CHL's Tulsa Oilers sign female star

[cmw00]

Almost suprised this hasn't been posted here allready!

CHL's Tulsa Oilers sign female star

TULSA, Okla. (Tulsa Oilers PR) -- While the Tulsa Oilers are clawing their way back into the playoff race, they are also clawing their way into the history books. Friday, January 28th, defenseman Angela Ruggiero will gear up for the Oilers against Rio Grande Valley.

Angela Ruggiero
Ruggiero is arguably one of the best women's hockey players in the world and is also the sister of Oilers goalie Bill Ruggiero. Angela Ruggiero will be the first woman (non-goalie) to play in a Central Hockey League Game, and naturally the Oilers will sport the first brother-sister tandem in North American pro hockey history.

"This is one of those unique moments you only get in minor league hockey. Angela is a great player who has already worked out with the team, so we know what to expect and how to play it out there... even though she won't play much she's playing at the top and that kind of influence will really rub off," says Oilers coach Butch Kaebel.

'Playing at the top' might be an understatement: Angela is an Olympic gold and silver medallist and a current member of Team USA. As a collegian, she won the Patty Kazmaier award, for the top women's NCAA hockey player, her senior season playing for Harvard; she was a finalist for the award all four seasons.

Proceeds from tickets sales to the Rio Grande Valley game will be donated to the Red Cross tsunami relief efforts.

USA HOCKEY PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Led team defensemen and tied for second on the squad with seven points playing in her sixth World Championship (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 & 2004) in March.2003: Led the team with four assists in four games en route to the gold medal at the Four Nations Cup. 2002: Made her second Olympic appearance with the silver medal-winning squad in Salt Lake City ... Was the top-scoring defenseman on the Visa Skate To Salt Lake Tour.2001: Took the year off from Harvard to finish second among defensemen and fifth overall with the National Team ... Ranked second among U.S. defensemen at the World Championship. 2000: Member of the U.S.Women's Select Team.1998: Won the gold medal competing in all six games at the Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan ... Played in all but one game during the 1997-98 pre-Olympic tour. 1996: Took home the silver medal at the 1996 IIHF Pacific Women's Championship.

AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Graduated from Harvard in May ... Four-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award (1999, 2000, 2003 & 2004). As a Senior: Won the Patty Kazmaier Award. As a Junior: Top-scoring defenseman in the country and ranked second in assists per game (1.59). As a Sophomore: Tied for 12th in the nation with 53 points and led all defensemen. As a Freshman: Finished fifth among all scorers in the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

PERSONAL: Graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1998 ... Set single-season school records for goals (42) and points (63) as a sophomore ... Set the school record for assists in a season (30) and was named team co-MVP as a freshman ... Active in "Right to Play," an organization which aims to enrich the lives of children across the country through sport ...Took a trip to Uganda last summer as part of "Right to Play"...On the Board of Directors of "Teams of Angels," an organization that works to provide children with a "Safer Youth Sports Experience" ... Parents are Bill and Karen Ruggiero.

[cmw00]

Almost suprised this hasn't been posted here allready!

CHL's Tulsa Oilers sign female star

TULSA, Okla. (Tulsa Oilers PR) -- While the Tulsa Oilers are clawing their way back into the playoff race, they are also clawing their way into the history books. Friday, January 28th, defenseman Angela Ruggiero will gear up for the Oilers against Rio Grande Valley.

Angela Ruggiero
Ruggiero is arguably one of the best women's hockey players in the world and is also the sister of Oilers goalie Bill Ruggiero. Angela Ruggiero will be the first woman (non-goalie) to play in a Central Hockey League Game, and naturally the Oilers will sport the first brother-sister tandem in North American pro hockey history.

"This is one of those unique moments you only get in minor league hockey. Angela is a great player who has already worked out with the team, so we know what to expect and how to play it out there... even though she won't play much she's playing at the top and that kind of influence will really rub off," says Oilers coach Butch Kaebel.

'Playing at the top' might be an understatement: Angela is an Olympic gold and silver medallist and a current member of Team USA. As a collegian, she won the Patty Kazmaier award, for the top women's NCAA hockey player, her senior season playing for Harvard; she was a finalist for the award all four seasons.

Proceeds from tickets sales to the Rio Grande Valley game will be donated to the Red Cross tsunami relief efforts.

USA HOCKEY PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Led team defensemen and tied for second on the squad with seven points playing in her sixth World Championship (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 & 2004) in March.2003: Led the team with four assists in four games en route to the gold medal at the Four Nations Cup. 2002: Made her second Olympic appearance with the silver medal-winning squad in Salt Lake City ... Was the top-scoring defenseman on the Visa Skate To Salt Lake Tour.2001: Took the year off from Harvard to finish second among defensemen and fifth overall with the National Team ... Ranked second among U.S. defensemen at the World Championship. 2000: Member of the U.S.Women's Select Team.1998: Won the gold medal competing in all six games at the Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan ... Played in all but one game during the 1997-98 pre-Olympic tour. 1996: Took home the silver medal at the 1996 IIHF Pacific Women's Championship.

AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Graduated from Harvard in May ... Four-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award (1999, 2000, 2003 & 2004). As a Senior: Won the Patty Kazmaier Award. As a Junior: Top-scoring defenseman in the country and ranked second in assists per game (1.59). As a Sophomore: Tied for 12th in the nation with 53 points and led all defensemen. As a Freshman: Finished fifth among all scorers in the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

PERSONAL: Graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1998 ... Set single-season school records for goals (42) and points (63) as a sophomore ... Set the school record for assists in a season (30) and was named team co-MVP as a freshman ... Active in "Right to Play," an organization which aims to enrich the lives of children across the country through sport ...Took a trip to Uganda last summer as part of "Right to Play"...On the Board of Directors of "Teams of Angels," an organization that works to provide children with a "Safer Youth Sports Experience" ... Parents are Bill and Karen Ruggiero.

[guinevere]

http://deseretnews.com/photos/946837.jpg

From the 2002 team photos

[guinevere]

http://deseretnews.com/photos/946837.jpg

From the 2002 team photos

[cmw00]

Thats also the photo with the article. Shes kinda cute.

[cmw00]

Thats also the photo with the article. Shes kinda cute.

[puck_it]

Thats also the photo with the article. Shes kinda cute. ditto...

[puck_it]

Thats also the photo with the article. Shes kinda cute. ditto...

[Mona]

Go Angela.. :spin:

[Mona]

Go Angela.. :spin:

[goalie33]

Played her first game tonight, one assist and a +2 in the first period and a few shifts in the third (her PT was limited because she's a surplus player on the roster).

[goalie33]

Played her first game tonight, one assist and a +2 in the first period and a few shifts in the third (her PT was limited because she's a surplus player on the roster).

[NHLCanes]

Woman plays defense in men's game

By KELLY KURT, Associated Press Writer
January 29, 2005
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Angela Ruggiero would be happy to put off her preparation for the next Olympics for another shot at playing in a men's professional hockey match.

The two-time Olympian became the first woman to make more than a token appearance at a position other than goalie in a U.S. men's professional hockey game, playing defense and getting an assist Friday night for the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League.

Ruggiero said Title IX, the federal law that bars sex discrimination in schools and education, and the Olympics had done much to advance women's hockey but playing in men's games is a unique opportunity.

``It always pushes you,'' she said.

Besides her individual feat, Ruggiero and her brother, Bill, the goaltender for the Oilers, made hockey history as the first brother and sister to play together in a North American pro game.

Seconds after being checked on her third shift of the night, Ruggiero responded by slamming a Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees player into the boards. She made solid passes, but she fit right in.

Restless and sweating following 6:33 of play, Ruggiero said she didn't want to stop.

``I wish I could play the whole game and come back tomorrow,'' she said.

She got her wish at the start of the third period when both coaches and the CHL agreed to let her return to the ice with the Oilers leading 4-0. In her last shift, she fired a pass to Jason Bermingham, who scored to give the Oilers a 7-2 victory.

Ruggiero finished plus 2.

Although she was in the starting lineup, the league originally limited Ruggiero's playing time to the first period because she was an extra on the Oilers' roster.

Ruggiero said her nerves had settled by her second shift on the ice.

``There was definitely a lot of contact, but it was all clean. That's hockey. It's a rough game,'' Ruggiero said.

Ruggiero was cheered on by a crowd packed with young girls taking advantage of free tickets. A portion of the ticket receipts benefited the American Red Cross tsunami relief fund.

But this was no exhibition.

Friday night counted in the standings, with the Oilers (22-15-3) entering the game three points out of first place in the league's Northeast Division.

``I think it's great for our momentum,'' said Oilers coach Butch Kaebel, who earlier said he had no reservations about signing Ruggiero for the one-time appearance. ``Her resume speaks for itself.''

The 25-year-old skater, who won gold and silver medals as a member of the 1998 and 2002 U.S. Women's Olympic teams, was the second woman to play in the league.

Former USA goalie Erin Whitten played four games in goal for the Dallas Freeze in 1993-94. She also skated for 18 seconds at forward for the Colonial League's Flint Generals in 1996.

In 1992, Canada's Manon Rheaume made history as the first woman to play in the NHL when she tended goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a preseason game. Another Canadian, Hayley Wickenheiser, became the first woman to score in a men's game, getting a goal in the Finnish League in 2003. Barbara Zemann debuted at goalie for an Austrian team last year.

Ruggiero grew up playing hockey with boys, and in recent years honed her skills by joining her brother on summer league teams.

``I'm used to getting hit,'' she said, a bright and intact smile belying her participation in games she says are ``a second quicker'' and more physical than the women's sport.

She has never broken a bone or tooth playing hockey -- her own, anyway.

At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Ruggiero is known for doling out punishment in women's games, holding Harvard's single-season record for penalty minutes at 74.

Ruggiero also ranked eighth in the country in scoring with 25 goals and 30 assists for the Crimson. But Friday night, she focused on traditional defense.

The tandem appearance with her brother was his idea after she skated with the team in practice during a December visit.

``There were years where we didn't even get the chance to see each other play because of our schedules,'' Bill Ruggiero said. ``The chance to get to actually see each other and play on the same team together is so special.''

When they were children in Simi Valley, Calif., their father at first signed up only Bill for youth hockey. But within a month, he was taking advantage of a family discount when Angela, and another sister, Pamela, also wanted to get on the ice.

Angela found her heroes on the Los Angeles Kings, rooting on Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Tony Granato.

``There were no women's players I knew of,'' she said. ``I didn't even know women's hockey existed.''

[NHLCanes]

Woman plays defense in men's game

By KELLY KURT, Associated Press Writer
January 29, 2005
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Angela Ruggiero would be happy to put off her preparation for the next Olympics for another shot at playing in a men's professional hockey match.

The two-time Olympian became the first woman to make more than a token appearance at a position other than goalie in a U.S. men's professional hockey game, playing defense and getting an assist Friday night for the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League.

Ruggiero said Title IX, the federal law that bars sex discrimination in schools and education, and the Olympics had done much to advance women's hockey but playing in men's games is a unique opportunity.

``It always pushes you,'' she said.

Besides her individual feat, Ruggiero and her brother, Bill, the goaltender for the Oilers, made hockey history as the first brother and sister to play together in a North American pro game.

Seconds after being checked on her third shift of the night, Ruggiero responded by slamming a Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees player into the boards. She made solid passes, but she fit right in.

Restless and sweating following 6:33 of play, Ruggiero said she didn't want to stop.

``I wish I could play the whole game and come back tomorrow,'' she said.

She got her wish at the start of the third period when both coaches and the CHL agreed to let her return to the ice with the Oilers leading 4-0. In her last shift, she fired a pass to Jason Bermingham, who scored to give the Oilers a 7-2 victory.

Ruggiero finished plus 2.

Although she was in the starting lineup, the league originally limited Ruggiero's playing time to the first period because she was an extra on the Oilers' roster.

Ruggiero said her nerves had settled by her second shift on the ice.

``There was definitely a lot of contact, but it was all clean. That's hockey. It's a rough game,'' Ruggiero said.

Ruggiero was cheered on by a crowd packed with young girls taking advantage of free tickets. A portion of the ticket receipts benefited the American Red Cross tsunami relief fund.

But this was no exhibition.

Friday night counted in the standings, with the Oilers (22-15-3) entering the game three points out of first place in the league's Northeast Division.

``I think it's great for our momentum,'' said Oilers coach Butch Kaebel, who earlier said he had no reservations about signing Ruggiero for the one-time appearance. ``Her resume speaks for itself.''

The 25-year-old skater, who won gold and silver medals as a member of the 1998 and 2002 U.S. Women's Olympic teams, was the second woman to play in the league.

Former USA goalie Erin Whitten played four games in goal for the Dallas Freeze in 1993-94. She also skated for 18 seconds at forward for the Colonial League's Flint Generals in 1996.

In 1992, Canada's Manon Rheaume made history as the first woman to play in the NHL when she tended goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a preseason game. Another Canadian, Hayley Wickenheiser, became the first woman to score in a men's game, getting a goal in the Finnish League in 2003. Barbara Zemann debuted at goalie for an Austrian team last year.

Ruggiero grew up playing hockey with boys, and in recent years honed her skills by joining her brother on summer league teams.

``I'm used to getting hit,'' she said, a bright and intact smile belying her participation in games she says are ``a second quicker'' and more physical than the women's sport.

She has never broken a bone or tooth playing hockey -- her own, anyway.

At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Ruggiero is known for doling out punishment in women's games, holding Harvard's single-season record for penalty minutes at 74.

Ruggiero also ranked eighth in the country in scoring with 25 goals and 30 assists for the Crimson. But Friday night, she focused on traditional defense.

The tandem appearance with her brother was his idea after she skated with the team in practice during a December visit.

``There were years where we didn't even get the chance to see each other play because of our schedules,'' Bill Ruggiero said. ``The chance to get to actually see each other and play on the same team together is so special.''

When they were children in Simi Valley, Calif., their father at first signed up only Bill for youth hockey. But within a month, he was taking advantage of a family discount when Angela, and another sister, Pamela, also wanted to get on the ice.

Angela found her heroes on the Los Angeles Kings, rooting on Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Tony Granato.

``There were no women's players I knew of,'' she said. ``I didn't even know women's hockey existed.''