OSHAWA, Ont. – With the UOIT women's hockey program since its foundation in 2007 as an assistant coach and moving into the head coaching role, Karen Nystrom has been a constant leader guiding the program through tremendous growth.
 
Following her six seasons as head coach that concluded on Saturday night, Nystrom has made the decision to step down from the coaching ranks in order to spend more time with her family.
 
"It is with mixed emotions, I step down as head coach of the UOIT Ridgeback Hockey program," said Nystrom. "It was a very difficult decision, however is right for me personally and the program. I became a coach because I wanted to give back to a sport that brought so much to my life and to positively affect player's lives as like my coaches did.  Over my eight years with the program, I can only hope I made a positive difference the player's life; on and off the ice and played a key role in contributing to a great student-athlete experience at UOIT. I am so unbelievably proud to have been a builder of this program, for putting the program on the map in the OUA/CIS and for the progressive milestones achieved."
 
With her impressive resume, Nystrom was a natural fit on the Ridgebacks inaugural coaching staff alongside head coach Gary Pitcher as the university introduced varsity hockey in Ontario University Athletics (OUA).
 
"I want to thank coach Nystrom for her commitment and dedication that she gave to the program over the past eight seasons," said Scott Barker, Manager of Intercollegiate Athletics. "I have tremendous respect for how she has built this program into a contender. I am excited to see the success of the next chapter thanks in part to the foundation and student-athlete culture that Karen has created."
 
After serving two years as an assistant, Nystrom took over the program prior to the 2009 season and the team's success went on the rise. Having only combined for four victories in the program's first two seasons, Nystrom recorded 63 wins behind the bench over the next six years. In 2014, the team set a program high for victories as they finished the year with a 17-12-1 record.
 
Under her leadership, the Ridgebacks qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back seasons (2013, 2014) but were never able to pull out a victory in the postseason despite going to overtime twice.
 
"Words cannot express my sincere appreciation to the coaching staff that have supported me throughout my tenure with the program; great experience and talent, wonderful people and now, life-long friends," said Nystrom. "I am excited for the next chapter in my life and spending the needed time with my partner, family and friends. I will always be appreciative of my time and experience at UOIT. 'How lucky am I to have had something that makes saying goodbye so hard.' I will always bleed blue."
 
Nystrom's student-athletes were named OUA all-stars or CIS major award winners five times, including Jill Morillo being named a CIS All-Canadian and the Marian Hilliard Award in 2012. Academic success was also a priority for her players as 11 were named CIS All-Canadians.
 
Prior to joining the UOIT coaching staff, Nystrom was a member of the Canadian National team for almost a decade. In her career with Team Canada, she won three World Championship titles (1992, 1994 & 1997), a 3 Nations Cup title (1996) and a Pacific Rim championship (1995). She also won an Olympic silver medal at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
 
A national formal search to secure a new women's hockey head coach will begin immediately.
 
The UOIT Ridgebacks are proud members of the OUA and CIS. For more information on UOIT varsity athletics, visit www.goRidgebacks.com.