Coach Profiles

AMANDA BENOIT-WARK Head Coach

amanda_wark@ridleycollege.com Hailing from Welland, Ontario, Coach Benoit-Wark joined Ridley as the Director of Hockey and Head Coach of the Prep Girls Hockey Programme in the Fall of 2008. Prior to taking the helm, Coach Benoit-Wark had an impressive playing career culminating with a long stint as a member of Canada’s dominant Women’s National Team. Amanda won eight National and 12 Provincial Championships as a member of the Toronto Aeros and Team Ontario during the Canada Winter Games. From there, she was selected as a member of Team Canada winning two World Championships in 1999 and 2000. In 2002, Amanda was an alternate player on Team Canada’s Gold medal winning squad at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. After completing her playing career, Coach Benoit-Wark jumped into coaching as she looked to share her experience with the next generation of female hockey players. In 2012, Coach Benoit-Wark was invited back to coach several national programs including the Women’s National Team and both the U18 and U22 National Programs adding to her already notable lineage with Hockey Canada. In 2015, Amanda helped guide the U22 National Program to Gold. She also led the U18 National Program to Bronze at the 2017 U18 World Championships in Russia. In 2018, Amanda was invited to Japan as the Head Coach of Team Ontario’s U16 squad. During her time at Ridley, Coach Benoit-Wark has led the Tigers to multiple CISAA Championships and has graduated numerous players on to postsecondary sport.

CELESTE DOUCET Assistant Coach

celeste_doucet@ridleycollege.com Born in Memramcook, New Brunswick, Coach Doucet began her Ridley career as an athlete leading the girls’ programme to their first-ever CISAA Championships in 2006. She captained the team in her senior year and was also awarded Ridley’s Female Athlete of the Year. After Ridley, Doucet skated for New Brunswick at the 2007 Canada Winter Games at Whitehorse, Yukon and played for several other New Brunswick provincial teams including the U18 Atlantic Challenge Cup and the Senior Women's Esso National Senior Championships squads. In July 2007, she attended Hockey Canada National Women's Under-19 Program Evaluation Camp in Calgary, Alberta. Following her career at Ridley, Doucet played four years at University of Vermont, earning the Captaincy in 2010—11. Celeste finished her teaching degree at UVM before returning to Ridley in the Fall of 2012.

JASON BARRON Goalie Coach & Hockey Operations

jason_barron@ridleycollege.com

Born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Coach Barron grew up playing competitive hockey in Niagara before moving on to become a coach. Jason is a NCCP Goaltending 1 & 2 certified coach and has extensive experience developing goaltenders from Tyke to Major Junior hockey. Jason has been a facilitator of goalie development for the OHL/OHF U15 Program of Excellence as well as the Goalie Coach for Team OMHA at the OHL Gold Cup in 2016 and 2020. Currently the Assistant Director of Player Development for the Erie Otters of the OHL, Jason oversees the development of Erie’s goaltender prospects. Jason has worked with Ben Vanderklok Goaltending for over twelve years and has helped numerous players move on to major junior and collegiate hockey careers. Jason has an undergraduate degree from Brock University in Sport Management.

ANNIE SHERIDAN Assistant Coach

annie_sheridan@ridleycollege.com

Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Coach Sheridan began her Ridley career in 2012, attending the Upper School for all four years. She took full advantage of the Ridley experience but her primary focus was on academics, athletics and the cadet programme. Coach Sheridan earned Captaincy of the Prep Girls Hockey team in her last two seasons and in her senior year, was awarded the programme’s Most Valuable Player and Ridley’s Female Athlete of the Year. After her career at Ridley, Sheridan played five years at Laurentian University, earning the Captaincy in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Once completing her degree in Physical and Health Education, she returned to Ridley in the Fall of 2022. Sheridan wears multiple hats at Ridley, teaching Phys Ed in the Lower School and acting as the K-3 Athletic Coordinator.

JULIA HUTTON Assistant Coach

julia_hutton@ridleycollege.com

Julia Hutton’s Ridley College hockey career began in 2013 with the Prep Girls team as a Grade 10 student. After graduating from Brock University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communications, she returned to Ridley as Assistant Head of House – Gooderham East. Eager to return to her stomping grounds, she re-joined the hockey team as an Assistant Coach in the fall of 2021. Having developed a love for yoga during her ‘life after hockey,’ Julia completed her 200 hours of teachers training through Power Yoga Canada and now uses these skills to lead the team through restorative classes regularly.