Building a Girls' Hockey Program
This winter The Rivers School is fielding its first-ever varsity girls' hockey team.
This winter The Rivers School is fielding its first-ever varsity girls’ hockey team. Rivers opened the MacDowell Athletic Center last winter, including a hockey rink and a new gymnasium. After that, Rivers was able to satisfy the school’s need to provide its girls with the opportunity to play hockey in a Rivers jersey.
And it’s taken off. In the second year with a hockey rink on its campus, the school has about 60 girls playing hockey at all levels, from middle school to junior varsity and varsity.
“To have a school this size have 60 girls in the hockey program is a tribute to the coaching staff and the love of the sport by so many girls,” said Rivers Director of Athletics Jim McNally.
Building the girls’ program is an outstanding staff of talented women coaches—all of whom have played collegiate hockey at an elite level at academically competitive institutions. The Rivers School, a coeducational day school for 410 students in grades 6-12, is a member of the competitive Independent School League.
Head coach Kristin Harder brings 15 years of coaching experience to the ice. She spent eight years as the head coach at Choate and had an overall winning percentage above .800. She works with the United States National Development Program in Lake Placid and is the former president of New England Women’s Ice Hockey. She has also won two coach of the year awards—one for her record and one for her teams’ sportsmanship. Harder played at Williams College.
Assistant coach Melissa Dolan was a member of the Dartmouth women’s hockey team that earned two Ivy League titles and an ECAC championship. The team also participated in the first-ever NCAA women’s Frozen Four during her junior year. Dolan graduated from Rivers in 1998 and played for Assabet Valley, a Massachusetts select team that was a four-time state champion.
Rounding off the coaching staff is assistant coach Kate Connelly. Connelly brings a wealth of netminding expertise to the coaching staff. A 2000 graduate of Bowdoin, she was a goaltender and captained the team during her senior year.
In building the Rivers program, the coaches have a specific philosophy in mind.
“One of the things in terms of attracting kids to Rivers that I’ve looked for is character first and talent second,” said coach Harder. “Around campus I want us to be known for our citizenship as well as our effort and achievement both academically and athletically. I want our team members to be known as the kinds of kids that work hard, are dedicated and are also willing to pick up trash on campus. I really believe that if you give your best effort it shows in everything you do.”
The girls’ varsity team, which won its opening game of the season in a stunning 8-0 shutout of Pingree, is young but dedicated. Led by sophomore captain Ali Page, the team is composed of three juniors, five sophomores, seven freshmen and an eighth-grader.
“All of the coaches have been impressed with their maturity, how hard they work, how much they want to learn and how quickly they pick things up,” Harder said.
The girls are proud to be representing Rivers on the ice. Many student-athletes chose Rivers knowing this would be the first year of girls’ varsity hockey.
“Many more experienced players chose Rivers because they are excited about building something and being a part of something special,” Harder added. “That says something about their character and who they are. They are the kinds of kids who want to make things better instead of having things set up for them.”
Back
And it’s taken off. In the second year with a hockey rink on its campus, the school has about 60 girls playing hockey at all levels, from middle school to junior varsity and varsity.
“To have a school this size have 60 girls in the hockey program is a tribute to the coaching staff and the love of the sport by so many girls,” said Rivers Director of Athletics Jim McNally.
Building the girls’ program is an outstanding staff of talented women coaches—all of whom have played collegiate hockey at an elite level at academically competitive institutions. The Rivers School, a coeducational day school for 410 students in grades 6-12, is a member of the competitive Independent School League.
Head coach Kristin Harder brings 15 years of coaching experience to the ice. She spent eight years as the head coach at Choate and had an overall winning percentage above .800. She works with the United States National Development Program in Lake Placid and is the former president of New England Women’s Ice Hockey. She has also won two coach of the year awards—one for her record and one for her teams’ sportsmanship. Harder played at Williams College.
Assistant coach Melissa Dolan was a member of the Dartmouth women’s hockey team that earned two Ivy League titles and an ECAC championship. The team also participated in the first-ever NCAA women’s Frozen Four during her junior year. Dolan graduated from Rivers in 1998 and played for Assabet Valley, a Massachusetts select team that was a four-time state champion.
Rounding off the coaching staff is assistant coach Kate Connelly. Connelly brings a wealth of netminding expertise to the coaching staff. A 2000 graduate of Bowdoin, she was a goaltender and captained the team during her senior year.
In building the Rivers program, the coaches have a specific philosophy in mind.
“One of the things in terms of attracting kids to Rivers that I’ve looked for is character first and talent second,” said coach Harder. “Around campus I want us to be known for our citizenship as well as our effort and achievement both academically and athletically. I want our team members to be known as the kinds of kids that work hard, are dedicated and are also willing to pick up trash on campus. I really believe that if you give your best effort it shows in everything you do.”
The girls’ varsity team, which won its opening game of the season in a stunning 8-0 shutout of Pingree, is young but dedicated. Led by sophomore captain Ali Page, the team is composed of three juniors, five sophomores, seven freshmen and an eighth-grader.
“All of the coaches have been impressed with their maturity, how hard they work, how much they want to learn and how quickly they pick things up,” Harder said.
The girls are proud to be representing Rivers on the ice. Many student-athletes chose Rivers knowing this would be the first year of girls’ varsity hockey.
“Many more experienced players chose Rivers because they are excited about building something and being a part of something special,” Harder added. “That says something about their character and who they are. They are the kinds of kids who want to make things better instead of having things set up for them.”
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