CT Ice Cats are thrilled to announce Jordan Gragnano (Brickner) to the newly created role of Hockey Director. In Coach Jordan's new role, not only will she coach the CT Ice Cats' U12 Tier 1 Team, but she will lead the skills offering for all ages of our travel teams. Additionally, Coach Jordan will be a visible resource for players of all ages and teams in terms of development and guidance.
Jordan Gragnano is one of the most accomplished female hockey players in the region and many of you already have had the pleasure of working with her. Not only did she play hockey at the highest collegiate and professional levels for women, she excelled academically and we are confident in her ability to serve as a role model for hockey players of all ages and levels. Jordan played prep school hockey at the Hotchkiss School where she was a tri-varsity athlete and was All-School President. While at Hotchkiss, she played for the Mid Fairfield Stars (for another Ice Cats Coach, Moe Tarrant) and went on to play at Colgate and University of Wisconsin where she achieved academic and athletic excellence in being named Academic All-Big 10 Team and served as an Assistant Captain for the National Champion Runner Up. Coach Jordan played professionally in Austria and Switzerland being named as an All Star in both leagues and then for the CT Whale of the NWHL. While with the Whale she was a 2x All Star, Assistant Captain and Foundation Award Winner which is awarded to the player who most actively applies the core values of hockey to her community as well as growing and improving the hockey culture. We are lucky to have such an accomplished individual to coach our girls.
Coaching slate for U12 and below:
U8 Coaches - Mike Komisarek and New Coach to program to be named later in March
U10 A - Jamie Tropsa
U10 A1 - New coach to program to be named later in March and Brett Farson
U12 T1 - Jordan Brickner/James Duval
U12 A - Mike Carlucci/James Duval
U12 A1 - Johnnie Chiapperino/James Duval
CT Ice Cats U8 will be moving to a full season experience. The dramatic growth and increased interest in our U8 girls hockey has been a conspicuous element of success for the CT Ice Cats program over the last several seasons. With this season's program participation now numbering thirty U8 skaters, we are excited to announce the launch of a full year U8 program option.
Consistent with the primary Ice Cat program, the full year U8 offering promises:
+A more comprehensive//programmatic full season approach to girls’ hockey skills development with a continued emphasis on nourishing a passion for the game in the irresistible setting of an all girls’ sports environment
+Experienced, highly trained professional coaches including a new to the program, but seasoned hockey coach and former division 1 college hockey player as well as a coach in Mike Komisarek, a former first round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens and 11 year NHL veteran
+Unmatched camaraderie, fun and learning for the U8 girls in a constructively competitive environment
The full year U8 Ice Cats’ program option will likely include a second team whose partial year offering will mirror the complementary “Mite” program offered in prior years.
Tryouts for CT Ice Cats U8 teams will be held in late August. The offering for U8 will be enhanced substantially with experienced, professional coaches for both teams who will be announced in 2 weeks, focused skill development, and a consistent, competitive game schedule.
We remain excited about this important enhancement to the current U8 Ice Cats program and the launch of the full year program for the 2021-2022 season. Please contact the ICGC for further information about the newly expanded U8 girls program.
