Kelly Bechard

Kelly Paige Bechard (born January 22, 1978) is a women's ice hockey player. Bechard competed for Canada at the World Championships in 2000 and 2001.[1] In 2002, she competed for Canada at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Born in Sedley, Saskatchewan, Bechard was also a provincial doubles badminton champion in High School.

Kelly Bechard
Born	(1978-01-22) January 22, 1978 Sedley, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	146 lb (66 kg; 10 st 6 lb)
Position	Forward
WWHL CIS team	Calgary Oval X-Treme Univ. of Calgary Dinos
National team	Canada
Playing career	1996–2008
Medal record Representing  Canada Women's ice hockey Olympic games 2002 Salt Lake City Tournament IIHF World Women's Championships 2000 Canada Tournament 2001 United States Tournament 2004 Canada Tournament 2007 Canada Tournament 2005 Sweden Tournament 2008 China Tournament

In the gold medal game, Bechard was called for a tripping penalty late in the third period, and this led to Karyn Bye of the United States scoring a goal.[2] The goal made the score 3-2 in Canada’s favour, as Bechard was part of the first Canadian Women's Hockey Gold Medal hockey team in Olympic history.

After the Olympics, Bechard returned to the University of Calgary, where she played for the university’s hockey team, and pursued a degree in management. From 2010-2014 she was assistant coach for the university of Calgary Dino’s, she took over head coach for the 2013/14 season. After that she left to be the assistant coach for the Calgary Inferno for their 2017/18 season. Bechard is now back as an assistant coach for the university of Calgary Dino’s [3] In 1998, she was named to the CIAU’s First All-Star team and was presented the Award of Merit.[4] She also played for Calgary’s Oval X-Treme and the Brampton Thunder. She scored a goal in the 2003 Esso Women's National Hockey Championship to help Team Alberta win the Abby Hoffman Cup.[5]

References

1. Canadian Gold 2002, p. 114, Andrew Podnieks, Fenn Publishing Company Ltd, Bolton, Ontario, Canada, 2002
2. Canadian Gold 2002, p. 114, Andrew Podnieks, Fenn Publishing Company Ltd, Bolton, Ontario, Canada, 2002
3. Canadian Gold 2002, p. 114, Andrew Podnieks, Fenn Publishing Company Ltd, Bolton, Ontario, Canada, 2002
4. Canadian Gold 2002, p. 114, Andrew Podnieks, Fenn Publishing Company Ltd, Bolton, Ontario, Canada, 2002
5. "Esso Canadian National Championships 2003". Ontario Women's Hockey Association. March 16, 2003. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2010.