UMD women’s hockey: Schuler back on the Bulldogs dog bench as assistant coach

Schuler replaces outgoing assistant coach Ashleigh Brykaliuk, a former UMD captain who left this summer after three seasons pursue a career in teaching.

Schuler worked for the Bulldogs in 2010, when the program won the WCHA regular and post-season titles as well as the fifth NCAA championship. In their first three of seven UMD seasons, the Bulldogs performed in three NCAA tournaments and reached two frozen fours.

“She has an elite hockey mind, a talented recruiter and a proven coach at the highest level of women’s hockey,” Bulldogs coach Maura Crowell said In the UMD notification. “His experience as both an Olympic player and an Olympic head coach on Team Canada is invaluable to the players and staff. He has already helped bring the national championship to Duluth and we think we have really hit the jackpot when we add him to our staff.”

A native of Scarborough, Ontario, Schuler coached the Canadian women’s national teams in 2016 and 2017 and the Olympic teams at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Canada took silver in all three events and lost all three finals to the United States.

Schuler served as Dartmouth’s head coach for three seasons from 2016-2020 and took the 2017-18 season out of the Canadian coaches at the Olympics and spent 2020-21 as a volunteer advisor at Quinnipiac.

Schuler left the Bulldogs in 2015 when the university did not renew the Millers contract. Schuler was a finalist to replace Miller as coach, but the Bulldogs instead hired Crowell, who last year took the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time since 2010. UMD was also a win away from winning the WCHA regular season. for the first time since 2010.

“I’m excited to be back in Duluth as part of one of the women’s women’s hockey majors.” Schuler said. “I have really enjoyed getting to know both Mura and (assistant coach) Laura (Bellamy) in recent years and admiring the work they have done. It was great to see UMD return to the Frozen Four last season. I look forward to working closely with both. My wife and I are also excited to return close to friends and family in the Duluth area. I can’t wait to get started soon in a place I already like at home. “

In addition to coaching at the Olympics, Schuler was a member of the 1998 Canadian Olympic team that won silver. He not only played for four seasons in the Northeast State from 1989 to 1993, but was also the head coach of the Huskies from 2004 to 2008 before joining Millers ’staff at UMD.

Schulers ’coaching career began in 2003-04 as head coach at NCAA Division III Massachusetts-Boston, where Crowell served as head coach from 2005-2010.