Tara Quinney

Tara’s coaching journey began in March 2024 as an assistant coach at the Wheatland Wranglers’ U9 and U11 female development camps, where she learned firsthand from lead coaches how to run engaging drills, motivate struggling players, and resolve conflicts with empathy. By September, she transitioned to the U13 Wranglers, deepening her focus on building meaningful player relationships, fostering positive team culture, and integrating sports-psychology discussions that boost hockey IQ and performance habits.

Central to Tara’s philosophy is creating a learning-oriented environment where every child feels supported and safe. She structures each session to start with dynamic warm-ups and foundational technical drills—skating edges, passing accuracy, and puck control—before progressing to small-area tactical games and team discussions that reinforce why each skill matters in game situations. Her approach balances targeted feedback with rapport-building humor and encouragement, ensuring players not only improve technically but also develop confidence and resilience.

Off the ice, Tara fuels up with her favorite pasta dish and dreams of drawing up plays for the Calgary Flames—her lifelong favorite team—and learning from Sean Monahan’s leadership style. She kicks off warm-ups to Nickelback’s “Burn It to the Ground” and reminds athletes to “focus on what you can control and put in your best effort.” Whether racing through relays with teammates or guiding young skaters through deeper stretching routines, Coach Quinney’s amusing, rapport-driven, and psychologically savvy style ensures every player thrives as both an athlete and an individual.