Ringette Manitoba is excited to announce the Team Manitoba Coaching Staff for the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
Meet the Coaches:
Lynn Girardin – Head Coach
Throughout Lynn’s 35 year ringette career she’s worn many different hats – player, instructor, coach and coach developer. We are excited for her to add Canada Winter Games Head Coach to her already extensive coaching resume. Playing AA ringette herself growing up she competed at some of the highest levels including as a part of the Manitoba AAA Provincial World qualifier team in 1995. Throughout her coaching career she has taken numerous teams to the Western Canadian Ringette Championships and Canadian Ringette Championships – bringing home a few gold medals. She puts her passion for the sport to helping drive the passion within the athletes and is a perfect example of how Ringette is a sport for life.
When asked what drives her passion for coaching she responded “Seeing the players grow as athletes on and off the ice all while gaining new skills. Having experienced all of this as an athlete, I want my athletes to have all the opportunities I did when I played. My ringette career has helped shape the person I am today.”
Sam Renooy – Assistant Coach
Sam brings 16 years of playing and 8 years of coaching experience to her position as Assistant Coach for the Canada Winter Games. Sam has competed at the highest levels of competition within Ringette having been a member of Team Manitoba for the 2015 Canada Winter Games and the Junior National Team that competed at the 2016 World Championships – bringing home gold at both events. She’s even been inducted to the Ringette Canada Hall of Fame with the 2016 Junior National Team Canada. Her coaching experience is no less impressive taking teams to compete at the Western Canadian Ringette Championships and Canadian Ringette Championships.
When asked why she wanted to be a coach for the 2023 Canada Winter Games her response was – “Over the years, the sport of ringette has given me so much as an athlete, person, and young woman and I think that is what drives my passion to coach. I love being able to help players reach their full potential and reach their goals as an athlete, while also providing an environment where these athletes can grow into empowered, confident, and accomplished young women.”
Spiros Kavvadas – Assistant Coach
Spiros brings 11 years of coaching experience to the 2023 Canada Winter Games Coaching Staff. Growing up competing in multiple sports he understands what it takes to compete at this elite level. Becoming fascinated with the amount of passion, teamwork and communication in Ringette after watching his daughter play he made the jump to become a coach and hasn’t looked back. Spending the last 7 years coaching AA and taking multiple teams to compete at the Western Ringette Championships and Canadian Ringette Championships bringing home a gold medal with them on more than one occasion.
When asked what drives his passion for coaching he responded “The ability to push athletes to achieve their maximum performance goals is something that drives my passion for coaching. Establishing virtues of respect, accountability and work ethic into my athletes and seeing them apply it to not only their game but also life in general is satisfying, and undoubtedly seeing my athletes full of pride and success makes coaching that much more rewarding.”
Megan Haluk – Assistant Coach
Megan has been playing Ringette for 17 years and coaching for 9 years. Having started at 10years old she then went on to Competing at the Manitoba Games, and multiple Canadian Ringette Championships. Throughout her time coaching AA Angels she attended Western Canadian Ringette Championships and was a member of the coaching staff for the U19AA team that brought home a gold medal from the 2018 Canadian Ringette Championships.
When asked what drives her passion for coaching she responded My passion for coaching stems from my love for the game. Ringette has always been a safe place for me, an escape from my life. Coaching allows me to give back to the sport and give back to the community. I enjoy being able to pass my knowledge off to others as well as continuing to learn from other coaching staff.