How Angela Ruggiero is bringing Olympic Gold and tech savvy to New York Rangers

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 15: IOC executive board member Angela Ruggiero attends the Medal Ceremony on day six of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Medal Plaza on February 15, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 15: IOC executive board member Angela Ruggiero attends the Medal Ceremony on day six of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Medal Plaza on February 15, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Angela Ruggiero, an Olympic Gold medalist, is infusing her tech-savvy prowess into the New York Rangers as a hockey operations adviser, creating an exciting synergy of sports and innovation.

The New York Rangers are pulling a big move by bringing in none other than Angela Ruggiero, a bona fide Hockey Hall of Famer, as their new hockey operations adviser. The New York Post was first to report the move on Thursday.

Angela Ruggiero brings innovation to the New York Rangers front office:

Angela is practically a living legend in women’s hockey – a decorated player with an illustrious career. What’s even cooler? She used to train alongside the Rangers’ president and GM, Chris Drury, during his playing days. They’ve stayed connected over the years, and now they’re teaming up professionally. Talk about a power partnership!

Back in 2015, both Angela and Chris were inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame together. Yep, it’s like they’ve been destined to be a dynamic duo in the hockey world. Now, let’s talk about Angela’s new role: she’s diving into the world of hockey operations, just like some past players such as Brian Leetch, Brad Richards, and Ryan Clowe.

Now, Angela’s not just about the hockey rink – she’s got a knack for bringing Olympic greatness to the table. After retiring from her impressive four-time Olympic career, she didn’t ride quietly into retirement.

Nope, she played a pivotal role in the International Olympic Committee’s executive board, helping to score the 2028 Summer Olympics for Los Angeles.

Angela’s not only a force on the ice; she’s also the CEO of Sports Innovation Lab. The tech-powered company peeks into market research to unravel the mysteries of sports fan behavior. Who knew stats and strategy could combine in such an awesome way?

Ruggiero’s also been on boards ranging from the Boston Athletic Association to the International Ice Hockey Federation. Plus, she’s a former defenseman who dominated the game for a staggering 15 years. Whether it was with the Boston Blades, Tulsa Oilers, or the Minnesota Whitecaps, Angela made her mark.

Ruggiero’s college days at Harvard were equally impressive. She helped her team snag a national championship in 1999 and even scored the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2004 as the top player in U.S. women’s collegiate hockey. And don’t even get us started on her international play – Angela’s got medals to rival a jewelry store: one gold, two silvers, and one bronze from the Olympics, and an impressive stash of four golds and six silvers from the World Championships.

Remember EA Sports’ “NHL 13”? Well, Ruggiero was one of the trailblazers alongside Hayley Wickenheiser as one of the first playable female hockey players in the video game. She’s been breaking ice ceilings since day one!

Ruggiero steps into the Rangers’ front office as the team continues to shake things up alongside their coaching staff revamp. With new head coach Peter Laviolette and a slew of assistants in Micheal Peca, Dan Muse, and Phil Housley and development coaches like Christian Hmura, the Blueshirts are cooking up something big for the upcoming season. So, gear up, Rangers fans – it’s gonna be a wild ride!