St. Catherine has introduced the hiring of Kayla Chilstrom because the Wildcats’ new head hockey coach.
Chilstrom, this system’s assistant for the previous three seasons, is the fourth coach headed into this system’s twenty ninth season.
“I need to personally thank (athletic director) Eric Stacey and the athletic division for believing in me to guide this program”, stated Chilstrom in an announcement. “I’m actually honored to step into the position of head coach at a college meaning a lot to me. That is an unbelievable alternative to guide a proficient and devoted group of student-athletes. I’ve seen firsthand the eagerness, drive, and potential inside this workforce, and I’m excited to assist them develop each on the ice and within the classroom. St. Kate’s is a spot full of assist, encouragement, and a powerful sense of group and I’m proud to proceed being part of it as we transfer this program ahead collectively.”
Chilstrom takes over for Brad Marshall, who stepped down after 20 seasons behind the bench.
Apart from serving as this system’s assistant coach, Chilstrom concurrently manages operations and program improvement for Play Hockey, considered one of North America’s premier youth hockey organizations. Her teaching journey contains earlier NCAA stops at St. Olaf and her alma mater, Wisconsin-Superior, the place she guided workforce practices, applied scouting experiences, and recruited student-athletes who matched every program’s tradition. She additionally served as a head women’ varsity coach at Superior Excessive College, the place she helped rebuild a program to be acknowledged for its work ethic, talent improvement, and group presence.
“All through the search course of, it grew to become evident that Coach Chilstrom was 100% devoted to our hockey program and St. Kate’s,” stated Stacey. “The imaginative and prescient she introduced for the workforce aligned completely with that of the division, and I’m thrilled to have her tackle this elevated position.”
As a longtime coach with the Minnesota Ice Cougars, she oversaw workforce improvement for ages U8 to U16, whereas providing non-public expertise instruction and training at elite summer time camps throughout Minnesota. She serves as a U14 head coach on the CCM Excessive Efficiency Camp, the place she mentors rising stars and helps put together them to play on the collegiate degree.
A graduate of Wisconsin-Superior with a bachelor of science diploma in teaching communication, she additionally holds a USA Hockey degree 4 certification.
