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By ANNA MILLER ILLUSTRATION BY Brandon Favre 14 // OCTOBER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM UNLOCKING POTENTIAL WHILE IT IS COMMON for kids to have pro- fessional and Olympic hockey dreams, that is not the only way for hockey lovers to stay involved with the greatest sport in the world. In fact, USA Hockey is trying to show that there are various ways to stay connected in hockey. From coaching to officiating to being part of decision-making bodies, hockey players can provide value on and off the ice beyond their playing career. The USA Hockey Mentorship Program for Girls and Women's Hockey is now helping to educate women and girls on those possibil- ities, explained Kristen Sagaert, director of girls hockey. "There are so many talented individuals in girls and women's hockey who want to stay involved but may not know what opportuni- ties exist or how to navigate the next step," Sagaert said. " We want to create stronger connections and pathways so that more peo- ple feel supported and empowered to remain in the game as coaches, officials, administra- tors, volunteers, and leaders." Sagaert can see the benefits of a mentor- ship program. After completing her col - legiate career at Connecticut College, she moved to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado Boulder for her law degree. While in grad school, Sagaert didn't want to leave hockey, so she began coaching and officiating locally before transitioning into a full-time position with USA Hockey. I n S a g a e r t ' s current role, she o v e r s e e s p l a y e r development on the national level, and she is the staff l i a i s o n f o r U S A H o c k e y 's G i r l s Council. The Girls Council is a vol- unteer leadership group within USA Hockey focused on the growth, development and advancement of girls hockey across the United States. T h e m e n t o r s h i p p r o g r a m w a s s h a p e d by the leadership and dedication of Girls Council volunteers Ted Skinner, Kris Wing, and Kendall Hanley, who invested significant time and effort into bringing the initiative to life. It was designed to strengthen support USA Hockey's Mentorship Program Aims To Carve A Path For More Women In Hockey