Pictou County Major U18 Weeks head coach Kyle MacLennan (left) has been named the head coach for Team Nova Scotia for the next Canada Winter Games. He is pictured during the recent Monctonian Tournament where the Weeks finished as silver medalists. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /The NewsArticle contentNEW GLASGOW – Kyle MacLennan has been named head coach of Team Nova Scotia’s male hockey team for the Canada Winter Games, which will take place in Quebec City in 2027. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe announcement from Hockey Nova Scotia was made on Nov. 24. Article contentArticle content“It’s an incredible honour anytime you can represent your province, especially in an event like the Canada Games,” MacLennan, head coach of the Pictou County Major U18 Weeks, said. “I have a lot of close friends and coaches in my network who have had the privilege to coach in the event, and they all speak so highly of not just the hockey, but the overall experience of being at the Games, It’s really one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ type of experiences, so to be able to be part of all of that, represent our province alongside an incredible staff, it’s a true honour. Article contentArticle content“I know we’re well over a year away from it, but I’m already counting down the days.” Article contentThe staff MacLennan refers to includes assistant coaches Zach MacQueen from the King’s-Edgehill School’s boys varsity hockey program, and Liam Heelis, of the Acadia Axemen and a former assistant coach with the Halifax Mooseheads. MacQueen played university hockey with St. F.X., while Heelis is a former Axemen player. Article contentCanada Games hockey is, essentially, a national U16 tournament. MacLennan is well familiar with the age group as he has worked with many as first-year players developing in the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League (NSU18MHL) over his 11 years at the helm of the Weeks. Article content“When you’re coaching, leading, and trying to develop players at the U18 level, you encounter a lot of 14- and 15-year-old talented kids coming into your program, year after year,” he said. “It’s about helping them develop not only their own individual games, but how that integrates into a team game. That’s the ultimate goal; to have team growth and success through a particular process. Article contentArticle content“This process will be a little different, a little longer. It’s different than having your team full-time; there are limited touch points, although there are several camps leading up to the event. So, while it’s a different set of challenges and a different process, it’s still a lot of the same type of principles and concepts; it’s just how they’re delivered, how they’re taught, and how we evaluate is a bit different.” Article contentHe also sees the experience in helping his own development as a coach. Article content“With the level of talent and competition, with no easy days, no easy games, to be able to handle that; put yourself in high-pressure scenarios, it only helps you as a coach,” MacLennan said. “It helps you to stay present-minded in that type of environment. Article content“And again, coming back to the development of the players, helping players understand that, control what they can control, and stay present-minded, that’s another set of challenges at a different type of event.
MacLennan to guide Team Nova Scotia
