London, ON - Brittany Howard's journey from being a professional hockey player to becoming the head coach of the Mustangs Women's Hockey team is a story of deep connection, strategic vision, and the pursuit of excellence.

For Howard, the decision to lead the Western Mustangs was a no-brainer. Growing up just down the road in St. Thomas, she had always felt a strong connection to the Western community. Many of her classmates attended Western, and as a former London Devilette, she had shared the ice with Mustangs players.

Her ties to the area ran deep, and the opportunity to return home and lead the program was an easy choice.

"It's an incredible opportunity to be at such a prestigious university and to lead the group," said Howard.

As Howard takes the reins of the Western Mustangs, she's committed to building a legacy that extends beyond the ice. She understands the importance of recruiting top talent both locally and beyond.
Early in her tenure, she's already been out to watch games of the London Junior Devilettes and Bluewater Junior Hawks, actively engaging with coaches and players. It's about reestablishing those local ties and creating a pipeline of talent to Western.

"We're lucky that in our backyard, we have some excellent junior programs and U22 programs that we can look at and go to games on a weekly basis," Howard said.

At the same time, she's not limiting her search to Ontario. With access to major tournaments that draw teams from across North America, she's evaluating talent from far and wide.
The goal is to create a team that's not only competitive but also reflects the diverse talent pool in women's hockey.

Howard's coaching philosophy is deeply influenced by her own experiences as a player. Having played in the NCAA and professionally, she knows the challenges and demands of being a collegiate athlete. She's committed to sharing her experiences and helping her players navigate the ups and downs of their own careers.



"I'm definitely happy and able to share some of my experiences being at the collegiate game, transferring that into the program and now into my coaching career," Howard said. "We have a great coaching staff as well, and we're definitely excited for the season to start."

Howard's tenure as part of the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U and 19U girl's teams also contributed significantly to her development as a coach. Working alongside former NFL player Shaun Suisham, she gained valuable insights into coaching athletes and instilling core values like effort and attitude.

"I was able to learn from him every single day, and one of his big mottos is that effort and attitude are controllables that you have as an individual athlete that you can bring to the table every single day," Howard said. "That's definitely something I've taken with me."



Beyond recruiting and coaching, Howard is focused on fostering a positive team culture and leadership within her squad. She recently worked with her assistant coaches to establish a leadership group for the upcoming season, recognizing that leadership takes many forms. The 2025-26 Mustangs Women's leadership includes captain Emma Campbell and Assistants Hayley Kirkpatrick & Kate Martin, Kate Suitor.

"Not everyone has to be the most vocal player," Howard said. "Everyone has a different attribute that they can display and bring to the table. I think we have an incredible group, and we need everybody to step up and lead, whether it's in the weight room, on the ice, or academically."

As Howard embarks on this new chapter at Western, she's not just building a hockey team; she's building a community. Her deep ties to the area, her strategic vision for recruitment, and her commitment to player development and leadership make her the perfect fit for the Western Mustangs.

In addition to her new position, Howard has recently been recognized by both the St. Thomas Panthers Girls Hockey Association and the London Devilettes for her accomplishments in the game. At the 2025 "Panther Day" earlier in October, the organization honoured Howard by unveiling a banner recognizing her years of excellence in the game. The banner will hang in the Joe Thornton Community Centre in St. Thomas, and she is the first female professional hockey player banner at the arena.



"It was a fantastic privilege to be recognized by your home city, it's like the saying goes, it takes a village, and it definitely did for my career and my journey in hockey, and Saint Thomas was a big piece of that." said Howard "It was awesome seeing our girls be able to attend, I think my parents also really enjoyed it, and they were a big part of my journey."

Another recognition of Howard's successful career comes this season across the London Devilettes Girls Hockey Association, as every team will have certain numbers in their lineups recognizing notable women's hockey players; it will include one player on each team wearing the number 41 in tribute to Howard.

"I just think it's so cool. It's kind of shocking. Obviously, 41 is a bit of a unique number. You look at some of the players that they also recognize, Natalie Spooner, Hilary Knights, some of the best, and also just going hand in hand. I played with some of those players who are great people, great people off the ice, and they definitely deserve the recognition as well." said Howard "I played for the Devilettes for 9, 10 years, and obviously they were a huge piece to my journey and to be able to be recognized like that, and that's going to be something that continues to live on for years to come, is just an incredible opportunity and huge piece to my journey."

For Howard, it's all about giving back to the game that has given her so much. 

"We're excited to get the season started, we have an amazing group and culture that's been established." said Howard.