Joakim Flygh
	Head Coach Phone Number: 203-432-4785 Email Address: joakim.flygh@yale.edu

Joakim Flygh, who has been to the NCAA Tournament in five of the last six seasons as an assistant coach at Harvard and Minnesota-Duluth, was named Yale’s head women’s ice hockey coach on July 28, 2010. Flygh’s nine-year career as an assistant coach has been marked by consistent success; teams he has coached for have a combined winning percentage of .701 (176-69-21) and he has been a part of six seasons of 20 or more wins.

“We are thrilled to have Joakim taking over our women’s hockey program,” said Tom Beckett, Yale's Director of Athletics. “He has helped two programs become national powers while honing his coaching skills under the great leadership of Katey Stone (Harvard) and Shannon Miller (UMD).”

Flygh (whose name is pronounced YOU-a-keem FLEEG) is the 10th coach in Yale women’s ice hockey history. He comes to Yale after three seasons as an assistant at Harvard. There, he helped the Crimson to a 71-20-8 overall record, two NCAA tournament appearances, two ECAC Hockey regular season championships, two Beanpot tournament championships and one ECAC Hockey tournament championship. He was a part of Harvard’s perfect 22-0-0 ECAC Hockey regular season in 2007-08, the same year the Crimson advanced to the NCAA’s Frozen Four.

“It is a tremendous honor for me to be named the 10th head coach for women's hockey at Yale,” said Flygh. “I am thrilled to join the Bulldog community that has been very welcoming to both me and my wife.  I am grateful to Athletic Director Tom Beckett, to Senior Associate Director Wayne Dean, and to the entire search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead the Bulldog women's hockey team in the future. I am excited to be a part of Yale University, where there is a wonderful tradition of academic excellence and where there is a rich history in athletics.  I am impressed with and pleased by the support that is in place to have a very successful women's hockey program.  I am looking forward to working with our staff to ensure that we are competitive at the highest level and that the college hockey experience is truly enjoyable for our student-athletes.”

Flygh had a pair of stints leading Harvard while head coach Katey Stone was away coaching for USA Hockey. The Crimson went 4-0-1 in those games. His primary coaching responsibilities included working with the defense and the penalty-killing unit. Harvard was ranked in the top four in the country in scoring defense each year that Flygh was there, and led the nation in that category in 2007-08 (1.00 goals per game). Harvard was also ranked in the top six in penalty killing each year that Flygh was there.

Flygh’s off-ice responsibilities with the Crimson included coordinating recruiting, monitoring the squad’s academic progress and acting as a liaison between the team and the school’s admissions office.

At his two recent assistant coaching stops, Flygh has worked with two of the top five active coaches in career victories in the NCAA. Stone (339) is second and Miller (291) is fifth. He has helped coach seven All-Americans and a Patty Kazmaier Award winner.

“I would like to thank two of my women's hockey coaching mentors -- Katey Stone from Harvard and Shannon Miller from the University of Minnesota-Duluth,” Flygh said. “I have learned a lot about building and maintaining successful programs from these women and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to coach with them.”  

Flygh served as an assistant coach at Minnesota-Duluth for three seasons, working with the defense and penalty killing unit. The Bulldogs made the NCAA tournament every year that he was there. They advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game in 2007 and posted an overall record of 72-26-9.

Over Flygh’s tenure, UMD ranked fourth nationally in goals allowed per game and third in penalty killing. During his first season in 2004-05, the UMD penalty kill unit allowed just 16 goals in 206 power plays, leading the country with a 92.2-percent efficiency.

Flygh began his coaching career at his alma mater, New England College, as a graduate assistant with the men’s ice hockey team in 2001-02. He helped the Pilgrims to a 53-23-4 record and three second-place finishes in three seasons before moving on to Minnesota-Duluth.

As a player for New England, Flygh 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 graduated from New England College with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2000. He earned a master’s degree in organizational management from New England in 2002. He is married to Angela Francisco Flygh, a 2001 Harvard graduate and former Crimson women’s ice hockey captain.

 Joakim's Primary Coaching Responsibilities:

Jessica Koizumi
	High School: Marina (Calif.) College: Minnesota-Duluth (B.A. '07, M.A. '09) Assistant Coach Phone Number: 203-432-1059 Email Address: jessica.koizumi@yale.edu

Jessica Koizumi, who earned a gold medal as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship, joined the Yale women’s ice hockey staff as an assistant coach for the 2010-11 season. Koizumi played for the University of Minnesota-Duluth while Yale’s new head coach Joakim Flygh was an assistant there, and she captained UMD to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game in 2007.

In addition to her gold medal at the 2008 IIHF Women’s World Championship in China, Koizumi also was part of the U.S. team’s second-place finish at the 2007 Four Nations Cup. She was on the U.S. Women’s Select Team in 2008-09 while getting her master’s degree in education from Minnesota-Duluth. She also played for the U.S. Under-22 Select Team in the series with Canada in 2004 and 2006.

Koizumi has participated in six USA Hockey National Festivals (2004-2009) and four USA Hockey Player Development Camps (2000-2003). She has also participated in several USA Hockey Holiday Festivals and June Conditioning Camps, and has played for Team USA at three Women’s World InLine Hockey Championships (2005-07). That included a gold medal in Detroit in 2006 and a silver medal in France in 2005.

In addition to playing for the U.S., Koizumi has also served as a head coach at multiple USA Hockey National Girls’ Hockey festivals, working with the U14 team in Rochester, N.Y., in 2010; the U16 team in St. Cloud, Minn., in 2009 and 2010; and the U17 team in Lake Placid, N.Y., in 2007. She also served as an evaluator at USA Hockey’s Pacific District tryouts in Seattle, Wash., from 2007 through 2009.

Koizumi, a forward, finished her career ranked No. 7 on the UMD career scoring list with 155 points (84-71-155) and was a team captain for two years. As a senior in 2006-07 she led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four championship game after coming back from a torn MCL midway through the season. She scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a double-overtime victory over Boston College in the national semifinal game and was named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team. She was also a third team All-WCHA selection that year, and was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team as a freshman.

Koizumi finished in the top three in points on her team every year (second with 40 points (22-18) as a senior, first with 43 points (17-26) as a junior, third with 41 points (24-17) as a sophomore, third with 31 points (21-10) as a freshman).

A standout in the classroom as well as on the ice, Koizumi was a four-time WCHA All-Academic Team selection and a two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in coaching in 2007. She was a tutor for the Athletic Department from 2005 through 2007. She completed her master’s degree in education in 2009.

Koizumi supplemented her experience of playing for Shannon Miller (fifth in the NCAA among active coaches with 291 career wins) at UMD by also serving as a graduate assistant coach for her alma mater in the fall semester of 2007. Additionally, she completed a coaching practicum with the Denfeld varsity high school boys’ team in Duluth in 2007.

Before coming to Yale Koizumi spent a season as an assistant coach for the White Team at the North American Hockey Academy. She also played part-time for Montreal Stars in the Central Women’s Hockey League, helping the team to the CWHL regular season title. She had 11 goals and 11 assists in just 17 games. In 2010-11 she played part-time for the new Boston team in the CWHL.

Koizumi also played two seasons for the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Western Women’s Hockey League. In 2008-09 she ranked second on the team with 17 points (11-6-17) and led the team to the WWHL championship. That same year she also served as head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach for the Totino Grace high school girls’ program in Fridley, Minn.

Koizumi founded the Tsunami Performance Zone Hockey Camp in 2005 and is the head instructor there. She also served as an instructor at Canadian Hockey Enterprises Hockey School in Michigan earlier this year, and at OS Hockey in Minnesota in 2009. She was the head instructor for power skating and dry-land clinics in Huntington Beach, Calif., from 2003 through 2006.

Koizumi, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a 2003 graduate of Marina High School (Calif.). She played for the Cal Selects Hockey Club from 1999-2003, and was named the 2002-03 Cal Selects Player of the Year.

Eddie Ardito
	Assistant Coach Phone Number: 203-376-8717 Email Address: eddie.ardito@yale.edu

Eddie Ardito, who served as volunteer assistant in 2010-11, was promoted to assistant coach for the Yale women’s ice hockey team in June of 2011. He played for Yale’s head coach, Joakim Flygh, at New England College.

"We are excited and fortunate to be able to add Eddie to our coaching staff on a full-time basis,” Flygh said. “Eddie's enthusiasm for Yale Hockey is infectious, and the players respond to the energy that he brings to the rink every day. Eddie is dedicated to helping our program reach the next level."

Flygh, a 2000 graduate of New England College, was an assistant coach when Ardito played there.

A native of Branford, Conn., Ardito was a three-time all-state and All-Southern Connecticut Conference selection for Branford High’s ice hockey team. He was also a three-time MVP and two-time captain, and was a two-time All-SCC selection for the football team as well.

Ardito received a B.A. in sport & recreation management: athletic administration with a minor in coaching from New England College in 2006. He started his career as a forward for the Pilgrims and later served as student assistant coach.

After graduating, Ardito spent a season as the interim head coach of New England College’s women’s ice hockey team, leading the team to a 12-6-1 conference record and the semifinals of the ECAC East Tournament. He simultaneously served as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach for the men’s team, which went 13-5-1 in the conference and advanced to the ECAC East Championship game.

In addition to his time with New England’s hockey teams, Ardito also served as a volunteer assistant baseball coach for the Pilgrims in 2007.

Ardito was assistant coach and director of hockey operations for Connecticut College’s men’s ice hockey team from 2007 through 2010. The Camels made a pair of NESCAC quarterfinal appearances in his time with them.

Ardito and fellow Yale assistant coach Jessica Koizumi were Flygh’s first two hires after taking over as head coach prior to the 2010-11 season. The Bulldogs showed many signs of progress on the ice under their new leaders, and they were one of three finalists for ECAC Hockey’s SKOR Sports Trophy, recognizing the team that exemplifies sportsmanship, tenacity, commitment and innovation. They were in contention for an ECAC Hockey playoff spot until the final game of the year, and increased their goal total in conference games by 17 percent over the previous season (from 36 to 42). Yale was one of the least-penalized teams in the conference (8.1 penalty minutes per game) and did not incur a major penalty all season.

In addition to their sportsmanship on the ice, the Bulldogs were extremely active in the community. They rallied behind their teammate Mandi Schwartz in her battle with cancer, organizing numerous events to raise awareness of the need for marrow donors and umbilical cord blood donors for patients like Mandi with life-threatening illnesses. The team also began the “Bulldog Buddies” program with Yale-New Haven Hospital, adopting a local nine-year-old girl, Giana, who is recovering from surgery for a brain tumor.

Ardito has worked multiple ice hockey camps, including National Hockey Training. He has also worked as a trainer at Bluestreak Sports Training Center in Stamford, Conn.

Off the ice, Ardito has volunteered with Special Olympics and Buddy Walk for children with Down Syndrome.

"It’s an honor to be selected as the next assistant coach and to continue the great tradition that is Yale Women’s Ice Hockey,” Ardito said. “After serving as a volunteer under Coach Flygh along with Coach Koizumi and getting to know the program’s ins and outs, I’m looking forward to building off last year. I would also like to thank [men’s hockey head coach] Tom Carroll at New England College and [men’s hockey head coach] Jim Ward at Connecticut College for helping me get to where I am today."

Updated June 15, 2011

Samantha MacLean
	Class: Sr. Hometown: Mississauga, Ont. High School: Holy Name of Mary Volunteer Assistant Height: 5-6 Position: D S/C: Oakville Ice

Notes: Elected captain for 2010-11 season ... Earned votes for best slap shot and best defensive player in midseason team survey her freshman year.

2009-10 (Junior): ECAC Hockey All-Academic ... Part of Yale's top defensive pair and one of team's top penalty killers ... Led team in +/- with a +5 ... Was +3, and had a goal and an assist, in 3-1 win over Colgate Feb. 12 ... Extended streak of consecutive games played to 89 ... Scored game-winning goal with 33 seconds left to beat RPI at Ingalls Rink Jan. 16 ... Finished with career-high four goals and nine points for the season.

2008-09 (Sophomore): ECAC Hockey All-Academic ... Received Yale's Coaches' Award for an exemplary work ethic, attitude and commitment to the core values of the Yale Women's Ice Hockey program ... Three assists in 29 games.

2007-08 (Freshman): ECAC Hockey All-Academic ... ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week Feb. 25 after scoring game-winning goal vs. RPI to clinch playoff berth for Yale in regular season finale ... Two goals and six assists in 31 games ... All eight of her points came in the final 19 games ... Scored first career goal in first round of Nutmeg Classic vs. Niagara, a 4-4 tie after overtime that Yale eventually won in a shootout.

Before Yale: Played in the NWHL at the age of 16, becoming one of the youngest players in league's history ... Had one goal and two assists for Oakville Ice in 2006-07 ... Played for Holy Name of Mary in grades nine and ten ... MVP of the Ontario Silver Stick Tournament ... Two time MVP of Ontario Secondary School Ice Gardens Tournament ... Team was three-time provincial gold medalists, two-time provincial silver medalists ... Played on and managed the women's lacrosse team in final two years of high school ... Profiled on mississauga.com.

Off the Ice: Member of Silliman College ... Economics as a major ... Sister, Shauna Wilde, was the captain of the women's golf team at Long Island University ... Has participated in Yale's Youth Days, teaching sports skills to local children.

Nickname: Sam
Favorite musician: Counting Crows
Favorite food: Bagels
Best present/gift you ever received: Yale blanket
Favorite quote: Get 'er done
Favorite athlete: Darcy Tucker
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Australia
What is your most prized possession? Eli blanket