About Us

More room on the ice.

Rink Rebels is a Fredericton-based girls’ hockey community created to give more athletes a place to play, develop, and belong—on the ice and beyond it.

Our story

Hockey with heart.

Rink Rebels was co-founded in 2024 by Doug Grandy and Ryan Burns after a simple local reality became impossible to ignore: too many girls wanted to keep playing hockey but could not find the right place to do it.

The idea was grounded in a question heard in their own community: where could a girl play if traditional paths did not feel like the right fit? Rink Rebels became an answer—a place where young players can train at their level, be coached with care, and find teammates who want the same thing.

What began as a response to that gap has grown into an inclusive, player-first community. Programs, camps, mentors, and events are built around effort, growth, friendship, confidence, and the joy of being on the ice.

The goal is not simply to make better players. It is to help each athlete leave the rink with more resilience, stronger connections, and belief in what comes next.

Featured by Sportsnet
“We’re on the right track.”
Read: O’Ree winner Grandy reflects on Rink Rebels’ impact ↗
A community recognized

Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award

Doug Grandy received the NHL’s 2026 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award presented by Hyundai, recognizing the impact of Rink Rebels’ work to make hockey more welcoming and accessible for girls.

Leadership & coaches

The people behind the Rebellion.

A compact team directory—not a stack of oversized biographies. Doug and Ava lead the page, followed by the coaches and specialists who create the experience on the ice.

Mark MacNevin

Experienced coach focused on confident, competitive athlete development.

Chris Barry

Head of player development with a long-term, athlete-first approach.

Kate Hunter

Shapes the community presence and event experience behind Rink Rebels.

Jamie Heffernan

Two-time Stanley Cup champion and high-performance coach.

Jena MacLeod

Elite skating coach for edge control, power, and on-ice confidence.

Eric Neilson

Former pro with a 12-year career across the ECHL, AHL, and EIHL.

Katie Sweeney

University goaltending specialist bringing calm and leadership to every session.

Katia Pelowich

STU Tommies captain, scorer, and leader with Team Canada experience.

Annabelle Juneau

Strength and conditioning coach specializing in mobility and recovery.

Sam King

Saint John hockey product with high-level junior development experience.

Every girl deserves a place to play.

Rink Rebels in the community

In the news.

Independent coverage and recognition show how far the Rink Rebels message is reaching—locally, nationally, and across the hockey community.

Sportsnet profiles Rink Rebels’ impact

A national look at the organization’s player-first model, the community it has created, and Doug Grandy’s Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award.

Read the Sportsnet feature

NHL recognizes community leadership

Explore the NHL feature on Doug Grandy and the work Rink Rebels is doing to make hockey more welcoming for girls.

Watch the NHL feature

Global News: Rink Rebels movement gaining momentum

Global News covered how Rink Rebels is opening up new opportunities for girls to get on the ice across Fredericton and New Brunswick.

Watch the Global News story

Global News: Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award

Global News reported on Doug Grandy receiving the NHL honour and what it represents for the Rink Rebels community.

Watch the Global News report

CBC: A friendly club for women and girls

CBC News profiled Rink Rebels’ early growth and its commitment to building a welcoming place to play, with tournament participation reaching beyond New Brunswick.

Read the CBC feature