Women’s Ice Hockey Team Brings Global Flare, Strength

The women’s ice hockey team has seen enormous growth in the past few years. Head coach David LaBaff came to Wilkes in June 2022. With LaBaff’s leadership, not only has the team improved the number of wins but also its character, confidence, standards and worldly style. His talent in recruitment is nothing to underestimate.

“Hockey is such a global game,” said LaBaff. “There’s big teams in the U.S. that are really good but we couldn’t recruit with where the program was at.” Faced with the challenge, he pursued increasing Wilkes’ global reach. Today, there are seven different countries represented on the team: the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Serbia, Norway, Finland and Slovakia.

The women’s ice hockey team is incredibly diverse with more than 60% coming from outside the U.S. Those from the U.S. represent a variety of states ranging from Alaska to Florida. LaBaff shared that the team has more international players than any other team in the conference combined. Though the team has unique experiences and playing styles, he has successfully used the strengths of each player. When asked how he balances it all, he answered with a hard chuckle and said, “Patience.”

Senior Rachel Morey, a forward from Wyoming, majoring in environmental engineering, expressed how the team feels cohesive. “I’m happy and proud that we’ve been able to keep our values and diversity,” said Morey. “We’re intrigued by each other’s different experiences and backgrounds and we spend a lot of quality time together.”

The team relies on trust, which stems from the staff and assistant coaches who instill the culture amongst the 31 players. “Creating one team with no cliques, that is something I’m extremely proud of and to see their individual growth,” although he did share that, “We are a team that hates to lose.”

The assistant coaches, Hannah Brady and Kelly Millins, work alongside LaBaff to connect with each student-athlete. “We talk about their lives, their studies, how we can be better coaches to them on the ice and off. We then tailor our coaching styles to each individual to meet their needs,” LaBaff said.

One need in particular includes seeing the team to success. LaBaff promised that the team would win 15 games to make the playoffs for the first time in program history. “We just happened to be the 1%. We hit the 15-win mark, made the playoffs for the first time and won, and continued to the semi-finals, winning 18 games total,” said LaBaff.

Earlier this year, sophomore Haylee Bouchard, a forward and a business major from Ontario, Canada, was selected to the AHCA Second Team East All-American squad and became the first All-American in program history.

“Coming from somewhere so far away and being able to achieve something on this scale was pretty great, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my family, coaching staff and teammates,” said Bouchard, who finds the diversity an advantage to the University and to the team. “I love learning about where my teammates come from and their cultures. It benefits us as we collectively come together to achieve our goals.”

LaBaff is focused on the team and its future, but does not easily forget the teammates who have graduated. “I want to thank our alumni. They went through a lot and bought in when I got here. I hope that this group is making them proud,” said LaBaff.