The RIT Tigers women's ice hockey team is one of two college ice hockey teams representing Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) conference of NCAA Division I. The team plays in suburban Rochester, New York at the Gene Polisseni Center. RIT alumna and former Tigers captain Celeste Brown has served as the Bruce B. Bates Women's Hockey Coach since July 2020.
The Tigers moved to NCAA Division I women's ice hockey as a member of College Hockey America (CHA) for the 2012–13 season, after many years at Division III as part of the ECAC West conference. The team's conference affiliation was transferred to Atlantic Hockey America following the merger of CHA and Atlantic Hockey in April 2024.
History RIT added women's varsity ice hockey for the 1975–1976 season. After many years in the ECAC East, RIT moved to the ECAC West league for the 2007–08 season. The team made three NCAA tournament appearances at the Division III level, in 2007, 2011, and 2012, with a record of 5–2 in tournament games. They lost their lone game in the 2007 campaign to Amherst College. In their 2011 campaign, the lady Tigers lost at home, in the Frozen Four final, to Norwich University.
In 2012, the Tigers won their first national championship, on home ice, against Norwich University. It was the third-ever national championship for RIT's athletic program and first in women's sports.
On March 20, 2012, RIT announced that the women's team would move up to Division I for the 2012–13 season, as the men's team had six years prior, and join the College Hockey America conference.
After a successful first season at the Division I level in which the team went 16–16–5, even after losing their first DI game 6–2 to the Mercyhurst Lakers, the Tigers advanced to the CHA semifinals where they fell to the Syracuse Orange, 2–1 in overtime.
The next season was yet another season to remember. The Tigers participated in the Frozen Frontier, a ten-day hockey festival at Rochester's Frontier Field. The Tigers fell 2–6 to the Clarkson Golden Kights. The Tigers went on to win eleven out of their last eighteen games and won the CHA championship 2–1 in double overtime against the team that defeated them in their first ever Division I game, the Mercyhurst Lakers.
In 2014–15, their first season at the 4,300-seat Gene Polisseni Center, the Tigers went 15–19–5 and finished in last place in the CHA. But they won every game in the 2015 CHA Tournament, beating Robert Morris and Mercyhurst in the leadup to their 2–1 victory over Syracuse in double overtime, to capture their second straight CHA championship. The trophy this year came with the CHA's first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where the Tigers fell 2–6 to the eventual champions, #2 Minnesota.
In 2015, Bruce Bates, an MIT trustee emeritus and women's ice hockey season ticket holder, donated RIT's first athletic endowment to the women's ice hockey team, to support the head coach position.
On July 10, 2018, it was announced that long-time head coach Scott McDonald would be stepping down as head coach of the women's hockey team. He left as the all-time victory leader for the women's team, compiling a 205-154-29 record in 12 seasons. Chad Davis was announced as his replacement on August 22, 2018 with former Buffalo Beauts player Hannah McGowan being hired as assistant coach.
On April 30, 2020, it was reported that RIT parted ways with Davis and McGowan as coaches. Davis compiled a 24-37-9 record in two seasons as head coach.
On July 17, 2020, former RIT hockey player and captain Celeste Brown was named the next head coach of the program.
Season-by-season results Won championshipLost championshipConference championsLeague leader
Year Coach WLTConferenceConf.WConf.LConf.TFinish Conference Playoffs NCAA Tournament2025–26Celeste Brown16180AHA111304th AHALost Quarterfinals vs. Syracuse Did not qualify2024–25Celeste Brown16174AHA81024th AHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Lindenwood Lost Semifinals vs. Penn State Did not qualify 2023–24 Celeste Brown 13 19 3 CHA 7 12 1 4th CHA Lost Semifinals vs. Penn State Did not qualify 2022–23 Celeste Brown 4 26 2 CHA 1 13 2 5th CHA Did not qualify Did not qualify 2021–22 Celeste Brown 2 27 4 CHA 1 12 3 5th CHA Won First Round vs. Lindenwood Lost Semifinals vs. Syracuse Did not qualify 2020–21 Celeste Brown 1 15 0 CHA 1 14 0 5th CHA Lost First Round vs. Robert Morris Did not qualify 2019–20 Chad Davis 12 19 4 CHA 5 13 2 5th CHA Lost First Round vs. Penn State Did not qualify 2018–19 Chad Davis 12 18 5 CHA 8 11 1 5th CHA Lost First Round vs. Penn State Did not qualify 2017–18 Scott McDonald 4 28 3 CHA 1 19 0 6th CHA Lost First Round vs. Syracuse Did not qualify 2016–17 Scott McDonald 7 27 2 CHA 4 14 2 6th CHA Won First Round vs. Penn State Lost Semifinals vs. Syracuse Did not qualify 2015–16 Scott McDonald 8 27 1 CHA 4 15 1 6th CHA Lost First Round vs. Penn State Did not qualify 2014–15 Scott McDonald 15 19 5 CHA 5 12 3 6th CHA Won First Round vs. Robert Morris Won Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst Won Championship vs. Syracuse Lost in First Round vs. Minnesota 2013–14 Scott McDonald 20 15 3 CHA 11 7 2 3rd CHA Won First Round vs. Penn State Won Semifinals vs. Robert Morris Won Championship vs. Mercyhurst Ineligible (transition year) 2012–13 Scott McDonald 16 16 5 CHA 7 8 5 3rd CHA Won First Round vs. Penn State Lost Semifinals vs. Syracuse Ineligible (transition year) 2011–12 Scott McDonald 28 1 1 D-III ECAC West 16 1 1 1st ECAC West Won in Semifinal vs. Potsdam Won Championship vs. Plattsburgh Won in First Round vs. Concordia (Minn.) Won in Frozen Four vs. Plattsburgh Won Championship vs. Norwich 2010–11 Scott McDonald 26 2 2 D-III ECAC West 15 1 2 1st ECAC West Won in Semifinal vs. Utica Won Championship vs. Plattsburgh Won in First Round vs. Adrian Won in Frozen Four vs. Middlebury Lost in Championship vs. Norwich 2009–10 Scott McDonald 19 5 3 D-III ECAC West 13 3 2 3rd ECAC West Won in First Round vs. Potsdam Lost in Semifinals vs. Elmira Did not qualify
Current roster
Award winners NCAA Laura Hurd Award The Laura Hurd Award is awarded annually to the national player of the year in NCAA Division III women's ice hockey. 2010–11: Sarah Dagg '11
Division III All-Americans
First Team 2003–04: Jen Gorczynski 2006–07: Stacey McConnell 2009–10: Sarah Dagg 2010–11: Traci Galbraith 2011–12: Kristina Moss
Second Team 2001–02: Colleen Baude, Jen Gorczynski 2002–03: Jen Gorczynski 2006–07: Danielle Nagymarosi 2008–09: Sarah Dagg, Erica Owczarczak 2010–11: Katie Stack 2011–12: Laura Chamberlain, Kourtney Kunichika
ECAC West Coach of the Year 2004–05: Mike Grainsky (co-winner) 2008–09: Scott McDonald (co-winner with Greg Fargo of Elmira College) 2010–11: Scott McDonald
Player of the Year 2010–11: Sarah Dagg
Rookie of the Year 1988–89: Marisa Zona 1995–96: Maria Lewis 2007–08: Amanda Klassen (co-winner with Mel Brunet of Neumann University) 2009–10: Kim Schlattman
Tournament MVP 2011: Kourtney Kunichika
All-Tournament Team 2011: Laura Chamberlain (G), Traci Galbraith (D), Kourtney Kunichika (F), Ariane Yokoyama (F) 2012: Laura Chamberlain (G), Kourtney Kunichika (F), Kolbee McCrea (F), Danielle Read (D), Kim Schlattman (F)
Atlantic Hockey America The College Hockey America (CHA) conference merged with Atlantic Hockey to form Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) in 2024. Award history was carried over in the merge, i.e. CHA awards were integrated into the history of the AHA.
Player of the Year 2018–19: Terra Lanteigne (G)
Best Defensive Forward 2014–15: Lindsay Grigg 2016–17: Mackenzie Stone
Individual Sportsmanship Award 2014–15: Taylor Thurston 2016–17: Caitlin Wallace
Coach of the Year 2018–19: Chad Davis
Goaltending Champion The goaltending champion title is awarded to the goaltender with the best goals against average (GAA) in CHA play (only in-conference statistics are included). It should not be confused with the Goaltender of the Year award, which was introduced in the 2020–21 season. 2013–14: Ali Binnington (1.35 GAA)
All-CHA
First Team 2018–19: Terra Lanteigne (G)
Second Team 2012–13: Tenecia Hiller (F) 2013–14: Lindsay Grigg (D) 2019–20: Terra Lanteigne (G) 2022–23: Sarah Coe (G)
All-Rookie Team 2014–15: Christa Vuglar (D) 2015–16: Reagan Rust (D) 2016–17: Terra Lanteigne (G) 2019–20: Jaymee Nolan (F) 2021–22: Sarah Coe (G)
Tournament MVP 2014: Ali Binnington (G) 2015: Ali Binnington (G)
All-Tournament Team 2014: Ali Binnington (G), Lindsay Grigg (D), Kourtney Kunichika (F) 2015: Cassie Clayton (F), Lindsay Grigg (F), Morgan Scoyne (D) 2022: Abby Davies (F)
Weekly Honors Cassie Clayton, CHA Player of the Week (Week of March 9, 2015) Ali Binnington, CHA Goaltender of the Week (Week of March 9, 2015)
Player histories Sarah Dagg was recognized as the 2011 ECAC West Player of the Year after contributing to the Tigers program-record 26 wins. In addition, she helped the Tigers to their first conference regular season and post-season championships. Her points total for the season was 18 goals and 24 assists in 30 games.
In her senior season, Dagg advanced to the 2011 NCAA Division III Championship game. In her four seasons at RIT, the Tigers accumulated a won-loss record of 85–17–7, while finishing as the Tigers all-time leading scorer. Her career totals stand at 63 goals and 91 assists, while competing in 109 games. She is the Tigers all-time assists leader while recording three consecutive forty point seasons. In addition, she is second all-time at RIT with 20 power-play goals, while she stands tied at first place in shorthanded goals with nine.
Tigers in professional hockey = CWHL All-Star = PHF All-Star= Clarkson Cup Champion= Isobel Cup Champion Player Position Team(s) League(s) Years Forward Metropolitan Riveters PHF 1 ForwardNew York RivetersConnecticut Whale PHF 2 Goaltender Ottawa Charge PWHL Forward Metropolitan Riveters PHF 2 Forward Burlington Barracudas Brampton Thunder CWHL 2 Defense Connecticut Whale PHF 1 ForwardBuffalo BeautsHV71 JönköpingMarkham ThunderPHFSDHLCWHL31 (2018) Forward Buffalo Beauts PHF 3 1 (2017) Defense PWHPA 1 Goaltender PWHPA 1 Goaltender Worcester BladesTeam New England CWHLPWHPA 3 Forward Metropolitan Riveters PHF 2 Forward Buffalo Beauts PHF 1 Forward Buffalo Beauts Toronto Furies PHF CWHL 2
CWHL Draft picks Player Draft year Selection Team Sarah Dagg 2011 CWHL Draft16Burlington BarracudasKatie Stack 2011 CWHL Draft23Toronto FuriesErin Zach 2016 CWHL Draft32Toronto FuriesJetta Rackleff 2016 CWHL Draft52Brampton Thunder
PHF Draft picks Player Draft year Selection Team Kendall Cornine 2018 NWHL Draft6Metropolitan RivetersLogan Land 2020 NWHL Draft26Buffalo Beauts
See also RIT Tigers men's ice hockey
References
External links