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Syracuse University women’s hockey assistant coach

SU looks to Erin O’Brien for expertise and leadership

By Wen Bo, John Leimbach, Jenn Sheppard (jesheppa@syr.edu, jrleimba@syr.edu, bwen@syr.edu)

Published Mon, Aug. 03, 2009

Erin O’Brien is the 28-year-old Pickering, Ontario native who recently became an assistant coach for the Syracuse University women’s ice hockey team.

A late bloomer to the sport of hockey, O’Brien learned how to skate through a similar game called ringette as there was no girls hockey in the area where she lived.

At 18 years old, O’Brien tried out for a recreational team where she played for two years and honed her skills in the sport.

From there, O’Brien moved to the United States to play hockey for SUNY Plattsburgh on an academic scholarship.

After four years of playing NCAA Division III college hockey, O’Brien was offered a position to stay on board and coach after she graduated. She led the team to consecutive NCAA Division III women’s ice hockey National Championships as an assistant coach.
Three years later, an opportunity came about when O’Brien was offered an assistant coaching position at Syracuse University. Once she visited campus and saw what SU wanted to do with the Division I women’s hockey program, she jumped ship for Syracuse.

As a coach, O’Brien has the ability to give back to the sport after a back injury forced her to the sidelines. Now, she lives through her players, leading and watching the team learn and grow with her.

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