Mel Davidson – Commissioner
Mel joined the CSSHL as it’s first ever Commissioner on May 1, 2026.
One of the most important figures in Canadian Women’s hockey history, Melody’s resume is unparalleled in the game. With four gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games, five more at the IIHF Women’s World Championship and 10 at the 4 Nations Cup, her time with Hockey Canada spanned 27 years. Her tenure included 36 events with Team Canada as head coach, assistant coach, general manager and head scout – and every one of them ended with a medal.
Hailing from Oyen, Alta., Melody began her coaching career with grassroots sports in rural Alberta. As the Recreation Director in Castor, Alta., from 1987-1996, she volunteered her time to coaching local swimming, volleyball, softball and hockey. She first stepped onto the international stage in 1993 as an assistant coach with a select women’s team participating in the US Olympic Festival. She followed that appearance as an assistant coach at the 1994 Women’s World Championships, winning gold. In 1995, she took her talents to the provincial level, where she coached Team Alberta at the Canada Winter Games. Melody first took the reins of the national team at the 1997 4 Nations Cup, finishing with silver, before leading Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team to gold at the 1998 Christmas Cup.
By 1999, Melody was a mainstay behind the national team bench for much of the next decade; she was head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 1999-2000 season and again from 2004-07 and 2009-10, winning Olympic gold in 2006 and 2010 and served as an assistant from 2000-02, culminating in Canada’s first Olympic gold in 2002.
In between stints as bench boss of the national team, Melody served as head coach of the women’s hockey teams at Connecticut College (1997-2000) and Cornell University (2003-06), as well as Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 team in 2007-08. She also honed her skills in the Alberta Junior Hockey League as the assistant coach for the Calgary Canucks from 2006-09 and 2010-11.
After guiding Team Canada to home-ice gold in Vancouver in 2010, Melody transitioned to become the head scout for Canada’s national women’s teams and later the general manager of Hockey Canada’s women’s program. She was instrumental in building the team that won Canada’s 10th World Championship title in 2012, a fourth consecutive Olympic gold in 2014 and a silver in 2018.
In 2020, Melody’s passion for multi-sport led her to her current role as a Summer Sport High Performance Advisor with Own the Podium, where she supports several national organizations including, Baseball Canada, Canada Basketball, Rugby Canada Sevens, Softball Canada and Wheelchair Basketball Canada.
Melody is an Honoured Member of the IIHF Hall of Fame (2024), Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (2011 for her coaching exploits, 2012 as part of the 2006 Olympic team and 2019 with the 2010 Olympic team), Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (2017) and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (2008). She was an honourable mention for the International Olympic Committee Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and received the Jack Donohue Coach of the Year Award from the Coaches Association of Canada in 2010. In 2006, she was honoured with the University of Alberta Alumni Association Award of Excellence and named a Distinguished Alumna by Red Deer College.
Kevin Goodwin – Chief Administrative Officer
Kevin serves as Chief Administrative Officer of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), bringing more than 30 years of hockey experience and executive leadership across administration, operations, and governance. He is committed to supporting the League’s continued growth while advancing its mission, vision, and values.
Kevin has been involved with the CSSHL since its inception, including the initial meetings that led to the League’s establishment in 2009-10. He was appointed Executive Director in 2013, named Chief Operating Officer in 2016, and assumed the role of Chief Administrative Officer in 2026. During his leadership tenure, the CSSHL has grown from 15 teams across British Columbia, Alberta, and Idaho to 135 teams spanning from British Columbia to Nova Scotia and the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to his CSSHL leadership, Kevin has been involved Hockey Canada Accredited School programming since 2002, gaining extensive knowledge of school-based hockey operations and governance across Canada. He also contributes as a member of Hockey Canada Accredited School quality assessment teams and has served on various Hockey Canada and Hockey Canada Member committees.
Kevin lives in Penticton, British Columbia, with his wife, Helen. They have an adult son, an adult daughter, and a dog named Daisy. Outside of hockey, Kevin enjoys golf, mountain biking, time at the lake and beach, and relaxing on a patio with family and friends.
Chris Bell – Chief Business Officer
As the Chief Business Officer, Chris is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of initiatives related to sponsorship, partnership, revenue generation, and events.
During his 25-year executive career in sport and; entertainment property management, brand builder and partnership development, Chris has developed a network of key industry leaders and business relationships, based on his deep expertise in programming ideation, strategy formulation, planning, and execution.
Chris’s consulting, and agency background experience, includes the development of a facility utilization strategy at Cape Breton University (CBU) and Chairing two National USports Championships: Women’s Basketball Final 8 in March and the Men’s Soccer Championships in November of 2023. Chris also assisted in the development and launch of the first Home of Female Hockey at the renovated Canada Games Complex on campus at CBU. This facility will be the first arena where the primary tenant will be the CBU Women’s’ hockey team and the home of the Cape Breton Blizzards female minor hockey association.
Chris’s agency background includes selling the intellectual property rights for the Canadian Olympic Committee
(COC), business development initiatives for Playdium Entertainment, and national marketing and promotional planning for MR. SUB, Gatorade, and Lykes Pasco brands, Old South & Sunkist orange juice.
Key proprietary properties that Chris has developed and executed include Molson Canadian Snow Jam, Coors Light Trauma Tour, Coors Light Mystery Mansion, Molson Canadian Hockey House (2010 Vancouver Olympics) and the launch of the Professional Bull Riders national tour in Canada. Most recently, Chris launched the Halifax Thunderbirds National Lacrosse League franchise in Atlantic Canada.
Chris is passionate about grass root programs, and the emphasis they place on building strong community engagement. As a proud past volunteer member of the Strategic Fundraising cabinet with United Way Halifax, he showcases the importance of community involvement and; support. Chris is a resident of Baddeck, NS where he lives with his wife Denise and their two dogs. When not working, Chris enjoys the cottage life, cycling and playing the many great golf courses Cape Breton has to offer.
Luke Pierce – Chief Operating Officer
Luke Pierce is the Chief Operating Officer and a senior sports executive with nearly 20 years of leadership experience in hockey operations, coaching, and organizational leadership. He oversees strategic and operational initiatives that support the growth and development of education-based hockey programs across Canada.
Prior to joining league operations, Luke spent 10 seasons coaching in the Western Hockey League, most recently as Head Coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings. He also served as Head Coach and General Manager in the BCHL and represented Hockey Canada as a coach at both the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
Luke holds an MBA in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the Royal Military College of Canada. He also serves as Vice President and Chair of the Board for Hockey Gives Blood, a national non-profit dedicated to strengthening Canada’s blood supply through education, awareness, and community engagement.
Luke resides in St. Albert, Alberta, with his wife and three teenage sons.
Jen Crawford – Administrative Assistant
As an Administrative Assistant, Jen helps support our Board of Directors and all administrative tasks for the CSSHL.
Jen has experience in all levels of administration including governance, event management, and strategic planning with companies such as Hockey Canada, the Forzani Group, the Health Quality Council of Alberta, and the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation.
Sara Caissie – VP of Marketing & Communications
As the VP of Marketing & Communications, Sara is responsible for creating, leading, and executing the marketing strategy for the CSSHL while driving brand awareness, lead generation, and customer engagement through a variety of marketing initiatives.
With 15+ years of experience in the marketing industry in Vancouver, Sara brings a variety of expertise leading global brands including Destination Canada & Nature’s Path. She also led marketing & communications for the BC Sports Hall of Fame and launched the Digital Indigenous Sport Gallery.
Sara holds a Bachelor Commerce in Marketing from UBC, as well as a PMP designation. She volunteers on the Board of Directors with Hostelling International Canada, and also as an editor with the Starfish Canada. You can find her cheering on the Vancouver Canucks every chance she gets.
Jordan Martin – Content Development Strategist
Jordan started with the CSSHL in 2021 as Manager of Media & Communications and has since transitioned into his role as Content Development Strategist. Jordan is responsible for developing strategies to promote CSSHL student-athletes and teams, building and managing partnerships with junior and post secondary programs, and assisting the Hockey Operations team as needed, while overseeing the production, publishing and editing of all necessary digital content on all social media and website platforms.
Before joining the CSSHL Jordan spent three seasons in the league with the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) as Marketing & Communications Manager and assistant coach, winning a CSSHL U16 Prep Western Championship in 2019. Prior to his time at NAX he attended MacEwan University, earning a degree in Bachelor of Communication Studies, Majoring in Journalism, while covering the University sports teams. He has spent time developing his skills as a contract worker for the NHL with SportsMEDIA Technology, and as a reporter for the Leduc Representative.
Jordan lives in Edmonton with his wife and two cats.
Carl Michaelson – Manager of Eastern Operations
Current Co-Founder, and Head of Recruitment & Scouting for CSSHL member program Bourget College, Michaelson joins the CSSHL League Staff as Manager of Eastern Operations. Michaelson comes to the CSSHL with a highly decorated resume, having worked in various roles at both the elite minor hockey, junior stream and a total of six years coaching in the NCAA and European professional leagues. In his new position Michaelson will be responsible for guiding the Eastern division growth and expansion, while providing league insight and standards at showcases and other events.
Lisa Haley – Women’s Hockey Performance & Strategic Growth
Lisa Haley is currently the Head Coach of the Toronto Metropolitan University women’s hockey team. As the team’s first and only coach in program history, Haley has spent the majority of the last 14 years building the TMU hockey program from the ground up.
Before coming to TMU, Haley was the head coach at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax NS, where she amassed one of the best winning records in U SPORTS women’s hockey history. Over 15 seasons with the Huskies, Haley led them to eight appearances in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) finals, capturing the league title in 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2010. A two-time AUS coach of the year, and CIS coach of the year in 2003, Haley guided the Huskies to an impressive record of 118 wins, 52 losses and 11 ties over her final 9 seasons at Saint Mary’s. She was also named Sport Nova Scotia’s Coach of the Year in 2014. Haley’s success with the Huskies was recognized in October 2019 when she was inducted into the Saint Mary’s University Sport Heritage Hall of Fame. In total, Lisa Haley has been a Head Coach at the U SPORTS level for more than 29 years, making her the longest standing Head Coach in U SPORTS women’s hockey history.
Lisa has extensive experience internationally, having been involved with Hockey Canada’s High Performance program since 2003. In total, Haley has represented Team Canada at 6 World Championships, and 1 Olympic Games, winning 1 Olympic gold (2014 Sochi Games), 2 World Championship golds in (2012, 2010 (U18)), and 4 World Championship silvers. Haley also recently coached the Hungarian Women’s National team, leading them to their first win at the Top Division of the WWC in 2021. In her time with Team Hungary, she also brought them to their highest world ranking in the history of the Hungarian Federation (9th).
Lisa has also played a prominent leadership role in the development of professional women’s hockey in North America, first serving as the Senior Vice-President of Hockey Operations for the PHF (Premier Hockey Federation), and continued on in the newly established PWHL as the Director of Hockey Administration for the inaugural 2024 season.
Lisa is an NCCP Level 4 certified coach, and trained Learning Facilitator. She is a presenter and Group Leader with Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence coach certification programs and has served as a mentor coach at 6 IIHF Women’s High Performance camps.
Kevin Hill – Eastern Operations Coordinator
As the CSSHL Coordinator for Eastern Operations, Kevin Hill oversees the successful planning, growth, and execution of league activities across Eastern Canada.
With over 20 years of experience in operations management, sales leadership, and elite- level hockey development, Kevin plays a pivotal role in expanding the Canadian Sport School Hockey League’s footprint in the region. Fluent in both English and French, Kevin brings a strong background in logistics and organizational management, having held key leadership roles in the transportation, machinery, and manufacturing sectors.
Kevin is well-regarded for his extensive scouting experience and leadership across QMJHL and Junior A programs. He currently serves as Quebec Head Scout for the Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL), after previous tenures with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Saint John Sea Dogs, Gatineau Flames, and St-Jérôme Panthers. His work has spanned over a decade of scouting major events, including QMJHL Entry Drafts, Challenges, and elite showcases across Quebec, the Maritimes, and the United States.
Kevin holds certifications in CAD Drafting from Herzing College and completed the NHL GM & Scouting Program through Sports Management Worldwide, where he was mentored by renowned executives Harry Sinden and Mike Oke. He is also proficient with industry-standard scouting and video tools such as SportLogiq, RinkNet, TPE, Hudl, and FloSports.
Off the ice, Kevin is a dedicated coach and community builder, committed to mentoring young athletes and fostering the values of teamwork, leadership, and personal development through sport.
Kai Farenholtz – Digital Media Coordinator
As Digital Media Coordinator, Kai is responsible for assisting in all digital media content, specifically social media graphics and video editing.
Raised and residing in Kamloops, BC, Farenholtz began his journey with the CSSHL in 2022 in a contract role as a Video Editing Assistant, fresh out of BCIT’s Radio Arts & Entertainment program and coming off an internship with the BCHL. In 2023, Farenholtz would join the CSSHL full-time as the Digital Media Coordinator.
Farenholtz started his media career on his personal YouTube channel, FWFarenholtz at the tail end of 2018, covering junior hockey with an emphasis on the WHL and the NHL Draft. After his stint at BCIT, Farenholtz interned with the Penticton Vees during the 2022-23 season, worked as a Game Night Content Producer with the WHL and has had his graphic design material featured with the Prince George Cougars.
Curtis Nichols – Player Safety and Officiating Relations
Curtis joined the CSSHL in September 2026. He is responsible for the leadership, administration, and long-term development of the League’s player safety, discipline, appeals, and officiating relations functions. Born and raised in Central Alberta officiating has been a large part of his life. He officiated over 30 years at many levels of hockey including minor hockey, the AJHL, the WHL and U SPORTS. Off the ice, Curtis was an insurance broker for 20 years and during that time was involved in officiating both on and off the ice. He held administrative roles with the Hockey Alberta officiating program including the roles of Manager of Officiating and the Provincial Referee-In-Chief. He also works with the WHL as a video review goal judge and spent time with Hockey Canada as a National Supervisor of officials. Most recently Curtis held the position of Vice President, Officiating with the Alberta Junior Hockey League and was responsible for player safety and officiating matters.
Aidan Serra – Social Media Coordinator, West
Aidan helps provide coverage of the CSSHL’s Western Canada contingent, aiding the league’s website and social media channels with digital and written media. Serra received his education in Journalism and Broadcasting from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and has spent the last six seasons working at every level of Canadian Junior Hockey. Serra currently provides play-by-play commentary and social media services for HNLive and the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, respectively, and has spent three years hosting and producing The Great Canadian Hockey Podcast.
Philippe Lapierre – Social Media Coordinator, East
Philippe contributes to the CSSHL’s media coverage, producing written and digital content for the league’s website and social media platforms. He brings a background in competitive hockey to his work and is a Sport Studies student at Bishop’s University, completing concentrations in Athletic Development, Business and Society, and Health & Exercise. Alongside his studies, Philippe is gaining hands-on experience through internships in sport media and coaching, including a coaching internship with Bishop’s College School, his involvement in the Bourget Invitational Tournament, and a summer internship with EMPWR Sports Training.
