Meet the Team
The Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan has a dedicated team to help athletes and coaches in Saskatchewan achieve their athletic and career goals.
Michelle Dezell
High Performance Manager
- Since 2001, Michelle Dezell has worked with the Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan and Sask Sport. As the inaugural Athlete Services Manager she created a menu of support and performance services for Saskatchewan athletes and coaches. This individualized approach to programming enriches the training, performance and transition environments for Saskatchewan athletes and coaches as they contribute to the overall success of Team Canada at Olympic and Paralympic games.
- Michelle moved to a new position to become the High Performance Manager for the Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan and Sask Sport Inc. in 2019. She has over 25 years of experience in amateur sport as a volunteer, athlete, coach, official and administrator. During her spare time she enjoys finding golf balls she has misplaced on the course.
- Michelle received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education (1993) and is a Life Skills Coach (YWCA), CAAWS Leadership Workshop facilitator, and trained in mediation and conflict resolution (ADR Saskatchewan).
Kia Schollar
Manager of Athlete Services
- Kia joined the CSCS team in the fall of 2017 but was very familiar with the organization as she had been a registered athlete with the centre since 2002. Kia utilized the CSCS and Game Plan services as a High Performance athlete in the sport of canoe-kayak. She is now the first point of contact for our province’s elite athletes and strives to help connect each individual with the services that will help them excel to the best of their ability, as they chase their dreams and turn them into tangible goals.
- Kia grew up as an athlete in the Saskatchewan sport system and eventually went through the National sport system; competing for Team Canada from 2005 through 2012. She proudly wore the Maple Leaf at Pan American Games, World Championships, World Cup and Pan American Championships. She was a 12x National champion and has held multiple national records in singles, doubles and four person events. After competing Kia coaches and worked as a sport administrator and brings all of the knowledge and experience she gained to her position with us.
- Kia has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan. She is also a trained Canadian Women & Sport facilitator.
Travis Laycock
Performance Services Manager
- Travis Laycock has worked with the Sport Medicine & Science Council of Saskatchewan, which is the contracted service provider for the Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan, since 1998. The (SMSCS) is a non-profit organization under Sask Sport Inc. that has been providing services to athletes and teams for the past 30 years. Travis is the first point of contact for those athletes who wish to utilize the Centre’s sport science services in sport nutrition, strength conditioning, mental performance, exercise physiology and biomechanics. Additionally, Travis is responsible for processing athlete claims for the Centre’s medical reimbursement program.
- Travis received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education (1997) from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Business Administration (2007) from Lansbridge University in New Brunswick. He is also a Bronze Medal recipient of the Royal Canadian Humane Association and has received a Saskatchewan Premier’s Commendation for Heroic actions that occurred in 2014. Growing up, Travis played Major Junior hockey in the Western Hockey League for the Prince Albert Raiders (1989-1992) and then U Sport hockey for the University of Saskatchewan. During his spare time he coaches hockey, basketball, football and soccer.
Lisa Hoffart
Game Plan Advisor
- Lisa is a Registered Psychologist and a Mental Performance Consultant for the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan. Taking a holistic approach to working with athletes from grassroots to international levels, Lisa helps them to develop and implement mental performance skills. In this role, Lisa has contributed to Team Saskatchewan’s performances at the Canada Summer Games, Canada Winter Games, and the Western Canada Summer Games.
- Lisa is also an advisor with Game Plan, Canada’s national athlete wellness program. Through this program, Lisa works with athletes, helping them to develop their skills outside of sport. As a result, athletes are able to focus on health, education, and career opportunities both during their high-performance career and beyond.
- Coming from an athletic background, Lisa ran track and field and cross country in university, and competed at the CIS (now U Sport) championships. She continues to compete in distance events on the roads and trails.