BOSTON – Taylor Wasylk, the first and only Suffolk University women's hockey coach in the program began in 2016, announced on Monday she is stepping down to take over as the head women's hockey coach at Lindenwood.
"I could not be more grateful for the past six years that I have spent here at Suffolk," Wasylk said. "The athletes, coaches and staff are some of the best that I have ever seen and truly make Suffolk a special place."
"We are thrilled for Taylor as she takes this next step in her coaching career and cannot thank her enough," Director of Athletics Cary McConnell said. "Her hard work in building the women's hockey program was commendable and a joy to watch. Taking Suffolk from a start-up program to a Commonwealth Coast Conference Champion and NCAA Tournament qualifier in five years was remarkable. We Wish Taylor continued success as she moves on."
Wasylk continued, "Thank you to everyone that has supported me, my players and our program throughout my time here. This community will always hold a special place in my heart."
Wasylk has been the architect of Suffolk women's hockey. She assembled a first-year recruiting class of 23 to comprise the inaugural roster, which dropped the puck on the first varsity season in 2016-17. Over the next five years, Wasylk and the Rams would go on to assert themselves as one of the premier programs in the northeast contending for conference titles and knocking at the NCAA Division III Tournament door. That door would open this past season when Wasylk led Suffolk to its first conference crown in the regular and postseason Commonwealth Coast Conference banners en route to the program's first trip to the Big Dance.
Over five years, the three-time American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Coach of the Year Finalist built a 64-44-7 overall record. She has coached two AHCA/CCM All-Americans, Shana Cote and Madison Duff, two CCC Players of the Year, two Laura Hurd Finalist, one NCAA Division III Statistical Champion, six All-new England Hockey Writers All-Stars and 21 all-conference players.
Prior to starting Suffolk's women's program, Wasylk worked SUNY Canton. No stranger to building a program, she helped the Roos to unparalleled heights with their first playoff appearance during its inaugural season in the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) and to their first-ever appearance in the d3Hockey.com Top 10 Poll.
Wasylk's coaching career got underway as an assistant coach at UMass Boston in 2014-15. With the Beacons, she was actively involved in recruiting, practice planning and execution and managed the team's travel arrangements.
Wasylk's true success on the ice comes from her decorated playing career at Boston College. The four-year letterwinner led the Eagles to national and regional prominence, making three consecutive trips to the NCAA Division I "Frozen Four" (2011, 2012, 2013), two Beanpot and Hockey East Titles and the Nutmeg Classic Championship. In 2014, she earned Hockey East Best Defensive Forward credits, as well as the coveted Most Valuable Player honor of the 2014 Beanpot. The four-time Hockey East Offensive Player Honoree and Pro Ambitions Rookie Honoree still ranks among the Eagles greats in game-winning goals (11 – sixth), short-handed goals (3 – ninth), shots on goal (497 – seventh) and games played (145 – 10th).
Wasylk also excelled academically at BC as the recipient of the Athletic Director's Award for Academic Achievement and an Athletic Coast Conference Honor Roll student.
When not training and competing for the maroon and gold, Wasylk donned the red, white and blue, traveling with Team USA's Under-18, Under-22 and senior-level national teams. She skated with all three squads at multiple World Championships.
Off the ice Wasylk is heavily involved in giving back to the community working with a variety of groups including the Newton Special Athletes, the Massachusetts Hospital School, Food for Families and Skating Strides Against Breast cancer.
A 2014 graduate of Boston College, Wasylk earned a Bachelor of Arts in history with a minor in international students, concentrating in international cooperation and conflict. The Port Huron, Michigan, native broadened her education with a semester abroad in London in the summer of 2014.
Lindenwood is coming off a 5-27-0 overall season and 5-11-0 mark in the College Hockey America (CHA) conference. The Lady Lions bring back Morgan Neitzke, a first-team All-CHA selection and finalist for the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Award.
A national coaching search will begin immediately to take over the helm of the Suffolk women's hockey program.