2010-11 Coaching Staff

Karen Nystrom , Head Coach - 2nd Season
Contact e-mail: Karen.Nystrom@uoit.ca

In 2009-10, Karen Nystrom became the second head coach of the UOIT Ridgebacks women’s hockey program after founding head coach Gary Pitcher stepped down following the conclusion of the 2008-09 OUA regular season, passing the torch to his assistant coach and national team hero.

Nystrom has quite an impressive hockey resume as a member of the Canadian National team for almost a decade. In her career with Team Canada, she won three World Championship titles (1992, 1994 & 1997), a 3 Nations Cup title (1996) and a Pacific Rim championship (1995). She also won an Olympic silver medal at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

Not only has Nystrom excelled on the ice, but in coaching as well. She served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Jr. Aeros and for an U-18 team Ontario which won a gold medal. For the past two seasons, she has gained valuable experience behind the bench with the Ridgebacks as an assistant coach.

Nystrom will bring the same intensity to the Ridgeback team as she did on the ice throughout her playing career, with a focus on conditioning, team speed and aggressiveness. She is looking forward to the new challenges she is about to face as a head coach in the CIS, striving to build the program into a one of the top teams in the country.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Scored three goals and two assists in five games at the 1992 World Hockey Championship
• In 1996-97, she was the leading scorer in the COWHL playing with the Newtonbrook Panthers
• From 1988-89 to 1996-97, she was named to the OWHA All-Star team in every year
• Silver medalist at the 1994 Provincial Championship with the Scarborough Firefighters
• She was the highest scorer in COWHL from 1991 to 1993
• From 1984-85 to 1990-91, she won the OWHA Championship with the Scarborough Firefighters
• In 1985 and 1987, she won gold medals at the Ontario Winter Games
• Played in the NWHL for six years where she was an All-Star and league scoring champion
• UOIT Ridgebacks assistant coach from 2007/08 to 2008/09
• U-18 Team Ontario Assistant Coach - Gold Medal
• Former assistant coach of the Toronto Jr. Aeros

NATIONAL TEAM INVOLVEMENT
1998 - Winter Olympics (Silver)
1997 - World Championship (Gold)
1997 - 3 Nations Cup (Silver)
1996 - 3 Nations Cup (Gold)
1995 - Pacific Rim (Gold)
1994 - World Championship (Gold)
1992 - World Championship (Gold)

Pete Perram, Assistant Coach
2nd Season

Pete Perram carries almost 20 years of coaching, which includes 17 years in female hockey programs in Alberta, Ontario and Europe.  Pete’s coaching career includes many highlights including the position of Head Coach of Switzerland’s Women’s National team for three seasons.  After returning to Canada, Pete accepted a coaching position with the Senior AAA Durham Lightning team of the National Women’s Hockey League, and remained their Head Coach for six seasons. Most recently, he has worked for five years as Coach Mentor for the Etobicoke Dolphins Hockey Association and coupled that experience with coaching their Intermediate AA (Junior) program for two seasons.

Paul McNabney, Associate Coach & Scout
4th Season

McNabney has a long history of playing and being involved with hockey, as he enters year four with the Ridgebacks. He was a member of the Toronto Marlies from 1967-1968 and with Springfield of the AHL in 1969. He had a four year career with the Toronto Varsity Blues men’s hockey program while obtaining a degree in Physical and Health Education. He currently is retired from the City of Scarborough recreation division and spends time now teaching power skating. He has coached with Centennial College, Pickering Minor Hockey and Whitby Girls hockey.

Mark Fitzgerald, Strength and Conditioning Coach
4th Season

Mark Fitzgerald, a Graduate of Bishops University, offers specialized training programs designed around the UOIT varsity hockey team requirements. His programs allow fitness and progress to be monitored at the beginning and the end of the program. Nutritional guidance and supplementary training programs are also provided. Each trainee is closely monitored to ensure optimal results. The training schedule can be set up around your team’s activities. Fitzgerald is also a Fitness Director & Trainer at the Train Like a Pro Fitness facility in Whitby.