NWHL announces coaching updates

Today the NWHL announced four updates to the league’s coaching staffs and confirmed several returning coaches. But there may be other announcements and updates coming.

Thus far the Whale have just one coach attached to the team for the upcoming 2017-18 NWHL season.

Boston Pride

Thomas Poeck, head coach

Former NHL defenseman Thomas Poeck was named the head coach of the Pride earlier this offseason. Poeck, a longstanding member of Austria’s men’s national team, will be coaching Austrian NWHL star forward Janine Weber.

Before becoming the Boston Pride’s new head coach, Poeck played four seasons in Austria’s EBEL. This will be his first season coaching women’s hockey.

Lindsay Berman, assistant coach

Berman was named to the Pride’s coaching staff today. A former NWHL defender and star at Northeastern University, Berman is the first former NWHL player to join one of the league’s coaching staffs on a permanent basis. She’s also the head coach of UMass Boston.

“I see my role as a bridge between Thomas Poeck and the players – many [of] whom I’m very familiar with,” Berman shared in the league’s press release. “I can relate to the players and be there for whatever they or Thomas need. It’s going to be a great experience for me and I’m looking forward to an exciting season.”

Berman played three games with the Connecticut Whale in the league’s inaugural season and was one of the Pride’s practice players last season. She turned 29-years-old in July.

Steve Silverthorn, goaltending coach

Silverthorn is the third new face behind Boston’s bench. A former AHL, ECHL and Bundesliga goaltender, Silverthorn has coaching experience at Brown University and, more recently, at Bentley College. Bentley is an NCAA D III Men’s team.

Buffalo Beauts

Ric Seiling and Craig Muni, co-head coaches

Seiling has been with the Beauts from the beginning. The former NHL winger played the majority of his hockey career for the Sabres and has strong ties to Buffalo. Muni won three Stanley Cups in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, but he also spent time in the Sabres organization. He joined Seiling behind the bench last June.

Together the two former NHLers helped the Beauts topple the Pride in the Isobel Cup Finals. But because of all of Buffalo’s roster turnover, Seiling and Muni could have a hard time repeating last year’s success.

Tom Draper, goaltending consultant

Muni is the only new addition to the Beauts coaching staff. Like Seiling and Muni, Draper played in the NHL and has ties to the Sabres organization.

Buffalo’s goaltending has undergone some big changes from last season now that Brianne McLaughlin is retired. It will be up to Draper to bring out the best in Amanda Leveille, Kelsey Neumann and Julia DiTondo.

Connecticut Whale

Ryan Equale, head coach

This will be Equale’s first season coaching in the NWHL. He replaced former head coach Heather Linstad earlier this offseason. Linstad was the last remaining female head coach in the NWHL.

“For the past ten years I have been focused on developing young women at the level from U12-U19 teams in order to help them achieve their academic and athletic goals,” Equale explained in a league press release. “That experience, coupled with my own experience as a professional player, is something that I’m confident will help build a positive culture of high performance, accountability and results.”


Get to know new Connecticut coach Ryan Equale


New York Riveters

Chad Wiseman, head coach

After some confusion earlier in the offseason, the league has confirmed that Wiseman will be back behind the bench in Newark. The former NHL forward helped to orchestrate one of the biggest turnarounds in women’s hockey last season. The Riveters became arguably the second best team in the league under Wiseman after a brutal inaugural season.

With so many Riveters returning from last season, Wiseman will have a lot of familiar faces to work with. It’s also worth mentioning that he worked with new Riveters winger Harrison Browne this offseason in Canada.

Sis Paulsen, assistant coach

Paulsen is back for a second season behind the bench with the Riveters. She’s a former head coach at New England College and before joining the Riveters Paulsen directed the girls’ program for the New Jersey Colonials.

A Wisconsin native, Paulsen captained the Badgers during her NCAA playing career. After she hung up her skates she became a Level 4 graduate of USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program.


An Interview With Sis Paulsen, New Assistant Coach of the Riveters