About Me

Three-time Olympic Ice Hockey Player Angela Ruggiero grew up in Los Angeles, California and Harper Woods, Michigan. She graduated cum laude with a degree in government from Harvard University, where she was an NCAA First Team Academic All-American as well as one of the top eight student athletes in the entire NCAA in 2004. A star player on the U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team, Angela won a Gold medal in 1998, a Silver medal in 2002 and a Bronze medal at the 2006 Olympics. She was the first woman non-goalie to play professional men's hockey in North America, playing for the Tulsa Oilers alongside her brother, Bill, and also earning a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame as the first brother-sister duo to play pro hockey together.

She helped the U.S. capture gold by scoring the tournament-winning goal at the 2005 World Championships, was voted the USA's Women's Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004, and was ranked the #1 female hockey player in the world by "The Hockey News" in 2003. In addition to her extraordinary athletic accomplishments, Angela is the founder and president of a girl's hockey school; the author of "Breaking the Ice," her inspirational autobiography; and the director of the New York Islanders' Project Hope- an organization that provides young Chinese athletes with access to educational opportunities.

When Angela appeared on season six of NBC's hit show, The Apprentice, Angela impressed the real estate mogul. Though she did not become the official "Apprentice," Donald Trump did offer Angela a job. Tempted to take a highly coveted position, Angela politely declined the position, for now, and returned to her passion and dream of making her fourth Olympic team. For now, obtaining a master's degree and training for the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 are on top of her mind.

One of the most prominent women's hockey players in the world, Angela is currently playing on the US Women's National Hockey Team, Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL) Minnesota Whitecaps, as well as training for the 2010 Olympics. While residing at the Blaine Residency Program for Team USA, Angela is pursuing her Master's degree in Sports Management. She was recently named the All-Time Leader in Games Played for Team USA. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, music, coaching hockey and volunteering.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • All-Time Leader in Games Played for Team USA

  • 2008, 2003, 2001 Four Nations Cup Gold Medal Team

  • Member of the 2008-2009 Western Women's Hockey League Minnesota Whitecaps team

  • 2008 U.S. Women's National Hockey Team- World Championships Gold medal (China)

  • 2007 U.S. World Gold Medal Inline Hockey Team

  • 2006 U.S. Olympic Bronze Medal Team

  • 2002 U.S. Olympic Silver Medal Team

  • 1998 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Team

  • Helped the U.S. capture the gold medal by scoring the tournament-winning goal at the 2005 World Championships

  • 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004 & 2006 World Championship Silver Medal Teams

  • World Championship Gold Medalist, 2005

  • National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) Runner-Up with the Montreal Axion- 2005

  • Harvard University 1999 National Championship Winning Team

  • Harvard University ECAC Winning Team- 1999, 2004

  • Harvard Beanpot Champions- 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004

  • Harvard University Ivy League Champions- 1999, 2003

AWARDS

Individual Awards
(2008, 2005, 2004, 2001) World Championships- Voted Top Defenseman
(2006, 2002) Top Defenseman Award at the Winter Olympics
(2005) Top Defenseman Award at the ESSO Canadian Provincials
(2004) Ranked one of Top 16 Female Athletes in the World by ESPN.com
(2004) NCAA First Team Academic All-American
(2004) NCAA "Top VIII" award as one of the top 8 student-athletes in the entire NCAA
(2004) Awarded the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the best college hockey player- Top 3 Finalist in 2003, Nominated into top 10 all four years)
(2004) NCAA National Strength and Conditioning Association Athlete of the Year
(2004) Four-time NCAA All-American, All-ECAC
(2004) ECAC and Ivy League Player of the Year
(2004) Harvard Crimson Female Athlete of the Year
(2004) New England Sports Writer's Player of the Year
(2004) Beanpot MVP
(2004, 2003, 2001) Harvard MVP
(2003-2004) ECAC All-Academic Team
(2003, 2004) USA Hockey Chevy Women's Player of the Year
(2003) United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Hockey Player of the Year
(2003) Voted Best Female Hockey Player in the World by The Hockey News
(2003) Ranked Top Defenseman in the World by Globe and Mail
(2002) Awarded Directorate Award as the Top Defenseman at the Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City

 

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