The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to introduce Dave Mainwood as our latest Community Sport Hero!
Set to start his 49th season coaching local ringette, Dave has just about seen it all in his storied career, but this year will nonetheless offer something new when the Eastern Ontario Capitals debut in the National Ringette League.
Dave has coached at all levels over the past half-century, although his involvement with ringette dates back five years more as a referee. At age 12, he figured that volunteering to call ringette games would help him become a better skater and hockey player.
Dave quickly made his mark in the ringette coaching world. Come 1990, he was leading the Gloucester Debs club team to an improbable appearance in the medal round of the inaugural Ringette World Championships at Earl Armstrong Arena.
He later coached Team Canada in a best-of-five series against Finland during a 1998 Summit Series / EuroTour. He’s celebrated numerous provincial and national championships over the years at various age groups, and has been recognized as NRL coach of the year in the past for Gloucester as well.
The former Henry Larsen Elementary School teacher has occupied executive positions for the Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette Association and has been involved with numerous fundraisers to support amateur athletes and causes including cancer research.
Dave is well-known for fostering a supportive atmosphere on the teams he coaches. He expects a high level of commitment from his players and will offer a friendly push when needed, but he promotes teamwork above all else.
“We all have goals and that’s to win,” says Dave. “But sticking together, I think that’s the most important part of it.”
Ringette volunteerism is a full-on family affair for the Mainwoods. Dave’s mom Joan was a coach, manager and executive member, as was his wife Vicky. Daughters Jessica and Alyssa played ringette as they grew up and continue to carry the torch as high-level coaches locally.
Jessica Boisvert, who will lead Team Ontario to the 2027 Canada Winter Games, is the head coach for the new Capitals NRL team. Her dad serves as an assistant for the Capitals, while Alyssa is the head coach for the Eastern Ontario Impact U19 ‘AA’ team.
“It says a lot about how amazing my mom and dad have been as our supporters and role models that both my sister and I have followed in their footsteps as elite players and now as coaches,” Jessica told the Ottawa Sports Pages’ Martin Cleary after the family’s teams both won 2022 provincial titles. “We have learned so much from them as well as everyone else in our ringette family. I hope (and know) that they are proud that we have continued to volunteer and get involved in a sport we all love and are passionate about.”
Season 49
Dave was part of the working group that created the young Eastern Ontario association, which joins together players from many local clubs to form two ‘AA’ teams at the U19 level. This season, Eastern Ontario has added the Capitals women’s NRL team to its portfolio, just in time to take a run at the 2026 Canadian Ringette Championships, which will be hosted in Ottawa from Mar. 30-Apr. 5.
Season no. 49 officially begins for Dave Mainwood on Saturday, Oct. 18 when the Eastern Ontario Capitals take on Gatineau Fusion at 10 a.m. for their National Ringette League season opener at Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex – Orléans.
Admission is $10 or free for players under 16 years old wearing their jerseys.
The OSC Community Sport Hero features aim to highlight the selfless contributions of dedicated staff, volunteers and sport organizations in Ottawa. Do you know someone dedicated to sport in Ottawa? Help us continue to tell the stories of community sport in Ottawa and nominate a person or organization doing great work in the sport community!