Team Personnel, Roster, U18 AA, 2023-2024, PHP (Central York Girls Hockey Association)

Steve Dempsey will be going into his fifth season with the U22 AA team and is taking over the U18 AA program as of May 2023. Steve has a similar approach with each team as both teams are within the CYGHA Panthers High Performance program. For the past five years he has focused his energy on both recruiting and building an elite homegrown high performance program that offers players the opportunity to train and practice in a unique pre-university setting. Steve has focused his energy on both recruiting and building an elite homegrown high performance program that offers players the opportunity to train and practice in a unique pre-university setting. Focusing on family core values like accountability, selflessness, attitude, and respect he is determined to build a program that resonates with like minded character focused players.

Previous to taking on this position, he was an assistant coach for 12 years with the York University Lions women's hockey team beginning in 2009 working with Dan Church, the former Canadian Olympic Coach.

Steve was responsible for taking the lead role with the defense and the penalty kill units. Under Steve's guidance he has helped several defenders receive Ontario and Canadian First and Second Team All-star positions. The penalty kill unit was ranked as one of the top 5 penalty kill units in the country twice during his time at York.

In addition to his work with the Lions, Steve has been a Head Coach with the Ontario Women's Hockey Association High Performance U16 and U18 programs. In 2014 and 2019 his team went undefeated during the summer development camp.

Internationally, he has also worked with the New Zealand National Women's team program as a mentor coach. In 2012 he helped New Zealand to their best IIHF World ranking and their best finish at the IIHF World Championships.

Steve Dempsey is a fully certified NCCP HP1 and HP2 level coach and has been certified in Hockey Canada's High Performance Program.

He has been coaching for over 35 years in competitive, house league, and high school settings in hockey, soccer, and softball.

[email protected]
416-550-7779

This will be Carly’s second year being involved with the Central York Panthers as a defense coach. She was previously involved with the U13A Panthers in the 2021-22 season coaching alongside Steve Dempsey. Carly is excited to continue to work with Steve again as the defense coach for the U15AA team.

Carly played five years of university hockey at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 2016-2021. She played her entire minor hockey career for the Central York Panthers and is really enjoying her return to the Panthers as a coach. Coaching and mentoring young female players is a huge passion for Carly. Carly was coaching during her University years at Saint Mary’s and is really happy to be able to do it now with the Panthers.

She has a degree in psychology and is looking to further her education as a teacher. Carly believes in building a strong, supportive, hard-working environment for the girls to grow as hockey players and young women. She is looking forward to working with the U15AA Panthers in the 2022-23 season. 

Chris has been involved with the Panthers organization for twelve years, coaching house league, DS and rep teams at all age groups, U9 (Novice) through U18 (Midget) and is also a member of the CYGHA executive, serving as the VP Rep.

He is committed to creating and maintaining a positive team environment within which every player has the opportunity and necessary support to develop as an individual, teammate, athlete and person. Key to this development is building athlete confidence, teaching accountability and continuing to enhance their love of the game.

Kristen is really looking forward to starting her second season as a coach with the CYGHA. Last year, Kristen returned from an outstanding career in the NCAA and helped coach the Panthers U13A team as their Goalie Coach alongside Head Coach Steve Dempsey. Kristen will be an Associate Coach this year but will focus on working with the goalies.Kristen played for the Panthers for her whole hockey career right up to and including the Jr Panthers. She was able to realize every young Panthers dream and turned her outstanding Panther career into a NCAA commitment at SUNY Canton in upstate New York. After a year there, Kristen transferred to Suffolk University in Boston and eventually was named team captain in her junior season. While she was playing hockey in Boston, Kristen was completing a degree in psychology, with the goal of working in sports psychology.

Kristen has been working the past 7 years as a lead instructor at Maguire Goaltending. Kristen has recently been invited to several elite camps that are being led by Hockey Canada staff. She is really excited about this group of players and helping our goalies develop in the Panthers High Performance program.