Rangers Adding Angela Ruggiero to Hockey Ops Department
Hockey Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero is joining the Rangers' Hockey Ops department according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post.
Mollie Walker
From the story:
Ruggiero, who is one of the most decorated women’s hockey players of all time, trained with Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury during his playing days and has kept in touch ever since, per source.
Ruggiero is also the CEO of Sports Innovation Lab, a technology-powered company that examines market research to help brands figure out the behavior of sports fans.
The 43-year-old has also served on the boards of the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), the Harvard Varsity Club, the International Ice Hockey Federation, Titletown Tech, the NFL Players’ Association One Team Collective, as well as an executive member of World Rugby.
Ruggiero was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. She is the all-time leader in games played for Team USA, and her international resume includes an Olympic gold medal in 1998, a silver medal in 2002, and a bronze medal in 2006. Additionally, she represented the US at the World Championships and won four gold medals and six silver medals.
Also from Walker's story:
Ruggiero, a former defenseman, enjoyed a 15-year playing career, over which she competed for the Boston Blades and Tulsa Oilers of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Western Women’s Hockey League, as well as Harvard in college.
During her collegiate career for Harvard, Ruggiero won the Patty Kazmaier award as the NCAA's Top Female Player during the 2003-04 season, and was a finalist during the 2002-03, and 1999-2000 seasons. She also was a four-time NCAA All American, and an NCAA All-ECAC representative.
Overall, Ruggiero brings a lot of experience to the table, and her addition to the front office is a welcome one just like the hiring of Dan Muse, Michael Peca, and Christian Hmura were to Peter Laviolette's coaching staff.
Ruggiero's role isn't officially defined yet, but it very much looks similar to a role once held by individuals such as Mike Grier, Brad Richards, and Brian Leetch. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
