The winningest coach in U SPORTS women's hockey history, and former New York Sirens coach, Howie Draper, is retiring at the end of the season after 28 years, 15 Canada West titles, and eight national championships with the University of Alberta.
After 28 years behind the bench, Howie Draper is calling it a career at the University of Alberta.
The Pandas' head coach announced his retirement on Monday, bringing to a close one of the most decorated tenures in Canadian university hockey history.
"Though my passion for serving our student-athletes has always been, and will continue to be strong," Draper said via team release, "I feel like it's time for the program to have a new coach who possesses fresh energy, ideas and enthusiasm to help bring the program back to national prominence."
Draper took over as the program's first-ever head coach in 1997 and never really stopped building from there. Over the next 28 seasons, he became the winningest coach in U SPORTS women's hockey history, coaching 715 games, winning 15 Canada West titles and eight U SPORTS national championships. He earned Canada West Coach of the Year honours eight times and was recognized as U SPORTS Coach of the Year four times, reflecting how consistently the Pandas competed under his coaching.
Draper also served as head coach of Team Canada at the 2022 World Under-18 Championship, where Canada took gold, and as head coach of the Canadian FISU team at the 2013 Games in Trentino, Italy. He was also named the inaugural head coach of PWHL New York in 2023.
University of Alberta Director of Athletics Leah Pezer credited Draper with shaping not just a program but also the team's culture.
"The best coaches don't just change what happens on the ice, they change what people believe is possible in themselves and in each other," Pezer said via team release. "That's what Howie has done here. He has been a builder of excellence, but also of culture, trust, and belief. His imprint on Pandas Hockey is lasting, and we are better because of it."
His accomplishments earned him spots in the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, the City of Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame, and the University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame. For Draper, the recognition still doesn't quite feel real.
"My experience as a student-athlete at the U of A was life-changing," Draper said, "and I am grateful for the opportunity to have played a similar role for those within the Pandas Hockey program for the past 28 years."
Draper was also the inaugural head coach for PWHL New York, but returned to Alberta following a single season in the league.
The university announced that the search for a new head coach will begin in the spring.