NEWS: Greg Bowles named head coach of Canadian women’s hockey team at 2023 Winter World University Games

Gee-Gees women's hockey assistant coach and head scout Greg Bowles will lead Canada's women's hockey contingent at the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The 2023 Winter World University Games, also known as the XXXI Winter Universiade, runs from Jan. 12-23. Located three hours south-east of Ottawa, Lake Placid is best known for having hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. 

"Any time you get to represent your country is an honour and a privilege," said Bowles, who expects to miss only a handful of Gee-Gees regular season games while with the Canadian team. "However, like any large competition, these emotions are something we will have to manage. We simply need to let this group establish their own identity, their own path and ultimately their own outcome."

"We are thrilled Greg is getting this opportunity," said Roger Archambault, Assistant Director of Gee-Gees Varsity Athletics. "Our women's hockey program has a great legacy of competing on the international stage. The invaluable experience Greg will gain in preparing for and leading a team in an international tournament will be a tremendous asset for our program and our student-athletes."

Bowles will be joined in Lake Placid by seasoned group of U SPORTS staffers, including assistant coaches Katie Mora (Guelph), Kelly Paton (Wilfrid Laurier) and Sarah Hilworth (UNB), and goaltending coach Kyle MacDonald (UNB). Danièle Sauvageau of the Université de Montréal will serve as the team's general manager. 

Bowles brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Canadian bench. He first joined the Gee-Gees as an assistant coach and scout for the 2016-17 season. Prior to joining the University of Ottawa program, the Amherst, N.S., product spent a number of years with the Nepean Wildcats organization, having coached at the U15AA, U18AA and U22AA levels.

On the international level, Bowles served as an assistant at the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. He attended the Hockey Canada summer showcase with the U SPORTS All-Stars in 2018 and 2019 – a tournament-style event featuring teams from France, Japan, Russia and Canada. 

He was also named an assistant for the 2021 edition which was ultimately cancelled due to COVID-19.

"Of course, the word 'devastated' barely begins to describe the cloud that descended over the group when the 2021 Lucerne games were canceled," said Bowles. "Having the opportunity to reassemble the majority of that leadership group is an absolute blessing." 

With Bowles' involvement, the Gee-Gees women's hockey program will be represented at each of the last five the Winter Universiades. Bowles, Aurélie Dubuc and Christine Deaudelin were slated to attend in 2021. Bowles, Chelsea Grills (as team manager), Maude Levesque-Ryan and Mélodie Bouchard were present in 2019, with Bouchard also having played in 2017. Current AHL official Élizabeth Mantha played for Canada in 2015 after spending a semester with the Gee-Gees several years prior.

While Lake Placid is the host city of the Games, the hockey competition will take place across upstate New York. Cheel Arena (Clarkson University), Maxcy Ice Arena (SUNY Potsdam) and Roos House (SUNY Canton) are slated to host games, in addition to the Olympic Centre in downtown Lake Placid.

The Olympic Centre features two rinks: the Herb Brooks Arena, site of the 1980 Miracle on Ice game, and the historic Jack Shea Arena, originally constructed in 1932 and home of the first indoor skating events in Olympic history.

Canada last won gold in women's hockey at the 2013 Winter Universiade. The Canadians have settled for silver in each of the last three tournaments, falling in the final each time to Russia.

The Gee-Gees women's hockey regular season is slated to begin Oct. 15. Tickets are on sale at tickets.geegees.ca.