BFL CANADA and Hockey Canada announced today that Jessica Kaminsky has been named Manitoba’s 2023 BFL Female Competitive Coach of the Year Award winner and Laura Cowling has been named Manitoba’s 2023 BFL Canada Female Community Coach of the Year Award winner. Both winners will receive a $1,000 bursary.

Jessica Kaminksy has been an Assistant Coach with the Winnipeg Ice in the Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League for the past five seasons.  Jessica started coaching during the 2016-17 season with the Female Under-15 AA Twins. Staying with the team for the 2017-18 season, Jessica helped coach the team to both a City Championship and a Provincial Championship. In 2021, Jessica was an Assistant Coach for Female U18 Team Manitoba.

During her playing career, Kaminsky played two years for the Pembina Valley Hawks U18 AAA, winning the Esso Cup National Championship in 2012 and registering an incredible 233 points in 127 games. She represented Team Manitoba at the 2011 Under-18 National Women’s Hockey Championship and went on to play four seasons for the Union Dutchwomen, including serving as Captain in her final season.

Jessica has been a good conduit for players on what it takes to pursue their goals. She has instilled good habits on the ice, the bench and in the dressing room. Jessica encourages all players to work towards whatever their personal goal is. Jessica has included the team in her life changes, marriage and now as a new mother. As an expecting mother and now a mother, Jessica has shown the players that she can manage the role of a coach along with being a wife and mother.

Laura Cowling displays exemplary sportsmanship and leads by example for the children in Hamiota Minor Hockey’s Under-7 Program. As an active member of her small community, Laura always demonstrates a positive attitude, and promotes her young athletes to always try their best, especially when most of them are in situations that are completely new to them.

Laura goes above and beyond to make kids feel comfortable and confident. She actively participates in all practices and games, providing assistance and support to her MHA to develop referees as well. She has also influenced and provided support to many other young coaches that are coming in and starting their experience at the U7 level.

Through the qualities that Laura instills in her players and the mutual respect that the members of our community and other coaches have for her, it is evident that her values as a person are well respected and appreciated.

Hockey Manitoba would like to thank Jessica and Laura for their hard work, determination and for having such a positive impact on female hockey in the province.

How are the winners selected?

A selection committee is tasked with choosing the national winners from all nominations. This committee will include Canadian women’s hockey leaders, accompanied by leaders from BFL CANADA and Hockey Canada.

About BFL Canada

Founded in 1987 by Barry F. Lorenzetti, BFL CANADA is one of the largest employee-owned and operated Risk Management, Insurance Brokerage and Employee Benefits Consulting Services firms in North America. The firm has a team of over 1000 professionals located in 23 offices across the country. BFL CANADA is a founding partner of Lockton Global LLP, a partnership of independent insurance brokers who provide Risk Management, Insurance and Benefits Consulting services in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, visit bflcanada.ca or follow on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.