Women’s hockey coach named assistant for U.S. Women’s Olympic Team

Dave Flint, head coach for the Northeastern women’s ice hockey team, has been named an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Team, USA Hockey announced today.

“I am very grateful to USA Hockey for providing me with such a tremendous opportunity, and to Northeastern University for being so supportive,” Flint says. “I look forward to working with a great coaching staff as well as the best female hockey players in the world.”

Northeastern athletics director Peter Roby lauds Flint’s performance as a coach and predicts his appointment will benefit Northeastern athletics and the university as a whole.

“The appointment is a testament to the quality of coach he is,” Roby says, “and the experience and exposure that he will get as a result will be great assets both to the women’s hockey program and to Northeastern.”

In February, Flint was named one of two assistant coaches for the U.S. Women’s National Team, which competed at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship. Prior to the world championships, Flint served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s Select Team, which won a gold medal at the 2008 Four Nations Cup.

After the 2008–2009 season—his first at Northeastern—Flint was a runner-up for Hockey East Coach of the Year. He had led the Huskies to a 12-20-3 record and to their first Hockey East playoff appearance since 2003–2004.

Prior to joining Northeastern, Flint served as head coach for five years at St. Anselm College, where he was named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East Coach of the Year three times and was a three-time finalist for National Coach of the Year. During the 2007-2008 season, the Hawks amassed a 23-2-1 record and won the ECAC Open Championship. That year’s squad led the nation in defense, allowing just 0.92 goals per game.

USA Hockey also announced Wesleyan University women’s ice hockey coach Jodi McKenna will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Team.

The 23-person U.S. Women’s National Team for 2009–2010 will be selected in late August. It will travel to Vancouver for the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup, a warm-up for the Olympic Games, then participate in the Qwest Tour, which features 10 games in nine cities over a four-month period. The squad will also play three games in Canada against the Canadian National Team and compete in the 2009 Four Nations Cup in Finland in November.