Kelly Paton named head coach of Mustangs women's hockey team

LONDON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs are pleased to announce that Kelly Paton has been named the head coach of the women's hockey program.
 
"We're excited to have Kelly become the first full-time head coach in Western women's hockey history," said Therese Quigley, director of Western Sport and Recreation Services. "Kelly is one of the top young coaches in Canada, and she will continue to build on the success that has made our women's hockey program one of the best in the country."
 
"I am excited to enhance the tradition of excellence that has been established in the Western University women's hockey program," said Paton. "We have worked hard to build a legacy through our players and coaches in the program and I look forward to continuing and growing the standard of excellence our team has set forth, and to leading our student-athletes in their continued development both on the ice and in the classroom."
 
Paton becomes head coach after serving as the team's Associate Coach this past season and as the Mustangs player development coach in 2014-15. She takes over for David Barrett, who is stepping away from coaching to focus more time on his role as the Executive Director of the Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation at the Ivey Business School.
 
Over Barrett's two seasons with the women's hockey team they posted an overall record of 60-17-10, winning the first OUA and CIS Championships in program history. He will stay on in the role of senior advisor to the program.
 
"I am excited about the future of the women's hockey program at Western," said Barrett. "Coach Paton brings tremendous knowledge, energy and passion to her coaching responsibilities. I firmly believe that the future of the program is in great hands and that she will continue to cultivate our unique Mustang identity built upon the foundational cultural beliefs established over the past few years."
  
The head coach of the London Devilettes junior team from 2013-15, Paton also spent the 2014-15 season working as the strength and conditioning coach for the Canadian national under-18 team, and worked at Hockey Canada's annual May Strength and Conditioning Camp from 2013-15.
 
Prior to serving as a coach, Paton enjoyed a stellar playing career at both the university and professional levels. A native of Woodstock, Ont., Paton played for the Woodstock Jr. Navy Vets and London Devilettes before heading south to play for the NCAA's University of New Hampshire Wildcats from 2006-10. Over her four-year career in New Hampshire Paton racked up 162 points (62 goals and 100 assists) in 141 games, good for 11^th on the team's all-time scoring list. In 2010 Paton was one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award presented to the top Division I player in the nation, along with being named the New England player of the year, Hockey East co-player of the year, a Hockey East first team all-star, and a first team all-American. Following her university career Paton headed to Europe to play for the ZSC Lions in Switzerland, helping the team to the Regio League A Frauen Swiss Ice Hockey League title in 2010-11.
 
Paton holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire and a Masters of Science from Mercyhurst University where she also served as a volunteer assistant coach for the women's hockey team in 2011-12.