Ouellette now inspiring from behind the bench

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Caroline Ouellette is a Canadian hockey legend, with a resume that includes four Olympic gold medals and six world championship titles. She also tallied 242 points in 220 international games, making her the third-highest scorer in the history of Team Canada.

Now, as an assistant coach with the Canadian women’s national team for this year’s IIHF Women’s World Championship, Ouellette has the chance to directly inspire the next generation with her passion for the game.

“I love working with people that love what they do and want to get better at it,” she told TSN. “I wake up every day and I don't feel like I'm working. I feel like I'm teaching a game to people that want to learn, that want to be there.”

Ouellette, who officially retired in 2018, was previously an assistant for the team at the 2017 and 2019 world championships. While still playing, she also served as an assistant for Canada’s under-18 team in 2009.

She also shares coaching duties with her wife and four-time Olympic medallist with the United States, Julie Chu, at Concordia University, where the team won the national championship earlier this year.

Ouellette has a full plate with her role at Concordia and two young children at home, but the timing worked out with this world championship being held in August, the first time the event has been held in the same year as an Olympic Games.

The tournament begins Thursday in Denmark, with Canada taking on Finland. Ouellette is able to join the Canadian bench before returning to her duties with Concordia for the 2022-23 season. She’ll be working with head coach Troy Ryan, along with assistants Kori Cheverie and Alison Domenico.

“I'm really, really excited for the opportunity to coach with some of the