Creating Space.
Building Confidence. Breaking Barriers.
Our mission is simple: to create a space where female athletes feel they truly belong. A place where development comes first, friendships are formed, and every player gets a fair shot to grow—on and off the ice. At Rink Rebels, hockey is about more than wins and losses. It’s about building confidence through hard work, learning from challenges, and making memories that last long after the final buzzer. We believe every girl deserves the opportunity to grow—not just as a player, but as a leader, a teammate, and a person.
Development here doesn’t stop at skills and systems. We’re focused on resilience, character, and helping players build a lifelong love for the game.
Because hockey should always be about passion, effort, and the simple joy of stepping on the ice—knowing you belong.
We’re here for the first-timers. For the late bloomers. For the players chasing their next level.
This is hockey with heart.
This is the Rebellion.
And we’re just getting started.
If you’re ready to lace up, work hard, and be part of something bigger—welcome to the team.
Leadership & Coaches
Doug Grandy
Doug is a lifelong leader, coach, and builder of people — both on the ice and in the community. He founded the Rink Rebels with a vision to create more opportunities for young athletes, especially girls, to grow in a supportive, competitive, and inclusive hockey environment.
Ava Burns
Ava enters her second season as a Fredericton High School Black Kat and continues to play an important role within Rink Rebels on and off the ice. As Junior Coach and Social Media Lead, she helps shape the program’s culture — mentoring younger players while bringing creativity, energy, and leadership to the Rink Rebels brand.
Kate Hunter
Kate Hunter has been part of Rink Rebels Sports & Development Inc. since its earliest days and plays a key role in shaping the organization’s community presence and event experience.
Eric Neilson
In 2004, Eric was drafted 143rd overall by the Los Angeles Kings, marking the start of a 12-year professional career. He played across the ECHL, AHL, and EIHL, with notable achievements including winning the Calder Cup with the Norfolk Admirals in the 2011–12 season.
Jena MacLeod
Elite skating coach focusing on edge control, power strides, and mental performance habits. Her previous clients have reported significant improvements in skating efficiency and on‑ice confidence.
Katia “Ekaterina” Pelowich
Kat, born January 29, 2002, in Stouffville, ON, is the captain of the STU Tommies Women’s Hockey team, a top scorer and vocal leader who led her team to the playoffs and recently helped Team Canada capture silver at the FISU Winter World University Games in Torino.
Mark MacNevin
If you’ve ever laced up at Willie O’Ree or heard the roar from a U11 bench in Fredericton, chances are you’ve seen Coach Mark doing what he does best—teaching, inspiring, and rallying the next generation of athletes.
Jamie Heffernan
We’re thrilled to announce the newest member of the Rink Rebels family: Jamie Heffernan, a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning and one of the country’s top high-performance coaches.
Claire Nimegeers
If you don’t know her name yet, trust us—you will soon. Hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan, Claire brings prairie grit, big-game experience, and an unshakable work ethic to everything she does.