In the spirit of International Women’s Day (March 8), we sat down with She Leads Hockey Grant recipient and coach Izzy Cropper. For Cropper, coaching wasn’t something she always planned, it was something that grew naturally from her love of the game and the mentors who shaped her journey along the way. While a love for hockey was always part of her family’s story, it was during her early years on the ice that Cropper began to truly understand the lasting impact sport could have.
“I had so many positive influences growing up through hockey and the other sports I played,” she shared. “By Grade 7 or 8, I started helping with learn-to-play programs, jumping on the ice with my brother’s teams, assisting coaches, and working with goalies whenever I could”. That early involvement sparked something deeper; a realization that hockey could be just as meaningful from behind the bench as it was on the ice.
Her coaching journey has continued to evolve, recently strengthened by being named a recipient of the She Leads Hockey Grant, an initiated promoting female leadership through supports from Hockey Alberta and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation. With support from the grant, Cropper is building on the success of a female coaching clinic she helped launch in Edmonton last year. “The grant is helping us bring the clinic back for a second year,” she explained. “This time, we’re hoping to expand it to not only supporting coaches, but also creating leadership development opportunities for U15, U18, and university level players”.
The initiative is about more than skills; it’s about strengthening the future of the game by investing in those who will lead it, and the timing couldn’t be better. Alberta has seen a remarkable increase in female coaches in recent years, a shift Cropper believes is essential for the continued growth of hockey.
“Representation matters,” she said. “Growing up, I only had one female head coach and a handful of female assistants. I was fortunate that they made a huge impact on me but without seeing women in those roles, I don’t know if I would have envisioned myself coaching”.
Today, she hopes to help create a new reality, one where female leadership behind the bench is no longer the exception, but the norm. “I think as the game continues to evolve, in order for us to evolve with it, we need females who are behind the bench that have lived it and who understand it”.
For Cropper, coaching is about more than systems and strategies, it’s about creating environments where players feel confident, supported, and empowered to grow. Sometimes, that starts with the little things, like music at practice, team meetings, helping create a positive, and a welcoming atmosphere.
More importantly, she focuses on helping players recognize their progress. “Sport is an incredible environment to learn life skills,” she said. “Growth mindset, confidence, resilience, those lessons carry far beyond the rink.” Her goal is to ensure players leave the game with more than improved technical ability but with belief in themselves and their potential.
Looking ahead, Cropper has a simple but powerful message for the next generation of girls in hockey “We need you. We need you in coaching roles, as officials, trainers, and on the board of directors for your local club.”
She encourages young players to seek out opportunities, embrace experiences, and never be afraid to ask for guidance. “People want to help you get there and the ideas and perspectives you bring will help move the game forward,” said Cropper.
Through her work, Cropper is helping shape a future where leadership in hockey is more inclusive, more representative, and stronger than ever.
