Huge NWHL news today for the Toronto Six, as they announce today that Angela James will be the assistant coach on Mark Joslin’s staff for Season 7.
The Hockey Hall of Famer forward/defender from Toronto, Ontario has had an amazing playing career. She played for Seneca College for 3 years. She played 32 games in those 3 years from 1982-83 to 1984-85, where she scored 80 goals and added 48 assists for a total of 128 points. The ranks first in all major offensive categories in the program’s history.
She would then play for Team Canada in the World Championships in 1989-90 and 1990-91, winning gold in both of those tournaments. She would play 10 games, scoring 16 goals and adding 4 assists for 20 points combined in those tournaments.
She would then take her talents to the COWHL, where she would play for 4 different teams. In 1992-93 and 1993-94, she would play for the Toronto Aeros. In those 2 seasons with the Aeros, she would play 51 games for the club, scoring 46 goals and add 58 assists for a total of 104 points. Also, in 1993-94, she would get the call up to play for Team Canada again in the World Championship, where she would play 5 games, adding 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points. Team Canada would go on to win the gold medal in that tournament.
In 1995-96, she would play for the Toronto Red Wings of the COWHL, where she would play 29 games for the team. In those 29 games, she would score 35 goals and add 35 assists for a total of 70 points. Then she would play for the Newtonbrook Panthers, where she would play 28 games for the club, tallying 29 goals and adding 29 assists for 58 points on the year. Also in 1996-97, she would once again play for Team Canada in the World Championships, where she would play 5 games, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. Team Canada would once again go on to win the gold medal that year.
Her last season in the COWHL, she would play 9 games for the North York Aeros. In those 9 games, she would score 6 goals and add 3 assists for 9 points on the year.
She would then play her last 2 seasons in 1998-99 and 1999-00 in the NWHL-CA. She would play for the Beatrice Aeros. In those 2 seasons, she would play 58 games, tallying 58 goals and adding another 41 assists for a total of 99 points.
Her combined stats in her 14 year playing career, (College, World Championships, COWHL, NWHL-CA,) she has played a grand total of 227 games. In those games, she has scored 276 goals and added another 226 assists for a whopping grand total of 502 points.
Check out her amazing eliteprospects.com page here:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/441479/angela-james
Having a player of her caliber behind the bench, imparting her wisdom to the current Toronto Six players is invaluable.
You can check out the full press release here:
TORONTO SIX APPOINT ANGELA JAMES AS ASSISTANT COACH
by Justin Levine
Toronto, ON- The Toronto Six have named Canadian womenâs hockey icon Angela James the teamâs new assistant coach and second in franchise history. The Hockey Hall of Famer succeeds the position of Lisa Haley, who held the position during Season 6 before she was named NWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations in April.
âAngela James is an all time great in the hockey world and we are excited to have her working with us at the 6IX,â said Digit Murphy, President of the Toronto Six. âAs an ambassador of the game and Hall of Famer, the perspective and hockey knowledge that she brings to our team is amazing. Her presence in the Toronto 6IX will shed even more light and amplify our message of empowerment inclusion and education both on and off the ice!â
Widely considered the first superstar in womenâs hockey, James became the first Canadian woman to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame back in 2010. Sheâs also a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame, and in February, was awarded the Order of Hockey in Canada. Even with an already illustrious career in the game, James says sheâs honoured to have the chance to join the Six.
âIt means a lot to me to have an opportunity to coach the girls and be a part of the progression and advancement of the womenâs game to pro status and beyond,” she said. “I grew up playing elite hockey after college and all women should have that same opportunity. Hockey is Hockey. We have a talented team, great coaches and a great administration. I look forward to working with everyone and being apart of the Toronto Six and more especially, winning.â
A womenâs hockey trailblazer, James remains the only Black player to be named as captain of Canadaâs National Womenâs Team. On the national stage, she was a four-time gold medal winner at the IIHF Womenâs World Championship, including the very first event in 1990 where she set a tournament record for goals scored with 11. In addition to her 50 games for Team Canada, James played in the Central Ontario Women’s Hockey League over an 18-year period, where she was named MVP six times and led the COWHL in scoring eight times. She then played two seasons in the newly formed National Womenâs Hockey League and earned MVP honours in her first year, followed by an NWHL championship her second season with the Beatrice Aeros before retiring from competitive hockey.
James was a star multi-sport student athlete at Seneca College, excelling in womenâs fastball in addition to hockey. She was named womenâs hockey MVP across the OCAA all three years she played and was a member of two championship-winning teams. Soon after graduation, she began a 34-year career working in the Department of Athletics and Recreation, most recently fulfilling the position of Senior Sport Coordinator.
Expanding her winning portfolio beyond the ice, James coached a variety of levels, with highlights including a gold medal as assistant with Team Ontario at the 1999 Canada Winter Games and leading them to gold at the 2001 U18 National Championship.
Her appointment follows the monumental hiring of Mark Joslin, who is the first Black head coach in NWHL history. Dedicated to the mission of bettering the future of womenâs hockey, Torontoâs bench boss said the fit just made sense.
âI am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Angela and have her by my side as Assistant Coach of the Toronto Six,â he said. âWe began our friendship over 30 years ago both playing Varsity Hockey and taking the same academic courses at Seneca College, so it was a simple decision for me to ask her to come on board.
Angelaâs success, experience and knowledge in the world of womenâs pro hockey speaks for itself. The NWHL, the Toronto Six franchise and I are extremely fortunate to have Angela be a part of the future of womenâs pro hockey.â
RMU Petition:
It was announced, that the funding for the Division 1 Men’s and Women’s hockey programs of Robert Morris University was cut. Here is the statement from RMU:
If you have the time, please consider signing the petition to help save RMU’s hockey programs, link provided:
Bring Back the RMU Hockey Programs Change.org Petition
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-rmu-hockey
TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings and news are announced.
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