New coaching staff will continue building women’s hockey at Dawson
It’s a new season and a new coaching staff for the Dawson Blues Div. 1 Women’s Hockey team.
Continuity, consistency and quality are the goals of the staffing changes. Joey Brandone, who has been assistant coach for the last two seasons under Kayla Tutino, is now head coach. Leslie Oles, a former Canadienne who has been involved in player development for several seasons, is the new associate head coach.
“Kayla was offered a great opportunity that she couldn’t pass up. She’s been instrumental in the rebuilding of the program since her arrival in April 2020. Kayla had a tremendous impact on our student-athletes that will last a long time,” said Sébastien Rivest, head of Athletics at Dawson College. “Kayla helped recruit the new coaching staff and she will be available to advise them. Once a Blue, always a Blue!”
Meet the Head Coach
Head Coach Joey Brandone is well-known to Dawson’s hockey players and will be able to ensure that the progression of the team continues. Apart from his Dawson experience, Joey was very involved in the AAA level with the U15 Amazones of Laval-Montréal from 2018-2019 to 2020-2021 as both an assistant coach and head coach.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to work with an amazing program and I’m excited to take it to another level,” said new Head Coach Joey Brandone. “I’m surrounded by a great staff and can’t wait to get things going!”
“This is my 11th year behind the bench!” Joey said. “I began coaching on the men’s side and made the transition to coaching women four years ago. In 2016-2017, I was the assistant coach of the Midget team Espoir. Then I made the move to coaching women with the Amazones. In 2019, I was named head coach for the Laval team that went to the Jeux du Québec.”
Associate Head Coach
Associate Head Coach Leslie Oles is well known as a player. Leslie represented Canada at the U18 World Championships in 2007-2008. She also played for the John Abbott Islanders, the McGill Martlets and the Montreal Canadiennes. She ended her career in 2017-2018 with EV Bomo Thun in the Switzerland Women’s Hockey League. 
Leslie’s coaching experience includes two years doing player development with U18 college-level players and coaching the Grade 9-11 Kuper Academy girls’ team and the Lac St-Louis Warriors U13 team.
Rounding out the staff are assistant coaches Léa McIntyre and Luca Ciampini. The goaltending coach is George Katsaros and the strength and conditioning coach is Emmanuelle Blais, who is returning to the Dawson Blues family. Emmanuelle was on the Dawson Blues women’s hockey team from 2005-2006.
Expecting better play this season
The goal last year was to progress as the year went along, with more than 10 student-athletes who were in their first season playing CEGEP hockey. “It wasn’t about wins and losses, it was about learning to compete at the D1 level. As the season went on, we were becoming more competitive,” Sébastien said.
“We feel that our new recruits will improve the overall depth of the team at every position. We expect that the level of play will be better and that we will see second-year players emerge to take on more responsibilities.”
The first game will be against the John Abbott College Islanders and will take place on Friday, Sept. 2 at the Dollard Civic Centre. To see the game schedule, buy tickets (Eventbrite links will be coming soon) and get the livestream link for games, go to: https://athletics.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/hockey/womens-division-1/
