This story is part of our September 2018 magazine – a speciality edition chronicling the top 40 people under 40 who are reinventing themselves in hockey.
Brittany Miller
Director of hockey operations | Boston University
Brittany Miller grew up in a hockey family, began skating when she was 3 years old and played organized hockey all the way through high school at Boston Latin. Now, the Boston University alum is helping blaze a trail for females looking to get involved working in the sport.
After spending five seasons as a student manager and completing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at BU, Miller became the first woman to join the staff of a Division 1 men’s team on a full-time basis when head coach David Quinn (then BU’s head coach, now with the New York Rangers) hired her as director of hockey operations in 2016. She was a key assistant to the coaching staff during her career as a student, compiling statistical data during games and managing team travel accommodations, among other duties. Her full-time role remains similar.
During Miller’s tenure with one of the most successful programs in the history of college hockey, the Terriers have qualified for five NCAA tournaments, played for the national championship in 2015 at TD Garden, won two Hockey East championships, two league regular-season titles and one Beanpot.
Hockey East is actually home to two women in such a position. Providence College’s Theresa Feaster is entering her third season in the role at her alma mater. The New York Times featured Miller and Feaster in February 2017. — Joshua Kummins
Maura Crowell
Head coach | Minnesota-Duluth
Prior to taking over as Minnesota-Duluth’s head coach in 2015, Crowell had spent her entire coaching career in New England.
The Mansfield, Mass., native worked for the legendary Katey Stone at Harvard from 2010-15, serving as the interim head coach and associate head coach during her final two seasons. She spent five years at UMass Boston, where she is the all-time winningest head coach, after getting her start at Connecticut College and St. Mark’s School.
Crowell has worked on three USA Hockey Under-18 National Team and two Women’s National Festival staffs, working her way up to the head position for this year’s U-18 squad.
Courtney Kennedy
Associate head coach | Boston College
The powerhouse Boston College women’s program would not be without Kennedy, who has been Katie King Crowley’s top assistant since 2007 and earned a promotion to associate head coach in 2012.
The Woburn, Mass., native guides the defense, special teams units and recruiting for a team that has advanced to six NCAA Frozen Fours, won three Hockey East titles and six Beanpots. Kennedy also has been an assistant coach for four of USA Hockey’s Under-18 World Championship squads.
Stephanie Wood
Coach | Islanders HC; Austin Prep
A prominent figure in the women’s hockey world, Wood currently directs Islanders HC’s female programs and is head coach at Massachusetts high school power Austin Prep.
Success has come for Wood with both programs as she has guided five Islanders teams to USA Hockey Nationals in eight seasons and led Austin Prep to the state semifinals last season as well as a 2016 title.
Wood, who played at Northeastern, is a board member for Massachusetts Hockey and is USA Hockey’s American Development Model female liaison in the state.
Amy Zappen
Goalie coach | Boston University
Zappen is a 2012 alum of Saint Anselm, where she was a standout goaltender for the women’s hockey program.
She’s worked with Stop it Goaltending, mentoring young goaltenders, and is entering her third season as a member of Brian Durocher’s staff for the women’s hockey team at Boston University.
