Mount Royal to Milan

Scott Rivett has spent years building winning programs and guiding teams through the pressures of playoff hockey. Now, that work is taking him to the Olympic stage.

The longtime head coach of the MRU Cougars women’s hockey team will serve as an assistant coach with Czechia’s women’s national team at the Games in Milan and Cortina, marking the first Olympic appearance of his coaching career.

A whirlwind path to the international stage

Rivett’s connection to Czechia’s program began last year at the IIHF Women’s World Championship.

“I first went to Finland for a camp with Czechia on what was essentially an audition,” Rivett says. “I didn’t really know where it might lead.”

That audition turned into a late-January invitation to join the coaching staff for the world championship in České Budějovice. From there, the pace only accelerated. Rivett travelled overseas for another camp, returned to Calgary to finish Mount Royal’s season and playoffs, then headed back to Czechia again.

“It all felt like a whirlwind, and I didn’t really have much time to process it,” he says. “Looking back, it ended up being one of the highlights of my coaching career so far.”

The tournament marked Rivett’s debut at the senior international level and ended with Czechia finishing fourth on home ice. While he left the experience on a high note, there were no guarantees it would extend beyond the spring. Then, in late June, the call came. Rivett was asked to rejoin the staff for the upcoming season — a commitment that would include the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“Obviously, the chance to be part of one of the biggest sporting events in the world is exciting,” he says. “But just as exciting is the opportunity to work again with an incredible group of athletes and staff over a full season.”

A coaching connection shaped at Mount Royal

The journey also carries a personal, full-circle layer for Rivett.

Czechia’s head coach, Carla MacLeod, is a decorated figure in women’s hockey — a retired Canadian national team player and the current head coach of the Ottawa Charge in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

Years ago, fresh off a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, MacLeod got her start in coaching when she joined Rivett’s staff as a volunteer assistant. Today, they get to work together again at the sport’s highest level.

“It’s been incredible,” Rivett says. “Carla was actually the one who first reached out to me about this role, and I’m extremely grateful for that. She’s had so many amazing coaching experiences since we last worked together, and being able to work alongside her again has given me a chance to learn a lot.

“Any time you get to work with an incredible person and friend, it makes the whole experience mean that much more.”

Built for big moments

While the spotlight may be a bit hotter than usual, coaching under pressure is nothing new for Rivett.

Over the years, he has guided Mount Royal through its transition to U SPORTS and helped establish the program as a national contender, highlighted by a historic U SPORTS national championship win in 2023. Along the way, Rivett was named Canada West Coach of the Year in 2022 following a 16-2-2 season and earned the honour again in 2024 after leading the Cougars to a 20-7-1 record.

At the Olympics, Rivett’s responsibilities will focus on running Czechia’s defence and overseeing the penalty kill, roles he also handled during Worlds.

“I think the more experiences you have in big moments, the more you realize the importance of trusting what you’ve done to get there and believing in your group,” he says.

“The stage might be different than something like the Flames Community Arena or a national championship, but the game itself is still the same. You try not to let the moment become bigger than what it really is.”

Bringing it back to MRU

As the Games approach, Rivett says he’s looking forward to experiencing the spirit of the Olympics and being a small part of something so special.

“From a hockey perspective, being surrounded by the best players and coaches in the world is an incredible learning opportunity. The hope is to take a thing or two from this experience and bring it back to MRU to help our team continue to grow as we head into the playoffs.”

For a coach whose career has been defined by development — of players, staff and programs — the Olympics represent both a milestone and a continuation. Another bench, another challenge and another chance to learn.