Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Ruzzi Named Assistant Women's Hockey Coach
June 27, 2019 | Women's Ice Hockey
The Princeton women's hockey program is excited to announce the addition of Mel Ruzzi to the 2019 coaching staff.
A 15-year veteran in the collegiate coaching ranks, Ruzzi has experience in the ECAC and Ivy League having worked at both Yale and Harvard.
She began her coaching career at Division III Amherst in 2005, where she acted as an assistant coach for two seasons. From 2007-11 she was an assistant coach at Harvard before returning to her alma mater Providence for six years as associate head coach.
Ruzzi was critical to the turn-around of the Friars program that saw the program return to the national rankings and be one of the most competitive teams in Hockey East. She helped transform the defense from 136 goals allowed to 80 in just two seasons, while also improving the penalty kill from 78.1 percent to 87.1 percent – eighth best in the nation in her final year with the Friars, 2017-18. In addition she coached defender, Whitney Dove, to the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award in 2017.
Her involvement in hockey exceeds the collegiate ranks. She has been involved with USA Hockey since 2006, and is currently one of the coaches for USA Hockey's Development Camp. In addition, Ruzzi has been the director of the USA Hockey's multi-district camp for the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Districts since 2017.
"We are very fortunate to have Mel joining our program," Morey said. "Mel's extensive resume speaks for itself as she could certainly be a head coach in this league. She shares the same values and vision that we have here at PWIH. She is passionate about our game and her hockey IQ is outstanding. I'm so excited to work with Mel and take this program to the next level!"
A 2003 graduate of Providence, Ruzzi was team captain in 2002-03 and captured Hockey East Honorable Mention honors as well as national all-academic accolades. She helped the Friars to the ECAC Eastern title as a junior and the inaugural Hockey East title in 2003. In her career, she played in 141 games and had 13 goals and 38 assists for 51 points.
"I am beyond grateful to be joining the Princeton women's hockey program at a time when Coach Morey has positioned the team to take another step forward in competing for ECAC and NCAA Championships," Ruzzi said. "I am excited to pour my energy into this incredible group of Princeton women and to work with a passionate and accomplished staff."
Princeton finished tied for second in the ECAC Hockey standings this season after sitting in first place in the standings for the first 16 weeks of the season. The squad earned its highest ranking in program history, fourth. The team won the Ivy League and was undefeated in the ECAC through the first 15 games of the season. Princeton had a program record 20-game unbeaten streak which stood as the nation's longest unbeaten streak for months. The team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and finished with the top-ranked power-play unit in the nation and the nation's Rookie of the Year and All-American Sarah Fillier.
A 15-year veteran in the collegiate coaching ranks, Ruzzi has experience in the ECAC and Ivy League having worked at both Yale and Harvard.
She began her coaching career at Division III Amherst in 2005, where she acted as an assistant coach for two seasons. From 2007-11 she was an assistant coach at Harvard before returning to her alma mater Providence for six years as associate head coach.
Ruzzi was critical to the turn-around of the Friars program that saw the program return to the national rankings and be one of the most competitive teams in Hockey East. She helped transform the defense from 136 goals allowed to 80 in just two seasons, while also improving the penalty kill from 78.1 percent to 87.1 percent – eighth best in the nation in her final year with the Friars, 2017-18. In addition she coached defender, Whitney Dove, to the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award in 2017.
Her involvement in hockey exceeds the collegiate ranks. She has been involved with USA Hockey since 2006, and is currently one of the coaches for USA Hockey's Development Camp. In addition, Ruzzi has been the director of the USA Hockey's multi-district camp for the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Districts since 2017.
"We are very fortunate to have Mel joining our program," Morey said. "Mel's extensive resume speaks for itself as she could certainly be a head coach in this league. She shares the same values and vision that we have here at PWIH. She is passionate about our game and her hockey IQ is outstanding. I'm so excited to work with Mel and take this program to the next level!"
A 2003 graduate of Providence, Ruzzi was team captain in 2002-03 and captured Hockey East Honorable Mention honors as well as national all-academic accolades. She helped the Friars to the ECAC Eastern title as a junior and the inaugural Hockey East title in 2003. In her career, she played in 141 games and had 13 goals and 38 assists for 51 points.
"I am beyond grateful to be joining the Princeton women's hockey program at a time when Coach Morey has positioned the team to take another step forward in competing for ECAC and NCAA Championships," Ruzzi said. "I am excited to pour my energy into this incredible group of Princeton women and to work with a passionate and accomplished staff."
Princeton finished tied for second in the ECAC Hockey standings this season after sitting in first place in the standings for the first 16 weeks of the season. The squad earned its highest ranking in program history, fourth. The team won the Ivy League and was undefeated in the ECAC through the first 15 games of the season. Princeton had a program record 20-game unbeaten streak which stood as the nation's longest unbeaten streak for months. The team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and finished with the top-ranked power-play unit in the nation and the nation's Rookie of the Year and All-American Sarah Fillier.
Players Mentioned
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Women's Hockey Goals vs. Harvard, 3-1-26
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Issy Wunder's Goal vs. Harvard, 2-28-26
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Inside Baker Rink: Maggie Johnson
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