MacKenzie joins Panther rugby coaching staff
UPEI Women's Rugby Head Coach Shannon Atkins is very pleased to announce that former rugby player Cassie MacKenzie will join the Panther coaching staff for the 2014-15 season.
MacKenzie, a two-time team MVP, two-time AUS All-Star, during her first season with UPEI, was also selected to play rugby for the U-19 Canadian Women's Rugby team. MacKenzie is known as a 'no-nonsense' scrum half who directed her team on both offensive and defensive strategies. She was admired and respected throughout the league for both her athletic ability, as well as her community involvement, in particular with rugby in PEI.
'Cassie played rugby at UPEI from 2004-08, and received many awards for her contributions on the field,' said Atkins. 'Since then, she has gone on to coach both at the high school level (for nine years), and as a provincial rugby coach (for five years). Cassie has always made the University proud in the classroom and on the pitch, and has received two degrees from UPEI (BSc and MBA). She is second to none in her coaching abilities, and I am really looking forward to the team benefiting from all of her expertise.'
'I am very excited to be joining the Panthers coaching staff this season, and look forward to coaching at a new elite level,' said MacKenzie. 'As a former Panther, this team is very special to me and I am grateful to have the opportunity to give back to a program that provided me with so many opportunities. The Panthers have a talented group of women, and I look forward to helping this young dynamic team build on their potential.'
In addition to being introduced, MacKenzie will also be honoured for her rugby accomplishments during the Women's Rugby home opener tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm on MacAdam Field where the team will take on the Acadia Axewomen.
'There are a few female players on the Island that have directly contributed to the success of women's rugby in the province, and Cassie is one of them,' added Atkins, who is also the Women's Coordinator for the PEI Rugby Union.
Go Panthers Go!
For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca
