Princeton University Athletics
Assistant coach Melanie Ruzzi is part of the NHLCA's Female Coaches Development Program.
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Ruzzi, Tiger Alums Part of NHL Coaches Association's Development Program
March 08, 2021 | Women's Ice Hockey
During Women's History Month, the National Hockey League Coaches Association's Female Coaches Development Program is highlighting some of its participants, and those with Princeton ties are well represented in the NHLCA initiative.
Current assistant coach Melanie Ruzzi, who joined the program ahead of a 2019-20 season that saw Princeton win a program-record 26 games and its first ECAC tournament title, is part of the program, and the program's website touts her accomplishments with the Tigers:
In her first season, Princeton set a program wins record with 26, reached the ECAC tournament final for the first time and won the ECAC tournament title for the first time. Princeton finished the season with three players ranked in the top 12 in the nation in goals and points per game, with Sarah Filler's 1.84 points per game and Carly Bullock's 0.91 goals per game each ranking second in the nation. With 95 goals, Bullock finished her career as the program's top goal scorer of the 21st century. The ECAC recognized Princeton's success with both Bullock and Fillier as Best Forward top-three finalists, Fillier as a top-three finalist for Player of the Year, and head coach Cara Morey as one of three finalists for league Coach of the Year.
A pair of decorated Princeton alums, in Liz Keady Norton '08 and Kelsey Koelzer '17, are also part of the program. Keady Norton, now an assistant coach at Boston University, was a second-team All-Ivy and honorable mention All-ECAC pick in 2005, and the next year, Princeton made its first NCAA tournament appearance. Koelzer, who has gained recognition for her standing as the NCAA's first Black head coach in ice hockey as she's starting Arcadia University's women's program, was a first-team All-America honoree in 2016 and the Ivy League Player of the Year that year, and she stands as Princeton's third-highest scoring defenseman (100 pts., 39 goals, 61 assists) in program history. Lorenda Bueker, who was an assistant coach under Jeff Kampersal at Princeton in the 2001-02 season, is also part of the program.
More information on the program can be found here.
Current assistant coach Melanie Ruzzi, who joined the program ahead of a 2019-20 season that saw Princeton win a program-record 26 games and its first ECAC tournament title, is part of the program, and the program's website touts her accomplishments with the Tigers:
In her first season, Princeton set a program wins record with 26, reached the ECAC tournament final for the first time and won the ECAC tournament title for the first time. Princeton finished the season with three players ranked in the top 12 in the nation in goals and points per game, with Sarah Filler's 1.84 points per game and Carly Bullock's 0.91 goals per game each ranking second in the nation. With 95 goals, Bullock finished her career as the program's top goal scorer of the 21st century. The ECAC recognized Princeton's success with both Bullock and Fillier as Best Forward top-three finalists, Fillier as a top-three finalist for Player of the Year, and head coach Cara Morey as one of three finalists for league Coach of the Year.
A pair of decorated Princeton alums, in Liz Keady Norton '08 and Kelsey Koelzer '17, are also part of the program. Keady Norton, now an assistant coach at Boston University, was a second-team All-Ivy and honorable mention All-ECAC pick in 2005, and the next year, Princeton made its first NCAA tournament appearance. Koelzer, who has gained recognition for her standing as the NCAA's first Black head coach in ice hockey as she's starting Arcadia University's women's program, was a first-team All-America honoree in 2016 and the Ivy League Player of the Year that year, and she stands as Princeton's third-highest scoring defenseman (100 pts., 39 goals, 61 assists) in program history. Lorenda Bueker, who was an assistant coach under Jeff Kampersal at Princeton in the 2001-02 season, is also part of the program.
More information on the program can be found here.
Players Mentioned
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