Sharina Filion moves through the rink like someone who has always known the ice would one day become her canvas. As founder and director of the Rocky Mountain Venom Hockey Academy, she has shaped a development-first, athlete-centred model that now anchors one of Alberta’s most respected independent hockey programs.
“When you think of leadership that transcends the game, you think of Sharina,” says nominator Ally Taylor, who has watched Filion build something larger than a hockey academy — a community stitched together by purpose and possibility.
Filion launched the not-for-profit in 2024 after recognizing a gap for young athletes in Airdrie.
“I grew up in hockey,” she says. “Hockey has shaped every stage of my life … Coaching became a natural extension of wanting to give that same foundation to the next generation.”
Filion’s U13 all-girls elite team, the only one of its kind locally, has become a flagship of confidence and camaraderie.
Her coaching philosophy is equal parts heart and grit.
“I believe deeply in raising strong humans, not just skilled hockey players,” Filion says. “I want to build a community where young athletes feel empowered, confident, and supported … where girls’ hockey continues to grow with pride and visibility.”
On the ice and far beyond, Filion is doing exactly that.
The AAWAs are celebrating their Sweet 16 in 2026. What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
Be brave enough to take up space. You belong. Don’t shrink yourself to make others more comfortable, and don’t underestimate what passion and resilience can build. Keep your heart open, work hard and trust that every challenge is shaping you into the woman you’re becoming.