| It is with great pride and excitement that NewEdge Hockey Development Academy announces it Girls Development Division. While in its beginning stages, the long term plans for this division are very exciting! Cassy Opela and Melanie Ames both Directors of Player Development and new Board of Director members with NewEdge Hockey Development Academy will head up this exciting new division. |
| Cassy Opela Director of Player Development NEHDA Girls Division Cassy is a Rochester, NY native who grew up playing for the Rochester EDGE Girls Hockey Organization. While with the EDGE, Cassy won 3 New York State Championships. During her senior year, Cassy played for the Boston Shamrocks in the JWHL. While there Cassy was recruited by the University of Connecticut where she spent 4 years playing NCAA Division 1 Hockey. The following summer after graduating from UConn, the Boston Blades in the CWHL drafted her 11th overall in the 2016 draft. After a season with Boston, Cassy moved back home to the Rochester area. She volunteers as a coach with the Rochester EDGE Organization and works as a videographer for Women’s Hockey Life and the AHL’s Rochester Americans. |
| Melanie Ames Director of Player Development NEHDA Girls Division Melanie is Rochester, NY native who started her hockey career playing for Webster Youth Hockey and then went on to play with the Rochester EDGE Girls Hockey Organization for 4 years. While with the EDGE, Melanie won a New York State Championship at the U16 AAA Tier 1 level. Ames spent her final year of minor hockey playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. Melanie played college hockey for Plattsburgh State University from 2013-2017 where she had the distinction of winning 4 consecutive National Championships and 4 ECAC West Titles. Upon completing her college career, Mel played professionally in Germany for two years with Germany’s top league, Ice Hockey Bundesliga, playing for the Hannover Scorpions in northern Germany. Melanie is currently working on completing her Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business. |
| FROM THE OWNERS The energy and experience Cassy and Melanie bring to NEHDA is not only exciting, the timing could not be any better. With our 2 new on-site Strength Training Centers, Classroom Education Services, and Goalie School in development and construction, the Girls Division will truly round out our “Complete Player” Project. We welcome Cassy and Melanie to our growing team of professionals. Rob Sedia / Dave Garofalo / Jon Christiano |
