Inductees

Player

Kelly Bechard

Kelly Bechard built one of the most distinguished careers in Canadian women’s hockey, a journey that began within the small Saskatchewan village of Sedley. She first laced up her skates at just five years old in 1983 when her uncle needed additional players for the boys’ team within the Sedley Minor Hockey Association.

Bechard’s development continued to Hockey Regina, and she soon earned opportunities to represent her province. She was selected to the Female Under-18 Team Saskatchewan twice, in 1993 and 1995, helping the girls capture their first Canada Winter Games medal, with silver in 1995.

Following high school, Bechard attended the University of Calgary, becoming a member of the inaugural Dinos women’s hockey team during the 1997-98 season. Over the course of her university career, the first-ever Dinos captain established herself as one of the top women’s hockey players in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, now known as U Sports.

Bechard represented her country from 2000 to 2008, known as a reliable two-way forward on the senior national Team Canada. She captured four IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medals in 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2007, while adding silver medals in 2005 and 2008.

Her international career was highlighted at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where Canada women’s hockey claimed its first Olympic gold after beating Team USA 3-2 in Utah. She was part of a golden Saskatchewan contingent on that team alongside Dana Antal, Colleen Sostorics, and Hayley Wickenheiser. The 2002 team was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009.

At the professional women’s level, Bechard had significant success in the Western Women’s Hockey League (WWHL) with the Calgary Oval X-Treme, helping the team win Esso Women’s Nationals in 1998, 2001, and 2003. She also competed in the National Women’s Hockey League, winning the 2006 Abby Hoffman Cup with the Brampton Thunder.

Following her playing career, Bechard transitioned to coaching the Calgary Dinos for eight seasons, serving behind the bench as an assistant coach when the program captured its first national championship in 2012. She was the first women's hockey player inducted into the Dinos Hall of Fame in 2017 and entered the Canada West Hall of Fame in 2022.

A leader respected for her integrity and dedication, Bechard’s hockey career spans nearly four decades. From the rink of Sedley to Olympic gold and world championships, she has left a lasting impact on women’s hockey in Saskatchewan and the world stage.

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