BROOKLYN, NY,– The National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) today announced the members of its Player Safety Committee for the 2017-18 season.
Kelly Cooke, a certified hockey official who was a member of the Isobel Cup champion Boston Pride in the league’s first season, will serve as the director of the committee. The other members are two-time U.S. Olympian AJ Mleczko Griswold; 2014 U.S. Olympian Josephine Pucci, ECHL VP of Hockey Operations Joe Ernst; and Bobby Jay, the former head coach of the Pride.
“We’re proud of this committee and grateful to Kelly for her leadership, and AJ, Josephine, Joe and Bobby for their dedication to the NWHL and player safety,” said Deputy Commissioner Hayley Moore. “We are privileged to have a team made up of people with vast knowledge of the game and a passion for women’s hockey.”
The Player Safety Committee is tasked with reviewing plays for potential supplemental discipline. The committee has the ability to suspend players and issue warnings.
“I really believe in the NWHL and always want to give back to the game, so I’m happy to utilize my experience as an official to lead the player safety committee,” said Cooke. “My fellow members bring very different viewpoints, which makes for a strong team.”
Player safety videos will be available on the NWHL website after decisions have been rendered by the committee.
