To the Parents, Sponsors, Midshipmen, and fans of the Navy Women’s Hockey Team

I am honored that I got to Coach again at Navy. It has been a privilege to serve as the Head Coach of this great team.

We have made the playoffs 3 years straight now, but the ending wasn’t like last year and we didn’t win the

Championship. No matter, this is still a great team and a hard playing team.

This year, several important Seniors leave us.

Ella Starr is being commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps. Ella’s desire to continue playing hockey prompted her

to start the team. When she goes, her legacy will live on as the Womens Hockey Team continues to build to Club status.

Kristen Storto is being commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy. Without Kristen, there would be no Coach Murphy.

Kristen’s Dad asked his Academy friend, who is my friend now, to find someone to help the team move forward. That

someone proved to be me.

Ashley Spring is being commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the Marine Corp. Ashley also started with the team in the first game,

always the first one on the ice, moved to defense where she became a stalwart. That’s what she said?!?

Liz Ziek, who also was here on day 1, is being commissioned in the Navy and remains close with all of the players and

currently is spending some time with her brother before he deploys.

Kay Lantz, another future Marine Corp 2nd Lt., started with the team on day 1, and was deployed to Qatar for a

semester, came back and played, is to be married after commissioning.

Jen Groger, started with us in year 2, will be commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the Marine Corps, and worked hard every time

she was on the ice. The underclassmen looked up to her, and truly , she was an asset to my team.

Our Announcer, Jake Amon, is also included in this book as he was and has been the only voice of the Women’s games.

He has been a great showman/DJ to keep the spirit in the crowd.

And lastly, because he got his Bio in so late, is our only professionally trained scorekeeper, Carson Morales , who, I

believe messed up some points for Emily Cooper on purpose. Just Kidding!!

Truly, you are all remarkable people who showed other teams who the Women of the Navy Hockey and their supporters

are. You all were part of the Championship year, and every future player is in your debt.

I hope that you all go on to bigger and better things, and meet your 5 year plans with ease. I hope that hockey runs in

your blood for a lifetime, and generations beyond.

I hope you all remember what we all did here.

Go Navy, Beat Army!!!

Coach Murphy

“God speed you, we be sisters, thou and I.” from “The Secret of the Ships”

Home Shirt #: 18 Position: Center Height: 5’5” Shoots: Right High School: Monmouth Regional Hometown: Monmouth County, NJ Company: 3 Major: Systems Engineering (Arabic Minor) And where/what do you want be in 5 years? San Diego with my husband Facts no one knows about you yet: To be married in May 2012

Home Shirt #: 10 Position: Right Wing Height: 6’0 Shoots: Right High School: Colonial Forge High School Hometown: Stafford, VA Company: 15 Major: Political Science; American Politics and Law And where/what do you want be in 5 years? Flying jets as an NFO Facts no one knows about you yet: I wish I would have been a physics major.

Liz ziek ‘12

Home Shirt # : 11 Position: Forward Height: 5' 5" Shoots: Right High School: Cardinal Spellman High School Hometown: Bronx, NY Major: Oceanography and Chinese How has the decision to come to the Academy affected you? I made the best friends ever thought possible. And where/what do you want be in 5 years?:I’ll be a

Marine Pilot and have a family.

Jenn Groger ‘12

kay Lantz ‘12

Name and Grad year: Home Shirt #: 00 – Announcers are always 00 Position: Announcer Height: 5’9 Shot: No, I’ve never been shot - almost by Coach though. High School: Medina High School Hometown: Medina, Ohio Company: Dirty 30 Major: General Engineering And where/what do you want be in 5 years? I would love to be somewhere warm, not be in debt and flying anything in the Navy. Facts no one knows about you yet: My high school sweetheart dumped me on my 21st Birthday but now I have a smoking hot girlfriend who goes to George Washington University.

Jake Amon ‘12

Home Shirt #: 42 Position: Announcer Height: 5’11 Shot: the Knucklepuck High School: Brookfield Central High School Hometown: Brookfield, WI Company: Dirty 30 Major: Computer Science and Information Technology And where/what do you want be in 5 years? I would like to be entering the Information Warfare community and living somewhere near Sunny Ft. Meade. Facts no one knows about you yet: I am an exceptionally talented carver of pumpkins.

Carson Morales ‘12

Class: 2014

Home Shirt # 8

Height: 5’5”

Shoots: Right

High School: Allentown High School

Hometown: Jackson, NJ

Company:

Major: Oceanography

Where do you want to be in 5 years? Navy Pilot

Facts no one knows about you: I received an appointment

to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings

Point, N.Y. I was pictured on TV during the 2011 climb.

Abigail Chek

Class: 2014

Home Shirt # 17

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

High School: Central High School

Hometown: Allentown, PA

Company:

Major:

Where will you be in 5 years? Submariner

Facts no one knows about you yet? I can beat Cory in every

faceoff

Fran Canelon

Class: 2014

Position: Assistant Coach/Manager

Shoots: Right

High School: Nyack High School

Hometown: Nyack, NY

Company:

Major: Astrophysics

Where will you be in 5 years? Aloha!!

Facts no one knows about you yet?

Paul “Pacho” cho

Class: 2014 Home Shirt #: 2 Position: Forward Height: 5’3’’ Shoots: Right High School: Greenwich High School Hometown: Old Greenwich, CT Company: 14 Major: Systems Engineering And where/what do you want be in 5 years? Navy Pilot Facts no one knows about you yet: I rowed for Navy Crew as a freshman, and in high school I figure skated, ran cross-country, and played softball. Other hobbies include snowboarding, playing guitar, singing, and scrapbooking.

Tina Byrne

Class: 2014 Home Shirt # 3 Position: Forward Height: 5’4” Shoots: Right High School” Seneca High School Hometown: Louisville, KY Company: Major: Where will you be in 5 years: Marine Sharpshooter (Ghost) Facts no one knows about you yet: I can shoot out the eye of a gnat sitting on a log1 mile away. I won the State Individual Rifle Title in 2010.

Karina Schmidt

Class: 2014 Home Shirt #: 20 Position: Left Wing Height: 5’9” Shoots: Right High School: Mission Viejo High School Hometown: Mission Viejo Company: 16 Major: English And where/what do you want be in 5 years? A Naval Flight Officer (NFO) in Pensacola. Facts no one knows about you yet: I speak 4 languages and I am an Irish dancer. Also, planning on picking up the position of enforcer soon ;)

Nathalie

“Moose” Pauwels

Class: 2014

Home Shirt # 8

Height: 5’5”

Shoots: Right

High School: Allentown High School

Hometown: Jackson, NJ

Company:

Major: Oceanography

Where do you want to be in 5 years? Navy Pilot

Facts no one knows about you: I received an appointment

to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings

Point, N.Y. I was pictured on TV during the 2011 climb.

Abigail Chek

Class: 2014

Home Shirt # 17

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

High School: Central High School

Hometown: Allentown, PA

Company:

Major:

Where will you be in 5 years? Submariner

Facts no one knows about you yet? I can beat Cory in every

faceoff

Fran Canelon

Class: 2014

Position: Assistant Coach/Manager

Shoots: Right

High School: Nyack High School

Hometown: Nyack, NY

Company:

Major: Astrophysics

Where will you be in 5 years? Aloha!!

Facts no one knows about you yet?

Paul “Pacho” cho

Class: 2014

Home Shirt # 7

Height: 5’4”

Shoots: Right

High School: Naperville North High School

Hometown: Lisle, Il

Company:

Major:

Where do you want to be in 5 years? Pilot

Facts no one knows about you:

Shanon Lavin

Class: 2014

Home Shirt # 24

Height: 5’5”

Shoots: Right

High School: Georgetown High School

Hometown: Georgetown, TX

Company:

Major:

Where do you want to be in 5 years? Navy Lt

Facts no one knows about you: My brother is at the Air

Force Academy

Cassidy Simmonds

Class: 2015

Home Shirt # 24

Height: 5’3”

Shoots: Right

High School: St. Mary’s High School

Hometown: Cary, NC

Company:

Major: Political Science

Where do you want to be in 5 years? Navy Pilot, JAG

Facts no one knows about you: My grandfather and Coach

Reekie’s father were on the same ships.

SARah Blake

Class: 2015

Home Shirt # 9

Position: Center

Height: 5’2”

Shoots: Right

Company: 18

High School: Holy Family Catholic High School

Hometown: Minnetonka, MN

Company:

Major: Ocean Engineering

Where will you be in 5 years? Somewhere in the Far EastI

Abigail New

Class: 2015

Home Shirt # 29

Position: Defense

Shoots: Right

Height: 5’8”

High School: Fairfax High School

Hometown: Fairfax, VA

Company:

Major: English

Where will you be in 5 years? In the fleet, on a DD

Facts no one knows about you yet? I can juggle 14 bowling

pins at a time

Emily Ebuzz buzzard

Growing up in Massachusetts and Maine, Coach Tim ‘Murph’ Murphy has played hockey for 44 years. He is Head Coach of the Navy Women’s Hockey Team since its inception last year.

He played in the NH Junior A/B teams from Nashua and Manchester, and played in the National Amateur finals of 1986 and 1991. Coach Murphy has run the Naval Academy Adult Hockey Leagues since 1995 (starting at the old Dahlgren Rink) through May 2011.

Coach Murphy is a USAH Level 4 Coach and has been an assistant coach with the Men’s Club Hockey teams off and on since 1999. He has coached various youth hockey teams from South Boston MA, Washington DC, Bowie MD, Piney Orchard MD, Maine, and New Hampshire. Coach Murphy is a veteran of the US Army Medical Corps and US Navy (He sits on the Navy side at Army-Navy functions), serving overseas aboard the USS Midway, CV-41, now a museum in San Diego, CA.

He is married 29 years to Linda, who keeps him in line. He has a daughter Caitlin, who is finishing her graduate degree at Springfield College in Massachusetts, and has a son Danny, a varsity champion wrestler, graduating South River High School in Edgewater, Maryland in June.

Coach Murphy is employed at North American Terminal Management Incorporated, headquartered in Annapolis.

Bench Coach

Joe Reekie

Coach Reekie is an 18-year NHL veteran, playing for the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals. In 902 career games as a defenseman, Joe scored 25 goals and assisted on 139 others for 164 total points, while spending 1326 minutes in the penalty box. Joe is currently the National Hockey League Players’ Association’s Southeast Division Player Representative, and travels and covers the entire US and Canada. I have heard Joe state more than once that according to Wikipedia, Winnipeg is coldest “city” in North America.

When Joe offered his time to the Women’s Ice Hockey team, we jumped at the chance to have someone with his high caliber of play and excellent ice skills to join forces with us. He has provided all our coaches with feedback and insights to bolster the coaching staff’s approach to the team. His honesty and integrity have played an important role in the lives of our players.

His knowledge of the game and his approach to teaching hockey skills has endeared him, not only the defense, but the entire team as well. We are proud to have Joe with all of his advice and the funniest hockey stories ever heard at 5:30am. He currently lives in Arnold Maryland with his beautiful wife Susan and family.

Head CoaCh

Tim murphy

Cory began Coaching as the Developmental Coach for Navy Women beginning in 2011. His infectious positive attitude left me no alternative but to promote him to Offensive Bench Coach in December 2011.

He has played hockey for 14 years with Benfield, Bowie, and the Navy Youth Hockey Leagues, and played 4 years alongside Coach Mike Yff on the Broadneck High School team.

In 2007, he played a season in The NHL Professional Development Hockey League. The following year, he went to Salisbury University and played for the Men’s Hockey Team there. He scored his first college goal versus Navy at the Naval Academy "Crab Pot Tournament" in 2008.

He continues to teach adults and children how to skate at McMullen Arena. He proudly coaches the hockey team at Indian Creek High school.

He lives in Annapolis and work at our Family owned 3 Brothers Restaurant in Parole.

Offensive Coach

Cory Schweitzer

Power Skating Coach

Paige Johnson

Paige started figure skating when she was 6 years old. She competed in the sport through the spring of 2008, and skated for the Miami(OH) University Varsity Synchronized Skating Teams from 2005-2008. During that time, she earned two national titles at the collegiate level. In the 2007-2008 season, Paige earned a coveted spot on Team USA competed at the World Synchronized Skating Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Paige has been playing hockey in the summers since high school and, after graduating from college in 2009, officially traded in her toe picks for elbow pads. This is her third year as an assistant coach for the Navy Women’s Hockey Team where she specializes in power skating and endurance training.

Paige’s Wednesday Morning 05:45AM power skating drills affords us the chance to outskate our opponents and builds team stamina.

Paige resides in Davidsonville, Maryland.

Goalie Coach

Maria Powell

Maria Powell has been the Goalie Coach for the Women’s Team for 2 years. Her experience includes 13 years as goalie for various youth hockey programs, in the Navy Leagues, Women’s Leagues, and the adult divisions in the region. Maria plays for the talented Killer-Bees and is on her way, this year, to the Southeastern District Playoffs.

She has attended the Jacques Plante Goalie School, the Mitch Korn Goalie School, and the Rolloson-Mason Goalie Camp. This year, she was acknowledged in the Tim Thomas Goalie School as the “Netminder to Watch”. Her Youtube hockey video went viral and had the highest number of hits for a sports video/music compostition.

She became a Certified Level 4 Coach in 2011. Maria is in the process of gettingTeam Trainer Certified and continuing on for her college degree.

Her teaching and tactic training has Breenie oh-so-grateful for all those drills and skills that Maria has her do at 5:30 in the AM.

Maria lives in Annapolis.

Developmental team

Coach Mike Yff

Mike started Coaching Navy Womens Developmental Team Coach

in December 2011. He is also the Assistant Defensive Coach.

Mike started his hockey career at the age of 8. He played with the

Bowie Bruins, Benfield, Navy Youth Hockey, and Southern Maryland. He is

a graduate of Broadneck High school where he played Defense for the

varsity hockey team for 3 years, and was a Captain for 2 years.

Mike went on to play Defense in the NHL Professional Development

Hockey League with the Washington Lions. His team won the championship

in his first year. Mike received several awards from the league and I played in

the league until it folded years later. He currently plays Defense with the

Greenbury Point Bucks to keep his skills sharp.

Mike graduated the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland and works for

the Bowie Baysox as a video director and Fairfax Sports Network as a

camera operator. He continues to work for Naval Academy Business

Services Division at the Brigade Sports Complex.

Mike resides in Annapolis.

Faculty Representative

Dr. Helen (Beth) Mutch

Dr. Helen (Beth) Mutch is an Assistant Professor in the Class of 1963 Center for Academic Excellence

She is a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and subsequently served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy. Upon completion of her naval service, Dr. Mutch began her teaching career as a math and science educator.

A native of Ashland, Kentucky, Mutch now lives in Severna Park and comes to most all our games with her husband, Drew, and two children: Andrew and Ada, two of our fanatic fans.

Professor Mutch is always available to help steer any Midshipman, player or not, in “course corrections” and any personal situation. She has been rated 5 of 5 on the website Rate Your Professor for 5 years straight. To quote a comment on that website, “She is a godsend”.

We couldn’t ask for a more kind and pefect faculty member and her family to cheer us on.

Drill CoaCh

“CapTain mike” minear

Promoted from “that Guy” status this 2011, Capt. Mike provides a perspective on life at a service academy while participating in morning practices. Having only once played hockey in an outdoor pick-up game in Edmonton, Alberta, eh?, he has learned much from and with the team. Like many graduates, he enjoys be around the great people that attend our services academies and has a great deal of respect for what the fine women on this team have accomplished.

Mike was born in Seattle, Washington and raised in an Air Force family. He graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science concentrating in Mechanical Engineering. Mike raced with the West Point Cycling Team for four years, serving as Team Captain his senior year. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the Army Corps of Engineers,

specializing in combat engineering, bridge construction and demolitions. For the past 17 years, Mike has lived in Annapolis with his wife Kimberly

and son Andrew, who will be a senior on the Indian Creek High School Hockey Team. Mike currently Vice President for the Eastern United States Region for Aeroterm US, which owns on-airport cargo facilities across North America.

Capt. Mike is proud to wear the Naval Academy logo for this team.

Major Brian R. Chontosh became our O-Rep this year. He is a United States Marine Corps officer who was awarded the Navy Cross by SECNAV for extraordinary heroism when he was a platoon commander for Weapons Company as Combined Anti- Armor Platoon Commander, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 25 March 2003.

Major Chontosh returned to Iraq during the second half of 2004 as the commanding officer of India Company and during this time his company was also the focus of a Fox News documentary titled Breaking Point: Company of Heroes.

Major Chontosh, a 2000 graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) was honored as RIT's 2005 Outstanding Alumnus. He became an honorary graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Class of 2006, and at the annual 2006 Keeper of the Flame dinner was honored by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace for his actions in March 2003. Major Chontosh placed 2nd in the SoCal Regional Qualifiers in the 2009 Crossfit Games.

We are flattered and honored to have Major Chontosh as Our Officer Rep, even as we teach him how to skate. Major Chontosh lives in Annapolis.

Officer Representative

Major Brian R. Chontosh

Senior ENLISTED Rep

Chief Sarah K. Dekarske

Aviation Ordnance Chief Sarah K. Dekarske is assigned as the 24th Company Senior Enlisted Leader at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.

Chief DeKarske enlisted in the United States Navy in December of 1997 and attended Basic Training at Great Lakes, Illinois. After graduating from RTC in March 1998, she graduated from Aviation Ordnance “A” School in Pensacola, Florida.

In October 2002, she became an instructor at Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola, Florida. In January 2006, she was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron FOURTEEN Tophatters (VFA 14) stationed in NAS Lemoore, California. She was promoted to Petty Officer First Class and soon thereafter, she was selected for Chief Petty Officer and became the Leading Chief Petty Officer for the Avionics/Armament Division.

In May of 2010, Chief DeKarske attended Recruit Division Commander School. Upon graduation, she reported to the United States Naval Academy to mentor, develop, and train future Naval Officers as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 24th Company.

Chief DeKarske has accumulated over 6 years of sea time completing Five Western Pacific, and numerous other at sea exercises to include Humanitarian efforts in East Timor, Operation Anaconda, Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring and Iraqi Freedom just to mention a few. Chief DeKarske’s personal awards include: The Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards) and the Navy Good Conduct Medal (4 awards). Additional decorations include: Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy “E” Ribbon (3 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment (5 awards) and the Navy Marksman Pistol Ribbon.

We are so proud to have the Chief on our side!!

To my seniors: Starr and Spring and sometimes Storto: First, it was my honor to be your coach. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to the team. You led by example, mostly were the first ones to be at the arena, first ones on the ice, and always dedicated yourself for the best interest for the team. As a coach, I am very proud to say, I was your defensive coach. You all will be missed.

Drew:

Thank you for your dedication, leadership, and passion for the game. You are a game

changer on the ice. There are certain athletes that have a quality in their game, talent plus

passion for the game. People watching can see this, and you are one of these athletes.

To our new D, Blake and Buzzard:

You both have provided our team with experience, excitement, and stability. You both will be the foundation for the Defense for the Navy Women's team for years to come. Thank you for your work effort, your passion for the game. You will be the leaders of this team some day. To all who played D: Thank you for allowing me to be your coach. It was my honor and privilege.

Joe Reekie

2011 / 2012 Navy WomeN’s Ice Hockey seasoN 3

DoN’t let tHe PoNy taIl fool you

What began three years ago with the Commandant’s signature to begin the inaugural season, throw in the League Championship last year, another playoff round this year, and what do you get? A solid Navy Women’s Hockey Team that is here to stay.

We had changing in the Coaching staff again this year. This year Cory Schweitzer and Mike Yff were

added to the Coaching staff, and with Joe Reekie, Maria Powell, and Paige Johnson remaining at the helm, we are on solid footing now.

With Breenie back in the pipes, we played in the Crabpot Tournament in September, and we got to see

our competition. We came back in the last those games only to lose, but what comebacks. In the consolation game, we were down 4-1 with 4 minutes left and just didn’t have the early season gas to win it, and we lost 4-3. But it did show us something. We could score, we could play, and we could win with the right circumstances.

We added some talented players in Emily Buzzard, Sarah Blake, and Abigail New, along with some new Developmental players who are getting better, and we fought to win every game. We tied 6 games at end of regulation, the most of any team in the league. We hung in most games and we learned a great deal in every game. When we played the eventual League Champions, West Chester U, and tied them with 4 seconds left, only to lose in the last minutes of overtime, we showed we could leave it all on the ice. This weekend we lose 5 more of the original players, and next year, the last 7 of the remaining Original 21. This year we lose the original 2 of Women’s Hockey, Ella Starr and Kristen Storto, as well as the infamous Ashley Spring. We lose Liz Ziek and Kay Lantz, as well as a good 2 year player in Jen Groger. Our numbers seem to be dwindling, but our team is getting some notoriety. I have been to Hockey Night in Boston, Minnesota, South Dakota, and soon to York PA for the Pony Tail tournaments.

I could go on and on about the players, like Fran Canelon who, with pin point accuracy, scored a playoff goal against UVA, or Christine Dullnig who played hurt and showed leadership all during that time on and off the ice, or how well Breenie came back to play hurt again and again. or the tremendous Playoff efforts by Tina Byrne.

I want to thank the players, their sponsors, their families, my Coaches, Major, Chief, Professor Mutch,

their families, my family, my friends, and all those folks who supported us all year. I thank Rink Management and friends, Karl Oesterling and Lisa Fox, for all they do at the Rink for the

team. I want to thank Wes Stinchcomb for creating this booklet masterpiece for my graduating Seniors to have, and for all those years of letting me learn Coaching from him. I give a big thank you to my bosses at Realterm, Inc. for allowing me to put this booklet together, and to always to Coach Fox, who taught me how to be a better Coach.

I want to remember my Dad, Dan Murphy, a WWII Vet, who died this past year,

And was a fully involved fan of the team. He will always be my hero.

Coach Murph