EDMONTON - The winningest coach in Canadian University women's hockey is set to make his return to UofA campus, as Howie Draper will return to coach the Pandas Hockey program in 2024/25. 

Draper spent the 2023/24 season coaching the PWHL New York, leading the inaugural team to a 5-4-3-12 record. He will continue his involvement with PWHL New York as a Special Advisor, supporting the scouting department. 

The Edmonton native will return home to coach a Pandas team that went 21-7-0 in 23/24, eventually falling to UBC in Game 3 of the Canada West Final. The Pandas will once again be a conference and national title threat next season, returning a roster consisting of five fifth-year student-athletes, including captain Izzy Lajoie, former conference all-stars Taylor Anker and Madison Willan, as well as Brooklyn Tews and Payton Laumbach. 
 
2022 Canada West Rookie of the Year Natalie Kieser and 2023/24 team scoring leader Jadynn Morden are among the other key returners.

Draper has guided the Pandas to 14 Canada West championships and eight U SPORTS titles during his 26 seasons behind the bench, both of which are all-time records. Amassing 667 wins during his time with the Pandas, Draper is the winningest coach in U SPORTS women's hockey history. He is one of only four University of Alberta coaches to win over 600 games, joining Laurie Eisler (869), Terry Danyluk (761), and Clare Drake (720). His 429 Canada West wins are second only to Eisler's 440 among UofA coaches.
 
Among his endless list of accomplishments, he has also been named the Canada West Coach of the Year eight times (2023, 2019, 2011, 2009, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000), and the U SPORTS Coach of the Year four times (2019, 2009, 2004, 2002).
 
Outside of his UofA resume, Draper also has extensive international coaching experience, most recently guiding Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2022 World Under-18 Championship in Wisconsin. He has also spent time as an assistant coach with the Women's National Team, and was the head coach of the 2013 Canadian FISU Team in Trentino, Italy.