Erin Whitten Hamlen

Erin Hamlen (born October 26, 1971) is an American former ice hockey goaltender and the current head coach of the Merrimack Warriors women's ice hockey program in the Hockey East (HEA) conference of the NCAA Division I. She was among the first women to play professional ice hockey and, on October 30, 1993, she became the first woman to earn a victory in a professional hockey game as a goaltender, in the Toledo Storm's 6–5 win over the Dayton Bombers in the East Coast Hockey League.

Hamlen previously spent ten years as an assistant and associate coach with the New Hampshire Wildcats women's ice hockey program and was the first head coach of the Boston Blades.

Playing career Hamlen is from Glens Falls, New York, where she grew up playing hockey with the neighborhood boys, starting at age 5. She moved to goaltending at age 12.

Hamlen played in the Adirondack Youth Hockey Association. In high school, she was the first female player for the Glens Falls Indians.

At the time of her graduation, Hamlen held the UNH records for saves in a game (46), saves in a season (511), and career saves (1,556). She had 51 career victories -- second most in school history at the time.

At the time, Hamlen was under the misimpression that Rheaume, who had been the first woman to play in a pro hockey game during the prior season, had already recorded a win. “I'm not quite sure how to react because I just heard it myself,” Hamlen told the Toledo Blade after the game. She said it was “nice to be in the record books” but it had been “just another win. Hopefully there will be a few more.” However, Hamlen slumped in the lead-up to the Olympics, going 0–3 and allowing 14 goals in pre-Olympic games against the Canadians, who were the defending World Champions. Smith cut her from the roster on December 20 in favor of goaltenders Sarah Tueting and Sara DeCosta. The U.S. national team went on to win its first Olympic gold medal in February 1998, during the first-ever Olympic women's ice hockey tournament. Finnish national team coach Rauni Korpi was reportedly incredulous at Hamlen's absence from the Games, asking two American reporters, “Why is Erin Whitten not here?” The U.S. team lost the next night to Canada, 3–1, which extended its streak of world championships to five. Hamlen was credited for keeping the U.S. in the game, with 27 saves. Smith was quoted as saying: “This might be the best game against Canada I’ve seen her play.” Teammate Cammi Granato told The Boston Globe that Hamlen had “played her heart out. We just didn't put the puck in the net. The chances we had, we didn't bury.”

Coaching career Hamlen began her coaching career on July 17, 2000 as an assistant with the University of New Hampshire (UNH). She was promoted to associate head coach on July 27, 2006. She spent a total of 10 seasons at UNH (2000-2010). During her time with the team, the Wildcats won six straight Hockey East regular season championships (2004-2009) and four straight Hockey East tournament championships (2006-2009). Hamlen was part of the coaching staff that led the Wildcats to the Frozen Four in 2006 and 2008. The 2007 team spent time ranked No. 1 in the country, ending the season at No. 4. The 2008 team recorded an undefeated season. As a coach at UNH, Hamlen helped goaltender Jen Huggon earn All-America honors. In each of the first six seasons of the Hockey East women's conference, a UNH goaltender won its goaltending champion award. She was an assistant for the U.S. women's U18 ice hockey team during the 2007–08 season. The Blades were the first U.S. team in the now-defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League. Hamlen coached the team for one season.

She coached the University of New England women's ice hockey program during its first season, in 2012–13. Hamlen had support from Mark Dennehy, then the coach of the Merrimack men's team, and said she tried to emulate his approach. Dennehy was a member of the search committee for a women's ice hockey coach.

Hamlen spent more than two years at Merrimack recruiting a team before ever playing a game. In the second year, four players were enrolled. Hamlen later recalled, “Even though there weren't any games, we worked them hard.”

In the team's first season, Hamlen led a squad of 16 freshman, four redshirt freshman and two juniors. The inaugural team won five games, with its first victory coming against Hamlen's alma mater, UNH.

In September 2017, Hamlen's team started the season with back-to-back upsets on the road over Boston University, 2–1, and No. 3 ranked Minnesota, 4–3. Merrimack beat Minnesota even as the Warriors were outshot, 57–19. Hamlen credited goaltending — by junior Samantha Ridgewell and sophomore Lea Kristine Demers — in both victories. The team finished the 2017–18 season 11–20–3.

Hamlen's most successful season at Merrimack was in 2018–19 — the senior season for her inaugural class of freshman. The Warriors posted the team's first-ever winning record, at 16–13—7, which included a 1–0 victory over No.9-ranked Boston College on December 8. The team earned its second berth in the Hockey East tournament, where they lost to Providence in the opening round.

In seven seasons, Hamlen's teams at Merrimack have produced six professional players: Dominique Kremer, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Courtney Maud, Dominika Lásková, Samantha Ridgewell, and Paige Voight. Two players — Dominika Lásková and Kateřina Bukolská — have competed in the Olympics, both for the Czech national team.

Personal life Hamlen grew up in Glens Falls, New York, the second of three daughters of Peter and Joan Whitten.

Hamlen has also competed in marathons and triathlons.

International YearTeamEventResult GPWLOTMINSAGAGAASV%1992 United States WW 4 228MC_201610149 94 14 3.68 0.8511994 United States WW 3 180: 52 7 2.33 0.8641997 United States WW 5 3 1 1 297: 76 6 1.41 0.9081999 United States WW 3 2 1 0 179:03 72 4 1.34 0.944 Sources:

Head coaching record

Awards and honors Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year Award (1994) University of New Hampshire's Department of Women's Athletics Athlete of the Year (1993) ECAC Goaltender of the Year (1992) ECAC All-Star Selection (equivalent to first-team status) 1990, 1991 ECAC First-Team All-Star (1992, 1993) Directorate Award, Best Goaltender, 1994 IIHF Women's World Championship UNH Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 1998 Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame, 2017