Harvard Fills Coaching Vacancies
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Head coach Katey Stone has announced the hiring of Joakim (UK) Flygh and Melanie Ruzzi as assistant coaches with Harvard's women's ice hockey program.
"We are thrilled to have UK and Melanie joining our program," said Stone. "They both have tremendous knowledge of hockey, and their personalities and disposition are a great fit for our program and the Harvard community."
Flygh joins the Crimson staff after spending three seasons as an assistant at Minnesota-Duluth, where he worked with the Bulldog defensemen and penalty killing unit, served as a recruiting coordinator, monitored the squad's academic progress, and acted as a liaison between the team and the school's admissions office.
Before taking the position at Minnesota-Duluth, Flygh two seasons as an assistant coach at New England College and one year as a graduate assistant there. He helped the Pilgrims to a combined 53-23-4 record during his three years behind the bench.
Flygh was a standout defenseman as an undergraduate at New England College and was the Pilgrims' defensive player of the year. He went on to play professional hockey in Sweden for the Lysekil Vikings.
A native of Tyringe, Sweden, Flygh is a 2000 graduate of New England College.
Ruzzi comes to Harvard after spending the last two seasons as an assistant at Amherst, where she worked directly with all aspects of the Jeff program. She helped Amherst reach the semifinal round of the 2007 NCAA Division III tournament as the Jeffs won their first NESCAC championship.
Ruzzi was a standout player at Providence as an undergraduate as she helped the Friars to an ECAC East championship in 2002 and Hockey East regular season and tournament titles in 2003. She served as captain of the 2002-03 team, was presented with the team's Coaches Award, and was an honorable mention All-Hockey East selection.
Ruzzi graduated from Providence in 2003 and earned a master's degree sport management from Massachusetts in May.
