New York, NY – August 6, 2015: The Connecticut Whale of the NWHL (National Women’s Hockey League) have hired Jake Mastel as head coach, general manager Harry Rosenholtz announced today. Mastel comes to the Whale after coaching the Mid Fairfield, Connecticut Stars (U-19 and U-12).
While coaching in Connecticut, Mastel has helped to develop Beantown Classic teams and worked with athletes such as Jessica Koizumi, who signed with the Whale last month. Before his time with the Stars, Mastel coached the Assabet Valley girls’ team at the instructional level for U-19 girls.
Mastel grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota where he played for the USHL (United States Hockey League) for the St. Paul Vulcans. Mastel went on to play as a defenseman for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls from 1991 to1994.
While playing for the Falcons, Mastel recorded 58 points (7g, 51a) and served as the team captain in 1993 and 1994 – when they won the NCCA National Championship title. Mastel was named to the All-WIAC first team in 1994 and received Honorable Mention in 1992 and 1993 for All-WIAC and All-NCHA.
“It’s such a rare, unique opportunity to get in on the ground floor of what’s going to be a fantastic opportunity for women to continue hockey after they’ve graduated from college,” said Mastel. “Our goals are to set a precedent and let the team grow from there.
“We’re going to be in our infancy, and we can build going forward.”
