The Brown Bears women’s ice hockey program is an NCAA Division I ice hockey team that represents Brown University. The Bears play at the Meehan Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown women's hockey is the oldest women's hockey program in the United States. It was the first collegiate women's ice hockey program in the United States, started in 1964. The team was led from 1989 to 2011 by Head Coach Digit Murphy, who became the winningest coach in Division I women's ice hockey history during her 18th season at Brown (2006–2007).
History Brown University Women's Ice Hockey is widely regarded as being one of the premier collegiate programs globally. Several former players are Olympic medal winners.
In 1964, the Brown Bears men's coach Jim Fullerton arranged for Nancy Schieffelin to attend a team practice. She was an experienced player and came to the practice disguised in full uniform. A year later, Brown University would have the first women’s ice hockey program. The team was known as the Pembroke Pandas. The Pandas would have to borrow equipment, and sell hockey rule sheets at the Bears men's games to raise money for equipment. In February 1966, the Pandas (Brown Bears) women’s ice hockey team played their first game. Against the Walpole Brooms, the club lost by a 4–1 score.
In 1976, Brown would host the first ever Ivy League women's ice hockey tournament. The other competing schools were Cornell, Princeton and Yale. The Big Red would win the tournament.
Between 1994 and 1997, the Bears won three consecutive ECAC regular season championships. During that time span, the Bears were undefeated in the league during the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons. The undefeated streak spanned 49 ECAC games. The Bears competed in the first AWCHA Division I National Ice Hockey Championship. Contested in March 1998, the Bears were defeated by the New Hampshire Wildcats by a 4–1 score.
In 1999–2000, Brown reach its second national championship final in three years. Coach Digit Murphy, who has been building the program since 1988, used virtually every player on her bench and eventually wore out opponents. She even went so far as to take the advice of a volunteer assistant coach by allowing her centers to take turns choosing the wings on their lines. Jill Graat was named captain of the team. The team withstood a season-ending ACL injury to its best player, U.S. Olympic defenseman Tara Mounsey, and went on to win nineteen straight games entering the 2000 national championship game.
Ali Brewer holds every Brown goaltending record for a season or a career. In her four seasons with the Bears, she posted a 1.37 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. In addition, she had 2,490 saves and posting 39 shutouts. Numerous records were set by Brewer including, a 0.94 GAA and .957 save percentage in her freshman season, 13 shutouts in her junior season, and 25 wins in her senior campaign. Another record that she holds is five consecutive shutouts, set her junior season, in which she blanked Cornell (3–0), St. Lawrence (5–0), Niagara twice (6–0 both games), and Colby (9–0).
During Brewer’s four seasons, the Bears never won fewer than 20 games in a season. The Bears won ECAC Championships in 1998 and 2000, with Brewer earning MVP honors during the 2000 Championship. The Bears also played in the AWCHA Tournament three times from 1998–2000, finishing as the National Runner-Up twice.
Season-by-season results Won ChampionshipLost ChampionshipRegular Season Conference Champions
Year Coach W L T Conference Conf. W Conf. L Conf. T Points Conference Rank Conf. Tournament NCAA Tournament 1994–95 Digit Murphy 16 4 3 ECAC 11 2 1 23 Tied 1st Lost Quarterfinals vs. St. Lawrence Tournament did not exist1995–96 Digit Murphy 16 4 5 ECAC 12 0 4 28 1st Won Quarterfinals vs. Colby Lost Semifinals vs. Providence 1996–97 Digit Murphy 28 2 1 ECAC 22 0 0 44 1st Won Quarterfinals vs. Colby Lost Semifinals vs. Northeastern 1997–98 Digit Murphy 22 7 4 ECAC 15 4 3 33 Tied 3rd Won Quarterfinals vs. Cornell Won Semifinals vs. Dartmouth Won Championship vs. New Hampshire AWCHA Won Semifinals vs. Northeastern Lost Championship vs. New Hampshire 1998–99 Digit Murphy 20 7 4 ECAC 19 4 3 41 Tied 2nd Lost Quarterfinals vs. Dartmouth AWCHA Lost Semifinals vs. Harvard Lost Third Place Game vs. Minnesota 1999–2000 Digit Murphy 25 4 3 ECAC 19 2 3 41 1st Won Quarterfinals vs. Niagara Won Semifinals vs. Northeastern Won Championship vs. Dartmouth AWCHA Won Semifinals vs. Dartmouth Lost Championship vs. Minnesota 2000–01 Digit Murphy 19 7 3 ECAC 15 6 3 33 4th Won Quarterfinals vs. New Hampshire Lost Semifinals vs. Dartmouth —2001–02 Digit Murphy 25 8 2 ECAC 12 3 1 25 Tied 2nd Won Quarterfinals vs. Yale Won Semifinals vs. St. Lawrence Won Championship vs. Dartmouth Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota Lost Championship vs. 2002–03 Digit Murphy 14 14 4 ECAC 9 6 1 19 5th Won Quarterfinals vs. St. Lawrence Lost Semifinals vs. Harvard —2003–04 Digit Murphy 18 11 2 ECAC 12 5 1 25 4th Won Quarterfinals vs. Princeton Lost Semifinals vs. Harvard — 2004–05 Digit Murphy 15 15 2 ECAC 11 8 1 23 Tied 5th Lost Quarterfinals vs. St. Lawrence —2005–06 Digit Murphy 15 13 5 ECAC 10 6 4 24 Tied 3rd Won Quarterfinals vs. Dartmouth Won Semifinals vs. Princeton Lost Championship vs. Harvard —2006–07 Digit Murphy 10 17 2 ECAC 6 15 1 13 9th — —2007–08 Digit Murphy 5 19 5 ECAC 4 14 4 12 10th — —2008–09 Digit Murphy 7 21 1 ECAC 6 16 0 12 10th — —2009–10 Digit Murphy 3 21 4 ECAC 1 18 3 5 11th — —2010–11 Digit Murphy 2 23 4 ECAC 1 17 4 6 11th — —2011–12 Amy Bourbeau 8167 ECAC 5 13 4 14 Tied 8th Lost Quarterfinals vs. Cornell —2012–13 Amy Bourbeau 6201 ECAC 5 17 0 10 11th — —2013–14 Amy Bourbeau 4205 ECAC 3 16 3 9 11th — —2014–15 Amy Bourbeau 5231 ECAC 2 19 1 5 12th — —2015–16 Robert Kenneally 3233 ECAC 1 18 3 5 11th — —2016–17 Robert Kenneally 5220 ECAC 5 17 0 10 11th — —2017–18 Robert Kenneally 2270 ECAC 1 21 0 2 12th — —2018–19 Carisa Wahlig 5 20 4 ECAC 2 16 4 8 11th — —2019–20Carisa Wahlig3233ECAC2182—2020–21Did not play due to COVID 192021–22Melanie Ruzzi6185ECAC6124229th——2022–23Melanie Ruzzi9191ECAC7150199th——2023–24Melanie Ruzzi12173ECAC7123328thWon Opening Round vs. RPI Lost Quarterfinals vs. Colgate —2024–25Melanie Ruzzi14133ECAC910329.58thLost Opening Round vs. Union —2025-26Melanie Ruzzi18142ECAC1282397thWon Opening Round vs. Dartmouth (7-2) Lost Quarterfinals vs. Quinnipiac (3-6, 3-2 OT, 4-5) —
Current roster As of September 7, 2022.
Olympians Jacquie Pierri (Italy): Ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament. Pam Dreyer (United States): 2006 Torino (Bronze) Kim Insalaco (United States): 2006 Torino (Bronze) Kathleen Kauth (United States): 2006 Torino (Bronze) Becky Kellar-Duke (Canada): 1998 Nagano (Silver), 2002 Salt Lake (Gold), 2006 Torino (Gold), 2010 Vancouver (Gold) Katie King-Crowley (United States): 1998 Nagano (Gold), 2002 Salt Lake (Silver), 2006 Torino (Bronze) Tara Mounsey (United States): 1998 Nagano (Gold), 2002 Salt Lake (Silver) Chie Chie Sakuma (Japan): 1998 Nagano
Awards and honors Ali Brewer, 1998 and 2000 ECAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Ali Brewer, 1999 American Women's College Hockey Alliance All-Americans, First Team Ali Brewer, Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist, 1999 Ali Brewer, Patty Kazmaier Award (2000) Ali Brewer, Women's Ivy League Outstanding Performers (2000) Ali Brewer, Women's First Team All-Ivy League (1999) Ali Brewer, Women's First Team All-Ivy League (2000) Ali Brewer, Ivy League Player of the Year (2000) Ali Brewer, ECAC Goaltender of the Year (2000) Ali Brewer, First Team All-ECAC (2000) Mardie Corcoran, 1986 Marjorie Brown Smith Award Pam Dreyer, 2001–02 New England Hockey Writers Women's Divions I All-Star Team Pam Dreyer, Goalie, 2002 ECAC North Second Team Pam Dreyer, 2002 ECAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Katie King, Forward, 1996 All-ECAC Team Katie King, 1997 Marjorie Brown Smith Award Katie King, 1997 ECAC Player of the Year Award Katie Jamieson, 2010 Second Team All-Ivy Laurie Jolin, ECAC Rookie of the Week (Week of February 22, 2010) Courtney Johnson, 2002 ECAC All Academic Team Courtney Johnson, 2002 Academic All-Ivy Courtney Johnson, US College Hockey Online Player of the Week (Jan. 14, 2002) Becky Kellar, 1996 ECAC All-Tournament team Becky Kellar, 1996 ECAC Honor Roll Jessica Link, Forward, 2002 ECAC North All-Rookie Team Jessica Link, 2002 ECAC All-Rookie Team Jessica Link, 2002 Second Team All-Ivy honors Jessica Link, ECAC Rookie of the Week (Jan. 28, 2002) Jessica Link, 2002 Sakuma Award winner. Hayley Moore, Forward, First Team All-Ivy League, 2007–08, Brown (Senior) Kathryn Moss, 2007 Marjorie Brown Smith Award Tara Mounsey, 1997 ECAC Rookie of the Year Tara Mounsey, 1999 American Women's College Hockey Alliance All-Americans, Second Team Tara Mounsey, 2000 Marjorie Brown Smith Award Tara Mounsey, Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist, 1999, 2000 Digit Murphy, New England Hockey Writers 2001–02 Women's Coach of the Year Paige Pyett, Defense, 2009 ECAC All-Rookie Team Emily Sigman, 2002 ECAC All Academic Team Christina Sorbara, 2001 Sarah Devens Award Nicole Stock, Second Team All-Ivy League, 2007–08, Goaltender, Brown (Junior) Nicole Stock, Goaltender, 2009 Third Team All-ECAC Cassie Turner, 2001–02 New England Hockey Writers Women's Divions I All-Star Team Cassie Turner, Defense, 2002 ECAC North First Team Kristy Zamora, ECAC Player of the Week (Awarded December 11, 2001) Kristy Zamora, 2001–02 New England Hockey Writers Women's Divions I All-Star Team Kristy Zamora, Forward, 2002 ECAC North First Team
Alli McMillan '74 Award Emilie Bydwell 2007 Alli McMillan '74 Award as the team's unsung hero.
Chelsea McMillan '98 Award Kim Fleet, 2002 Chelsea McMillan '98 Award for pride and perseverance Emilie Bydwell 2006 Chelsea McMillan '98 Award for pride and perseverance.
Kate Silver '86 Award In recognition of an outstanding first year female varsity athlete at Brown University Katie King, Kate Silver '86 Award (1994) Jessica Link, Kate Silver '86 Award (2002) Kathryn Moss, Kate Silver '86 Award (2004) Tara Mounsey, Kate Silver '86 Award (1997)
Sakuma Award The Sakuma Award is a team award given for perfect attendance at practices and games. Kim Fleet, 2002 Sakuma Award winner for perfect attendance at all practices and games. Courtney Johnson 2000, 2001 Sakuma Award winner for perfect attendance at practices and games. Kristy Zamora, 1999, 2000
Ivy League honors Kristy Zamora, Brown, 2002 Ivy League Player of the Year
All-Ivy Kristy Zamora, Forward, Senior, 2002 First Team All-Ivy League Cassie Turner, Defense, Junior, 2002 First Team All-Ivy League Katie Germain, Goalie, Sophomore, 2002 First Team All-Ivy League Jessica Link, Forward, Freshman, 2002 Second Team All-Ivy League Meredith Ostrander, Defense, Senior, 2002 All-Ivy League Honorable Mention Sam Donovan, 2017–18 Honorable Mention All-Ivy Kaley Doyle, 2022-23 Second Team All-Ivy Monique Lyons, 2025-26 Second Team All-Ivy Isabella Gratzl, 2025-26 Second Team All-Ivy India McDadi, 2025-26 Honorable Mention All-Ivy Gali Levy, 2025-26 Academic All-Ivy
Bears in professional hockey = CWHL All-Star = NWHL All-Star= Clarkson Cup Champion= Isobel Cup Champion