North Andover, MA—Merrimack Women's Ice Hockey head coach
Erin Hamlen has announced that Danielle Blanchard will join the staff as a new assistant coach for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
"I am thrilled to welcome Danielle to the Warrior coaching staff." said Hamlen. "Earning championships both as an athlete and a coach, Danielle brings a winning mindset and high level of hockey knowledge to our program. She has already made an impact on our players, and I am excited for her to work with our athletes both on and off the ice."
Danielle, a native of Newmarket, Ontario joins the staff with nine years of previous experience, beginning her coaching career at her alma mater as an assistant coach at SUNY-Plattsburgh, a position that she held for six seasons, helping lead the Cardinals to five NCAA Division III National Championships during tenure, before joining the Yale University Bulldogs for two seasons and then becoming the head coach for the UMass Boston women's hockey team two years ago.
Blanchard also had a stellar college career at SUNY-Plattsburgh helping lead the Cardinals to back to back national championships in 2006-07 including being named the tournament's most outstanding player in said season and then repeating as a champion in 2007-08. She also was named as the winner of the Laura Hurd Award, indicative of the top player in Division III women's hockey in a season where she recorded 48 points in 27 games. She was honored for her achievements in her time at Plattsburgh as a two-time winner of the school's female athlete of the year in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and she was also inducted in their athletics hall of fame in 2019.
"I would like to thank Coach Hamlen for the opportunity to join her staff and be a part of her vision, said Blanchard. "I am very excited to help our student-athletes reach their full potential and to be a part of the Merrimack Family!"
After her college career came to a close, Blanchard played two seasons in the CWHL, one season playing for the Vaughan Flames in 2009-10, a season where she was named to the CWHL All-Rookie Team and a second season for the Burlington Barracudas in 2010-11.
The Merrimack Women's Ice Hockey team will kick off their 2023-24 season against the Clarkson Golden Knights on September 22
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