Chelsea Walkland’s Incredible Summer

Chelsea Walkland was looking forward to a quiet summer with her family.

Then, the Buffalo Sabres called. The team was looking for guest coaches to help run its development camp, and team brass was wondering if Walkland, a Colgate assistant women’s hockey coach, was interested. 

Opportunity had come knocking. There was no way she could say no. 

“I was thrilled,” said Walkland, a native of Pittsford, N.Y. “Growing up in Rochester, the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans — they were the teams my family supported. To have an opportunity like this, it was pretty amazing.”

Walkland had an interview with two members of the Sabres’ organization — Adam Mair, the director of development, and Matt Smith, the director of operations.

She was one of three people chosen for the post. Joining her were Shelley Picard, an assistant coach at Long Island University, and Troy Thibodeau, an assistant coach at Dartmouth.

As a guest coach, Walkland spent a week at the development camp in Buffalo. NHL teams organize the camps each summer to evaluate their prospects, some of whom are still in college while others are trying to prove they’re ready for the pros. Camps often include some of the most prized prospects in a team's farm system.

At the Sabres development camp, the guest coaches helped the staff with running practices, where players competed and worked on honing their abilities. 

Guest coaches were also asked to make a presentation to the staff of the Sabres organization. Walkland used the opportunity to provide a look inside Colgate Women’s Hockey and some of the strategies that helped contribute to the program’s success, which has led to three consecutive conference titles. 

In addition, the guest coaches helped the organization with activities to build culture and strengthen its connection with prospects, some of whom come from Europe and are still adjusting to life in North America. 

The Sabres organized an evening where staff members — guest coaches included — were assigned to share a meal with a small group of players.

“Part of our job was to help those younger players feel welcomed and feel part of the organization,” Walkland said.

In all, the camp was a memorable experience for Walkland. 

“Going into an NHL club was a little intimidating at first as you don't know what to expect,” she said. “But, from the initial interview to the time I got there, every single person was so welcoming. It was a great learning experience and an enjoyable one.”

One special moment for Walkland happened when her family was present to watch her on the ice. Walkland, a mom of four, was elated to see her kids in the audience. 

“For them to see their mom on the ice, that was a proud moment,” said Walkland, who had a baby in April.

Walkland’s work with the Sabres was made possible through her involvement with the NHL Coaches Association, which has a coaching program led by Lindsay Pennal, the NHLCA's executive director. The program, created in 2020, is designed to create networking and professional development opportunities. 

NHL teams have welcomed guest coaches into their development camps for years, but the league had always selected the candidates. But in recent years, the league granted teams the freedom to fill those positions themselves. 

In October 2022, Walkland got her first experience with the Sabres when she and others from the NHLCA coaches program were invited to observe as Sabres’ coaches debriefed their training camp.

Walkland’s experience with the Sabres is not over yet, however. She will join the team as a guest coach for a home game and away game during the upcoming season.

Colgate Women’s Head Coach Greg Fargo applauded Walkland for earning the opportunity to work with the Sabres.

“Chelsea's involvement with the Buffalo Sabres this summer was a fantastic opportunity for her to gain exposure and experience at the highest level of professional hockey with some of the top players and coaches in the world,” Fargo said. “Chelsea has always had a desire to learn and grow and I know both she and the Sabres organization benefited from her involvement with the Buffalo Sabres organization.”

Walkland joined the Raiders in July 2019 and has become an integral part of a program that has dominated the ECAC for the last three seasons.

"Chelsea's presence within the Colgate Women's Hockey coaching staff has been indispensable from day one,” Fargo said. “Her work ethic is matched only by her empathetic and skillful leadership of our student-athletes.”

When the development camp concluded, Walkland got to enjoy a few weeks with her family before packing her bags for Lake Placid, N.Y., for another special opportunity.

For two weeks, Walkland was the head coach for Team USA’s development women’s team, which met in the tiny Adirondack town to take on Canada in the Collegiate Series and U18 Select Series. Eight Raiders were also invited to play for their countries in the series. 

For two weeks, Walkland was the head coach for Team USA’s development women’s team, which met in the tiny Adirondack town to take on Canada in the Collegiate Series and U18 Select Series. Eight Raiders were also invited to play for their countries in the series. 

Walkland has worked with Team USA in different capacities since 2012. But she had never been a head coach at this level until the games in Lake Placid.

The job involved a significant amount of work in a short period of time. She spent a week running try-outs and selecting players for her team. The following week, the team played three games against Canada. 

The experience, however, was a success, thanks to a great coaching staff that made the job easier for Walkland. She also had a roster made of some of the best young players in the country. 

Walkland said she was grateful for the chance to helm the team. 

“Anytime you are able to be part of these special opportunities, it is a huge honor,” Walkland said.

Fargo said he’s proud of Walkland’s ability to lead Team USA in a short span. 

“Chelsea's role as head coach for the USA Development Team at the Collegiate Series in Lake Placid was a testament to her professionalism and passion for working with some of the best athletes in our sport,” Fargo said.

Walkland is now back at Colgate and working to get the Raiders ready for the upcoming season, which kicks off on Friday when the team hosts a two-game series against Ohio State.

It was a summer that Walkland never would have predicted. But she would not have had it any other way.

“I thought it was going to be a pretty quiet summer after my maternity leave,” Walkland said. “It suddenly turned a lot busier. I was offered opportunities that I couldn’t turn down.”