HAMILTON – Norwich named Colgate’s Sophie Leclerc its new head coach for women’s hockey in a Friday announcement.
Leclerc just completed her fourth season as an assistant coach for Colgate Women’s Hockey, the last three as the top assistant.
During her four seasons, the Raiders compiled a 101-36-10 (.721) record, including a 59-20-9 (.722) mark in ECAC Hockey. Her stay included Colgate’s first NCAA appearance, which led to the 2017-18 Raiders advancing all the way to the national championship game.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Sophie for the past four years,” Colgate head coach Greg Fargo said. “She’s become a great friend as well as integral part of the Colgate women’s hockey program, Colgate Athletics and the Hamilton community.
“Norwich is getting a strong leader, great coach and even better person to lead its women’s hockey program into the future.”
Leclerc is a Norwich graduate and Vermont native who starred for the Cadets and later served two seasons as the primary assistant coach. During her Norwich career, Leclerc was a member of the school’s inaugural varsity program. Four years later, she led them to a national championship.
“We have been very fortunate over the past four-years to have Sophie leading our student-athletes on the ice as well as helping them navigate their collegiate experience,” Fargo said. “This next career move for her was inevitable as she is as talented a coach as they come.
“The opportunity to take the head coaching reigns at her alma-mater is the perfect fit for her to continue her journey, and we are thrilled for her.”
(Colgate Photo)
