Coleman native Tara Hammer was recently named the University of Calgary Dinos Women’s Hockey team’s newest assistant coach, making her the first woman to hold the position in Dinos history.
“I feel very fortunate to be a full-time assistant coach,” Hammer said in an interview with the Pass Herald.
Hammer joins former national team players Danielle Goyette and Kelly Bechard as part of the team’s coaching staff.
“Joining the Dinos coaching staff is a great opportunity, and I am excited to learn from Danielle and Kelly, who are both former National team players and Olympic athletes,” she said.
“Both Danielle and Kelly have so much playing and coaching experience to draw from, and I feel lucky to be able to work with them both, as they have taken the women’s hockey program at the university to new levels.”
Hammer, 32, grew up in Coleman and began playing hockey with Crowsnest Pass Minor Hockey at the age of five, and continued to play locally until she reached the age of 16.
“I grew up playing road hockey with my friends, so naturally I wanted to play when we were old enough,” she said, adding that her father also influenced her decision to play the game, as he used to play hockey as well.
Following graduation from high school, Hammer played three seasons at Mount Royal College, transferring to the University of Calgary in 2003.
During her single season with the Dinos, Hammer landed 14 goals and 21 points in 20 games, securing her the second highest standing on the team and eighth place in the league scoring race.
Hammer completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology degree in 2006, followed by a Bachelor of Education (Master of Teaching) degree in 2008, after which point she spent three years as a substitute teacher with the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), while also working as a coach and administrator for several women’s hockey organizations.
She went on to play five seasons in the Western Women’s Hockey League (WWHL) with the Strathmore Rockies and Edmonton Chimos.
During her time with the Rockies, Hammer played against Goyette and Bechard as well as other elite female hockey players.
Two years ago, Hammer decided to pursue coaching after retiring from competitive hockey, and began coaching in the elite female stream in Calgary, where she coached Bantam AAA.