Howie Draper steps down after 28 years leading Pandas
The winningest coach in Alberta women's hockey history retires with 715 wins, 15 Canada West titles, and 8 national championships.
Howie Draper is stepping away from the University of Alberta Pandas after building the most decorated women's university hockey program in Canadian history.
The 59-year-old announced his retirement in March, wrapping up 28 seasons behind the bench. He leaves with a 715-193-13 record, 15 Canada West titles, and eight national championships — achievements that define a career as much by influence off the ice as on it.
Draper played for the Alberta Golden Bears from 1985 to 1990 under legendary coach Clare Drake, a relationship that shaped his entire approach. When he took over as the first Pandas head coach in 1997, he carried those lessons forward: culture first, winning second.
"When your passion starts to fade, or fire starts to dim, you know it's time," Draper said. While he still loved working with athletes, the growing administrative demands of the role had started to wear on him.
His impact extended far beyond scoresheets. The team's motto was "phamily" — spelled that way intentionally — and Draper treated everyone the same regardless of role. That commitment to building culture shaped every decision he made.
"It's overwhelming to think that I've come anywhere near being talked about alongside coach Drake," he said, though his record suggests he's already there. Draper leaves as a fixture in Edmonton's sports fabric, one of those coaches whose name means something to anyone who knows the city.