Maine Black Bears women's ice hockey

The Maine Black Bears women’s ice hockey team represents the University of Maine. The team plays their home games in Alfond Arena. The team's first year of play was in 1997–98. The Black Bears finished 6th in the 2019–2020 season, advancing to the semi-finals of the Hockey East tournament, before losing to the eventual champions Northeastern Huskies by a score of 1–3. The 2020 Hockey East women's ice hockey tournament was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak, but Maine would not have qualified even if the tournament had been played. Hockey East announced plans in July 2020 to play the 2020–2021 hockey season, with an emphasis on league play. Maine is one of sixteen Division I programs to have never qualified for the NCAA women's ice hockey tournament.

Coaches

The current head coach is Molly Engstrom. A native of Siren, Wisconsin, she spent the 2018–2022 seasons as the assistant coach at St. Cloud University. She is a two-time member of the United States women's hockey team at the Winter Olympics, won a bronze medal with Team USA in 2006 at the Turin Winter Games and a silver medal in 2010 at the Vancouver Winter Games. Engstrom earned the 'Best Defenseman' award at the 2010 Winter Games.

She was a member of Team USA at six IIHF World Women's Championships from 2004 to 2011, helping the team secure gold medals in 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2011, as well as silver medals in 2004 and 2007.

She has played and coached in the Swedish Women's Professional Hockey League (SDHL) from 2016 to 2018, and helped her team Djurgarden IF win the SDHL championship in 2017. She served as the girls' varsity hockey head coach and assistant athletic director at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H. from 2014–2016.

In addition to her professional playing and coaching experience in Sweden, Engstrom played professional hockey with teams in Minneapolis, Toronto and Boston in the CWHL and NWHL from 2007 to 2013. She helped her Brampton-Canadette Thunder team win the CWHL title in 2008 and the Minnesota Whitecaps win the Western Women's Hockey League crown in 2009.

A 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Engstrom played collegiate hockey in the WCHA with the Badgers. She received First Team All-American honors while at Wisconsin and was also named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. She was selected as a Patty Kazmaier Award top 10 finalist in 2005.

She went on to receive a Masters of Sports Administration from the Russian International Olympic University in 2014.

Richard Reichenbach served as head coach from 2015 to 2022. In the 2019–20 season, his fifth year in the role, he led Maine to a 15–14–8 record. Before coaching at the University of Maine, Reichenbach was an assistant coach at Cortland State. Reichenbach is a 2006 graduate of Hamilton College, where he was a hockey and lacrosse standout. He was team captain in his senior year. He played one year of professional hockey, on the Richmond Renegades of the SPHL.

Maria Lewis served as the head coach for the Bears for four seasons and was named Hockey East Coach of the Year in 2012. That season, the Bears finished fourth in the Hockey East conference with an overall record of 17–11–6. Prior to taking on the head coach responsibilities at Maine, Lewis was an assistant coach for Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey team, where she twice won the College Hockey Assistant Coach of the year award. She was also an assistant coach with the Ohio State Buckeyes and the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Dan Lichterman became the third head coach for the Black Bears for the 2007–2008 season and coached for three seasons. He left at the end of his first contract, citing the need to support his wife's career.

Lauren Steblen, associate coach under Guy Perron, stepped in as interim coach in the 2006–2007 season. Steblen played defense for the Bears as a college player, and in her senior season, 2000–2001, the team made the Hockey East tournament for the first time. After graduating from Maine, she coached the Bemidji State Beavers, in Minnesota. At the end of her year as interim head coach, she decided not to pursue the permanent post.

Guy Perron was hired as the second head coach of the Black Bears. A graduate of UM, Perron was a two-time captain for the team and recorded a career total of 62 goals and 84 assists, amassing 146 points in 136 games. Perron coached the Black Bears to a 17–9–6 season in his second year. He left the following season to be the associate head coach and recruiting director for Maine's men's ice hockey program. He later became a scout for the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL.

Rick Filighera was the inaugural head coach for the Maine Black Bears' program, and oversaw the program for its first seven seasons. He came to Maine from a head coaching position with the Rochester Institute of Technology's women's hockey team. In 2003–2004, he was the runner up for the Hockey East Coach of the Year award. After leaving Maine in 1997, he became the head coach for Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio. As of 2020–2021, he was the head coach for the Cortland Red Dragons, in the Northeast Women's Hockey League.

Season-by-season results

Sources

Team Scoring Champions

Team captains

In progress

• 1997–98: Alana Ahearn
• 1998–99: Alison Lorenz, Christina Hedges
• 1999-00: Kelly Nelson
• 2000–01: Kelly Nelson
• 2001–02: Mandy Cronin, Jarin Sjorgen
• 2002–03: Jarin Sjorgen
• 2003–04: Lara Smart
• 2004–05: Tristian Desmet, Emily Stevens
• 2005–06: Cheryl White, Morgan Janusc
• 2006–07: Kelly Law, Sonia Corriveau
• 2007–08: Jenna Cowan
• 2008–09: Vanessa Vani
• 2009–10: Amy Stech
• 2010–11: Dawn Sullivan
• 2011–12: Dawn Sullivan
• 2012–13: Kylie Smith, Chloe Tinkler
• 2013–14: Jennifer More, Brittney Huneke
• 2014–15: Jennifer More (C), Brittney Huneke, Katy Massey (A)
• 2015–16: Abby Cooke, Emilie Brigham (C), Brooklyn Langlois, Eve Boissoneault (A)
• 2016–17: Emilie Brigham, Jess Vallotton
• 2017–18: Alyson Matteau (C), Brooke Stacey, Cailey Hutchinson (A)
• 2018–19: Jillian Flynn
• 2019–20: Jillian Flynn
• 2020–21: Taylor Leech
• 2021–22: Taylor Leech
• 2022–23: Morgan Trimper (C), Alexandra Johnson (A)
• 2023–24: Elise Morphy (C), Kennedy Little (A), Ida Kuoppala (A), Ana LaRose (A)
• 2024–25: Elise Morphy (C), Danielle Brunette (A) Adriana van de Leest (A), Alyssa Wruble (A)
• 2025–26: Danielle Brunette (C), Lily Fetch (A), Mikayla Boarder (A), Ava Stevenson (A)

Current roster

2025–26 Black Bears

<small>As of January 6, 2026.</small>

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Black Bears in Pro Hockey

Olympians

Awards and honors

Hockey East

• Amy Stech (2006-10), Runner up, 2010 Hockey East Sportsmanship Award
• Brittany Ott (2009-13), 2010 WHEA All-Rookie Team
• Katy Massey (2011-15), 2012-13 Co-Top Scholar-Athlete
• Meghann Treacy (2012-16), 2014–15 Hockey East First Team All-Star
• Tereza Vanisov (2016-20), 2016-17 Co-Rookie of the Year
• Elise Morphy (2020-25), 2025 Hockey East Academic Champion

Hockey East monthly honors

• Jenna Ouellette (2006-10), Player of the Month: December 2009
• Brittany Ott (2009-13), Goaltender of the Month: January 2012
• Tori Pasquariello (2011-15), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month: November 2011
• Meghann Treacy (2012-16), Goaltender of the Month: October 2014, November 2014
• Carly Jackson (2015-20), Defensive Player of the Month (January 2019)
• Tereza Vanisova (2016-20)
• Co-Rookie of the Month: November 2016
• Co-Player of the Month: November 2019
• Ida Kuoppala (2019-24)
• Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month: January 2020, February 2020
• Player of the Month: October 2023, December 2023
• Elise Morphy (2020-25), Defender of the Month: December 2023
• Lilli Welcke (2022-23), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month: November 2022
• Luisa Welcke (2022-23), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month: December 2022
• Sam Morrison (2023-25), Rookie of the Month: February 2024
• Adriana van de Leest (2023-25), Player of the Month: December 2024
• Kiia Lahtinen (2024-present), Goaltender of the Month: December 2024, February, 2025

Hockey East weekly honors

• Hockey East Team of the Week: September 27, 2010, February 14, 2011, February 21, 2011, September 26, 2011, October 31, 2011, November 28, 2011, January 16, 2012
• Jennie Gallo (2007-11), Pure Hockey Player of the Week: February 21, 2011
• Myriam Croussette (2008-12), Pure Hockey Player of the Week: February 14, 2011
• Melissa Gagnon (2008-12), Defensive Player of the Week: September 26, 2011
• Brittany Dougherty (2009-13)
• Pure Hockey Player of the Week: September 27, 2010, November 29, 2010
• Athletic Republic Player of the Week: October 31, 2011, December 17, 2013
• Brittany Ott (2009-13)
• Defensive Player of the Week: September 27, 2010, October 11, 2010, November 29, 2010, October 31, 2011, November 28, 2011, January 16, 2012, November 12, 2012
• Co-Defensive Player of the Week: January 23, 2012
• Jenny Kistner (2010-11), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: awarded September 27, 2010
• Danielle Ward (2010-12)
• Pure Hockey Player of the Week: September 26, 2011
• Athletic Republic Co-Player of the Week: October 10, 2011
• Jennifer More (2011-15)
• Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: September 26, 2011, January 16, 2012
• Warrior Hockey Player of the Week: January 26, 2015
• Tori Pasquariello (2011-15), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: November 14, 2011
• Shawna Lesperance (2012-15), Warrior Hockey Player of the Week: December 16, 2013
• Kelsey MacSorley (2012-16), Warrior Hockey Player of the Week: September 29, 2014
• Audra Richards (2012-16)
• Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: December 17, 2012
• Warrior Hockey Player of the Week: October 27, 2014, November 16, 2015
• Warrior Hockey Co-Player of the Week: February 24, 2014, October 5, 2015
• Meghann Treacy (2012-16), Defensive Player of the Week: October 14, 2013, January 20, 2014, October 26, 2015
• Karissa Kirkup (2013-14), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: December 9, 2013
• Emilie Brigham (2013-17), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: December 16, 2013, March 3, 2014
• Mariah Fujimagari (2013-17), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: December 2, 2013
• Brooke Stacey (2014-18), Player of the Week: February 26, 2018
• Alyson Matteau (2015-19)
• Pro-Ambitions Rookie of the Week: November 2, 2015
• Co-Defensive Player of the Week: November 14, 2016
• Player of the Week: January 16, 2017
• Carly Jackson (2015-20)
• Pro-Ambitions Rookie of the Week: October 17, 2016
• Defensive Player of the Week: January 8, 2018
• Vendula Pribyova (2016-20), Player of the Week: October 15, 2018
• Tereza Vanisova (2016-20)
• Pro-Ambitions Rookie of the Week: September 26, 2016
• Player of the Week: November 14, 2016, October 8, 2018
• Michelle Weis (2017-21), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: October 2, 2017, November 13, 2017
• Taylor Leech (2017-22), Defender of the Week: October 12, 2021, February 28, 2022
• Loryn Porter (2017-22)
• Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: October 16, 2017
• Defensive Player of the Week: December 21, 2020, January 25, 2021, March 1, 2021
• Co-Defensive Player of the Week: November 25, 2019
• Goaltender of the Week: November 22, 2021
• Celine Tedenby (2018-22)
• Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: November 26, 2018, January 28, 2019
• Co-Player of the Week: February 21, 2022
• Ida Kuoppala (2019-24)
• Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: January 20, 2020, February 3, 2020, March 2, 2020
• ARMY ROTC Co-Player of the Week: February 15, 2021
• Co-Player of the Week: January 18, 2022
• Player of the Week: October 9, 2023, October 23, 2023, November 20, 2023, February 26, 2024
• Morgan Sadler (2020-23), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: November 23, 2020
• Rahel Enzler (2020-24), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: February 15, 2021
• Jorden Mattison (2020-24), Stop It Goaltending Goaltender of the Week: October 24, 2022, February 13, 2023)
• Elise Morphy (2020-25), Defender of the Week: November 20, 2023, January 2, 2024
• Mira Seregély (2021-25)
• Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: February 1, 2022
• Co-Player of the Week:January 23, 2023
• Brooklyn Oakes (2022-23), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week, October 10, 2022
• Luisa Welcke (2022-23), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: November 28, 2022
• Ann-Frederique Guay (2023-24), Player of the Week: November 6, 2023, January 2, 2024
• Ashley Kokavec (2023-24), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: October 9, 2023
• Sam Morrison (2023-25), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: February 26, 2024
• Adriana van de Leest (2023-25), Co-Player of the Week: January 13, 2025
• Julia Bachetti (2023-present)
• Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: November 20, 2023, December 4, 2023
• Goaltender of the Week: January 27, 2025
• Haley Ryan (2023-present), Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: December 11, 2023
• Kiia Lahtinen (2024-present), Goaltender of the Week: February 10, 2025, February 17, 2025, October 20, 2025)
• Kendall Sundby (2024-present), Defender of the Week: February 17, 2025
• Lulu Rucinski (2025-present), Defender of the Week: October 20, 2025, January 5, 2026

HCA Awards

• Ida Kuoppala (2019-24), Women's Hockey Commissioners Association Rookie of the Month: February 2020
• Kiia Lahtinen (2024-present), Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Month: February 2025

References

External links