Jr. Sharks Management Committee

The Barrie Women's Hockey Association has introduce a new management committee, and new team leadership, for the Barrie Jr. Sharks team.

Hockey operations will be led by Head Coach Duane Eldridge.  Coach Eldridge has 25+ years of coaching and player development experience, that has included positions at the AA level of every age group. Duane previously led our Barrie Jr. Sharks (Intermediate AA) team from 2014 through 2018, during which time he helped over 20 players achieve their goal of moving on to play competitive USPORTS/NCAA hockey in Canada and the United States.  Duane has been back with the Jr. Sharks program since 2022, leading the team to back to back Bronze medal finishes at the OWHA Provincials in 2023-2024 and the OWHA U22AA Elite League Championship in 2024-2025.

Team administration will be led by Team Manager Rob Whitehead, who brings a wealth of management and volunteer experience to the role. Rob Whitehead has almost two decades of experience supporting hockey teams as a head coach, assistant coach and a former BWHA Board member, in positions of Director of Apparel/Equipment, President and current Past President. In his professional life, Rob is a Director of Sales for a global manufacturing company, based in Ontario, Canada and 30+ years of experience managing multi-million-dollar sales channels in both the retail and industrial business categories.

Appointed by the BWHA Board of Directors, and Chaired by the BWHA President, the 2025-2026 Jr. Sharks Management Committee will develop the strategic and operational plans that will guide the Jr. Sharks towards the next level of their vision. The Jr. Sharks Management Committee will include:

Rob Emerson

• Current President of the Barrie Women’s Hockey Association
• 12+ years experience supporting and managing hockey teams
• 8+ years as a member of the BWHA Board of Directors
• Senior IT Manager with over 20+ years experience leading teams that implement transformational change.

Nancy Hooper

• Current Treasurer of the Barrie Women's Hockey Association
• 10+ years experience supporting and managing hockey teams
• 6+ years as a member of the BWHA Board of Directors
• Manager with 18+ years providing clinical experience, leadership and oversight on day to day operations within the Mental Health and Long-Term Care segment.

Kate Gee

• Current Director of Marketing & Communications of the Barrie Women's Hockey Association
• 8+ years experience coaching and managing hockey teams
• 3+ years as a member of the BWHA Board of Directors
• Resource Management Coordinator at Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, with over 16+ years specializing in Environmental and Wildlife Monitoring, Colonial Waterbird Monitoring and Management, Wetland and Riparian Restoration, Wildlife Habitat Restoration

The Jr. Sharks are Central Ontario’s premiere amateur women’s hockey team, and the U22 Elite League is widely regarded as the best amateur women’s hockey league in the world. “Our team and our league have seen amazing growth in recent years, both in the quality of hockey played on the ice, and in the size and scope of our program,” explained president Rob Emerson. “We're fortune to have some an energetic and committed group of individuals to guide our program, both on our management committee, and in our Head Coach and Team Manager. I’m excited for how this group help the Jr. Sharks to improve and expand on all of the things our players need to play at the highest level.”