2022-23 NEWHA Coach of the Year accepts head coach opening at Hockey East member Boston University
EASTON, Mass. (April 3, 2023) – Stonehill College has accepted the resignation of women's ice hockey head coach Tara Watchorn, the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) Coach of the Year, who has accepted the head coach position at Hockey East member Boston University, her alma mater. The announcement was made this morning by Stonehill assistant vice president and director of athletics, Dean O'Keefe, '94.
"We are very appreciative of the new program Tara has built from the ground up during her time at Stonehill," said O'Keefe. "Her vision for Stonehill women's hockey quickly established the Skyhawks as a team with a strong foundation and bright future in the NEWHA and Division I. We wish Tara the very best as she returns to her alma mater as their new head coach, and know she will continue to do great things for the sport of women's ice hockey on the collegiate and international stage."
Watchorn, a finalist for the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Coach of the Year along with her NEWHA Coach of the Year honor, was named the first head coach of the Stonehill women's hockey program in May 2021 and built the Skyhawks into an immediate contender in the Conference in its inaugural season this winter. She guided Stonehill to a 19-16-2 record overall, including a 14-9-1 mark in the NEWHA with 29 points to clinch the No. 3 seed for the NEWHA playoffs. Stonehill posted an opening-round sweep of Post University in the NEWHA Tournament to reach the semifinal round in its first year.
Watchorn built a team that contended for the NEWHA Championship at Stonehill in its first season, earning Coach of the Year honors (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
Watchorn led the development of multiple student-athletes that saw seven different Stonehill student-athletes earn NEWHA weekly awards and four Skyhawks earn spots on All-NEWHA teams, including freshman Alexis Petford a first team selection that earned NEWHA Rookie of the Year honors as well as a spot on the U.S. College Hockey Online All-Rookie Team. Her NEWHA leading 28 goals this season finished third nationally and she ranked 16th nationally in scoring.
"I cannot say enough good things about my time at Stonehill," said Watchorn. "From day one I fell in love with the community and people on campus. It was the perfect place to build a brand-new women's ice hockey program, and I am beyond proud of the foundation we built. I can't thank Dean O'Keefe and the administration enough for taking a chance on me. I also can't go without thanking the players and families for your commitment to the program. I look forward to following your continued success."
Watchorn, a 2014 Olympic Gold Medalist for the Canadian National Team, helped guide Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship as an assistant coach in January. She joined Stonehill after four years as an assistant coach under recently retired mentor Brian Durocher at BU, winning the 2019 Beanpot Championship, with four Hockey East Tournament appearances, including a semifinal trip in 2019.
O'Keefe has announced that current Stonehill assistant coach Megan Meyers has been named interim head coach and that a search for the Skyhawks next head coach will begin immediately.
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