantazir wanted the Express players to see how much work goes into that level and how Greig is giving back to the community.

“It’s a big thing for her to take her time to do this and teach the next generation,” Fantazir.

Greig was drafted by the Victoire 23rd overall in PWHL draft in June and her preparation has been good to this point.

“I was skating a little bit with some skills days with the Hurricanes players and then hopefully I’m getting out with the midget team in Lethbridge  next week just to stay on the ice at a high pace,” she said.

Greig spoke about the mindset going into camp.

“Just the mindset is kind of go into camp and try to make the team,” said Greig.

“Just kind of been working towards being as prepared as I can for that to make the team.”

The 23-yeard-old forward split  the last five seasons with the University of Wisconsin and Colgate University.