The Harvard women’s hockey team has a knack for turning a potential loss into a win for the team.

While the loss of Angela Ruggiero ’02-’04 to graduation was expected at the end of last year, the Crimson did not expect to lose assistant coach John O’Donnell from the staff. Despite the news, Harvard coach Katey Stone knew just what to do and called former Ruggiero linemate Jamie Hagerman ’03.

“When I found out that [O’Donnell] wasn’t going to be coaching anymore, 10 minutes later I picked up the phone,” Stone said. “It was a no brainer for me.”

O’Donnell’s departure—due to a marriage and a relocation—left another hole in Harvard’s defense, and Hagerman was a perfect fit to fill the void.

Playing the Coach

As a player, Hagerman was respected by teammates and opponents alike as one of the biggest competitors to take the ice.

Since her decision to take over as assistant coach, not much has changed.

Hagerman played for the Crimson team all four years that she attended Harvard, spearheading a renowned Crimson defense while scoring 80 points in 127 contests. Hagerman also served as captain both her junior and senior years.

“She is a put-the-team-first kind of player,” said tri-captain Nicole Corriero.

“She always put team in front of her own personal interests,” Corriero added. “She was my host on my recruiting visit and she was definitely one of the reasons I came here.”

Hagerman spent her only year away from Harvard in Toronto playing in the National Women’s Hockey League for the Brampton Thunder while training for the U.S. National Team.

“Basically I was there to keep myself in shape for the ongoing processes of making the [U.S.] National team,” Hagerman said.

After returning to Boston in May, Hagerman felt she wasn’t putting in the necessary time commitment to be National Team caliber.

“To do my job and train was tough, and my training was suffering because I wasn’t putting as much in,” Hagerman said.

“I knew that something needed to change.”