Wood Leaves Elmira for Canada

The coach of the two-time defending Division III women’s national championship team has resigned.

Jamie Wood will move back to Canada to join the staff of the Warner Hockey School in Alberta, where he’ll develop a program for high-school-age girls.

Wood had been at Elmira for three years, coming on a year before the team began varsity play, then guided the Eagles to a 50-5-3 record and national championships in 2002 and 2003.

Wood told the Elmira Star-Gazette that he had turned down offers from Division I schools.

“I did have some offers from Division I, and I have no doubt that I can coach at that level,” Wood told the Star-Gazette. “But [Warner]gave me everything I wanted. This job is the equivalent of a Division I job with the deal I got.”

Players found out Monday afternon. All-America forward Laura Hurd told the Star-Gazette she was in “complete shock. Nobody expected a coach to leave after winning two national championships,” she said.