Vanessa DeMerchant

Originally from New Brunswick, Canada, and holding dual citizenship, Vanessa came to the U.S. to play college hockey and has been sharing her love of the game ever since. She has lived in Virginia for the past seven years, six of which were spent competing at the collegiate level with Liberty University. During her time with the Flames, Vanessa won four National Championship titles and earned numerous individual honors, including National Tournament MVP, All-American, and multiple All-Tournament selections. She served as an assistant captain for four seasons before being named team captain in her final year. In 2019, she also represented Team USA at the World University Games in Siberia, Russia.

Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Psychology and a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Now in her third season with The St. James, she brings a strong background in power skating and extensive experience coaching U16 and U19 girls’ teams. Most recently, her 16U Girls team earned a bronze medal at USA Hockey Nationals in 2024 and captured the AGHF 16U AA Elite Championship in 2025. Passionate about player development, Vanessa is dedicated to helping athletes build confidence, develop their skills, and enjoy every moment on the ice.