Molly Marie Engstrom is an American retired ice hockey player and the current head coach of the Maine Black Bears women's ice hockey program in the Hockey East (HEA) conference of the NCAA Division I.[1] During her playing career, she played with Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL), the Connecticut Whale in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL; rebranded as PHF in 2021), the Brampton Thunder in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), and the Minnesota Whitecaps in the Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL).

Molly Engstrom
Engstrom with Team USA in 2010
Born (1983-03-01) March 1, 1983 (age 41)
Siren, Wisconsin, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for
Current NCAA coach Maine Black Bears
Coached for St. Cloud State Huskies
National team  United States
Playing career 2001–2018
Coaching career 2018–present
Medal record
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver Team
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Turin Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2005 Sweden Team
Gold medal – first place 2008 China Team
Gold medal – first place 2009 Finland Team
Gold medal – first place 2011 Switzerland Team
Silver medal – second place 2004 Canada Team
Silver medal – second place 2007 Canada Team
4 Nations Cup
Gold medal – first place 2011 Sweden Team
Silver medal – second place 2010 Canada Team

As a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team, she won a bronze medal in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and a silver medal in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She played for the women's team at Culver Girls Academy.

Playing career

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In high school, she participated in track and field and golf. In her sophomore year, Engstrom won the Wisconsin state discus title.[2]

Wisconsin Badgers

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In her senior year at Wisconsin, Engstrom served as one of two undergraduate assistant coaches. The other coach was future Olympian Carla Macleod. Engstrom and Macleod assisted coach Mark Johnson with analysis of game footage.[2]

Brampton Thunder

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  • March 23, 2008: Engstrom was part of the Brampton Thunder team that won the first Championship of the CWHL. Molly Engstrom scored the game-winning goal as the Thunder beat the Mississauga Chiefs by a score of 4-3 in overtime.[3]
  • February 14, 2009: Engstrom took part in the Calgary Oval X-Treme's game against the U.S. Selects in the final game of the EnCana sponsored 4 game Battle of the Border women's hockey tournament. Her teammates included Carla McLeod, Colleen Sostorics, Chanda Gunn. The U.S. Selects won the game by a score of 3 to 2 but the Oval X-Treme won the series 3 games to 1.[4]
  • March 2010: Engstrom competed with the Brampton Thunder in the finals of the 2010 Clarkson Cup.

USA Hockey

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Engstrom was a member of the 2006 US Olympic Hockey Team that won a bronze medal. In addition, Engstrom was a five-time member of the U.S. Women's National Team for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship. At the Worlds, Engstrom captured the Gold in 2005, 2008 and 09, and the silver in 2004 and 2007. She was named the IIHF World Championships top defenseman in 2007.[5] She was also a two-time member of the U.S. Women's Under-22 Select Team in 2003 and 2004. Engstrom was also a seven-time USA Hockey Women's National Festival participant (2002–05, 2007–09).[6]

Connecticut Whale

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On August 18, 2015, it was announced that Engstrom had signed a contract with the Connecticut Whale of the professional Premier Hockey Federation for the 2015-16 season.[7]

Career stats

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Season Games played Goals Assists Points PPG
2001-02 35 6 9 15 4
2002-03 33 4 10 14 3
2003-04 34 5 19 24 2
2004-05 38 13 19 26 11

[8]

Awards and honors

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  • Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Media All-Star Team
  • Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Directorate Award, Best Defenseman[9]
  • Clarkson Cup Top Defender, 2010
  • CWHL Central All-Stars, 2007–08
  • CWHL All-Rookie Team, 2007–08
  • 2004-05 All USCHO.com Second Team[10]
  • 2004 Badger Award[11]

Molly Engstrom Award

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The Molly Engstrom Award was introduced in 2011. The criteria for the award are for the "Overall Defensive Player of the Year". The award is presented by Wisconsin Prep Hockey to a female ice hockey player from Wisconsin prep school and coaches are asked to nominate a player from their respective team. A list of winners includes:

Year Winner Team
2011 Josie Johnson [12] Sun Prairie Co-op Cougars
2012 Paige Johnson Marshfield Tigers
2013 Paige Johnson Marshfield Tigers
2014 Ellie Woodman Rock County Fury
2015 Jacyn Reeves Onalaska Hilltoppers
2016 Maddie Rowe St. Croix Valley Fusion
2017 Anna Wilgren Hudson Raiders
2018 Anna Wilgren Hudson Raiders
2019 Charlotte Akervik Eau Clare Area Stars
2020 Challis Prohaska Central Wisconsin Storm
2021 Maddux Federici Central Wisconsin Storm
2022 Kendall Sundby St. Croix Valley Fusion
2023 Kendall Sundby St. Croix Valley Fusion

References

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  1. ^ Ayala, Erica (December 21, 2016). "Molly Engstrom on her decision to play in Sweden". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Athletes (Vancouver 2010)". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  3. ^ Johnston, Brian R. (March 23, 2008). "Brampton Thunder News: Brampton Thunder Succesfully [sic] Repeat as League Champions". Archived from the original on 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  4. ^ "Claims to Fame | Town of Shaunavon". Archived from the original on 2010-01-10. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  5. ^ Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.545, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
  6. ^ "USA Hockey". Archived from the original on 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  7. ^ "Two-Time Olympian Engstrom Agrees to Play in Connecticut | NWHL". Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  8. ^ "Molly Engstrom at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  9. ^ "Meghan Agosta named MVP". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  10. ^ "USCHO.com's 2004-05 D-I Women's Year-End Honors :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online". Archived from the original on 2012-10-06.
  11. ^ "Wisconsin 2007-08 Review and Records" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
  12. ^ "Josie Johnson earns Player of the Year award". 6 March 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
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Preceded by
Angela Ruggiero (2004, 2005)
IIHF World Women's Championships Best Defender
2007
Succeeded by
Angela Ruggiero (2008)