Germany's Franziska Busch is among the hundreds of female coaches who have signed up for the IIHF's 2025-launched HER Coaching Network.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDREA CARDIN
The official launch of the IIHF’s new HER Coaching Network is less than a month away. That will be just one of the many exciting highlights of the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia (9 to 20 April).
However, female hockey coaches worldwide have an opportunity to get involved right now. Have you considered signing up? Support, mentorship, and a true global passion for women's hockey await you.
More than 200 female coaches – including a wide range of coaching experiences, IIHF achievements, and nationalities – have already registered to join the network on the Signal platform. We asked them to share what they’re hoping to get out of HER. Here are some of their testimonials.
Delaney Collins (Canada)
Three-time world champion as defender with Canada (2000, 2004, 2007). Three-time medalist as coach with Canada U18 Women’s Worlds squad. Currently assistant coach with Hungary and skills coach with Nashville Jr. Predators.
“I have the utmost respect for the IIHF and the growth of female hockey coaches globally. My expectations are to learn and network with other female coaches, improve my craft, and become a better coach and leader. The HER Coaching Network is exciting, and I look forward to being involved in the program.”
Tuuli Harjunpaa (Finland)
Former defender and recent U16 women’s assistant coach with PaRa, as well as coaching with Assat’s women’s hockey school.
“I hope it will bring female coaches closer together as a community. I am looking to get inspired and tutored by others, build strength to continue on the path, and be part of a community that understands and supports.”
Irene Senac (Spain)
Longtime forward and current assistant coach with CHH. Necso Txuri Urdin in Spanish women’s league.
“When I see remarkable women successfully balancing their personal lives with achieving great milestones in the Olympics, national teams, or federations, I feel a strong desire to reach similar goals one day. I’ve been involved in sports since I was very young, complementing my experience in different disciplines (badminton, figure skating, hockey, etc.) with my studies in sports psychology and management in sports. I’d love to give back to the sports world everything it has given me, and I feel ready to do so. Additionally, I am passionate about growing women's hockey in Spain. I envision establishing an academy that brings training methodologies from top hockey countries like the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden to our young players.”
Nadine Sheffield (South Africa)
Involved in South African hockey for nearly 28 years as player and official. Joined U18 women’s national team as assistant coach in 2024-25.
“I hope that I will have access to and interaction with much more experienced coaches, from whom I can gain knowledge to guide players here in South Africa. I have so much to learn as a coach, and what better way to learn than from female coaches who have played and coached at a high level around the world? I think it is so encouraging for smaller countries like us to develop more female coaches and get access to women-specific higher-level coaching courses.”
Franziska Busch (Germany)
Two-time Olympian (2006, 2014) and former assistant captain with German national team. Spent four seasons as head coach of U18 women’s national team.
“For me, it’s about meeting other coaches, sharing experiences, supporting one another, and networking. I hope it will bring us coaches together, talking about developing women’s hockey from the youth teams to the seniors, finding motivation to bring the energy for all the work we still have to do for this sport.”
However, female hockey coaches worldwide have an opportunity to get involved right now. Have you considered signing up? Support, mentorship, and a true global passion for women's hockey await you.
More than 200 female coaches – including a wide range of coaching experiences, IIHF achievements, and nationalities – have already registered to join the network on the Signal platform. We asked them to share what they’re hoping to get out of HER. Here are some of their testimonials.
Delaney Collins (Canada)
Three-time world champion as defender with Canada (2000, 2004, 2007). Three-time medalist as coach with Canada U18 Women’s Worlds squad. Currently assistant coach with Hungary and skills coach with Nashville Jr. Predators.
“I have the utmost respect for the IIHF and the growth of female hockey coaches globally. My expectations are to learn and network with other female coaches, improve my craft, and become a better coach and leader. The HER Coaching Network is exciting, and I look forward to being involved in the program.”
Tuuli Harjunpaa (Finland)
Former defender and recent U16 women’s assistant coach with PaRa, as well as coaching with Assat’s women’s hockey school.
“I hope it will bring female coaches closer together as a community. I am looking to get inspired and tutored by others, build strength to continue on the path, and be part of a community that understands and supports.”
Irene Senac (Spain)
Longtime forward and current assistant coach with CHH. Necso Txuri Urdin in Spanish women’s league.
“When I see remarkable women successfully balancing their personal lives with achieving great milestones in the Olympics, national teams, or federations, I feel a strong desire to reach similar goals one day. I’ve been involved in sports since I was very young, complementing my experience in different disciplines (badminton, figure skating, hockey, etc.) with my studies in sports psychology and management in sports. I’d love to give back to the sports world everything it has given me, and I feel ready to do so. Additionally, I am passionate about growing women's hockey in Spain. I envision establishing an academy that brings training methodologies from top hockey countries like the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden to our young players.”
Nadine Sheffield (South Africa)
Involved in South African hockey for nearly 28 years as player and official. Joined U18 women’s national team as assistant coach in 2024-25.
“I hope that I will have access to and interaction with much more experienced coaches, from whom I can gain knowledge to guide players here in South Africa. I have so much to learn as a coach, and what better way to learn than from female coaches who have played and coached at a high level around the world? I think it is so encouraging for smaller countries like us to develop more female coaches and get access to women-specific higher-level coaching courses.”
Franziska Busch (Germany)
Two-time Olympian (2006, 2014) and former assistant captain with German national team. Spent four seasons as head coach of U18 women’s national team.
“For me, it’s about meeting other coaches, sharing experiences, supporting one another, and networking. I hope it will bring us coaches together, talking about developing women’s hockey from the youth teams to the seniors, finding motivation to bring the energy for all the work we still have to do for this sport.”