Riveters Hire Rebecca Ruegsegger Baker As Goaltending Coach

The New York Riveters announced on Monday that they hired Rebecca Ruegsegger Baker as the goaltending coach for the team.

Riveters General Manager Chad Wiseman said, “Rebecca’s past playing and recent coaching at St. Cloud, along with a great attitude and true passion for the game makes her a perfect fit for the Riveters organization.”

During the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 World Championship in Calgary, Alberta she helped USA Hockey capture the gold. Following the championship, she went on to the University of Wisconsin, where she led the Badgers to a National Collegiate Athletic Association National Title in 2011.

The past two seasons, Ruegsegger Baker served as a member of the St. Cloud University coaching staff, as well as being a consultant with the South Korean National Hockey Team.

Ruegsegger Baker said, “I am excited and honored to work with the Riveters and give these women opportunities to play after college and continue to develop as goaltenders and people.”

The hiring of Ruegsegger Baker, puts the situation with last season’s goaltending coach, Jonathan DeCastro, in limbo. It would appear though that Ruegsegger Baker will be the only goalie coach for the organization in 2016-2017.

DeCastro had been a key part to the success of the Riveters goalies in the inaugural season. After both netminders, Shenae Lundberg and Nana Fujimoto went down to injury, tested the goaltending depth for New York last season.

Before Lundberg was traded, she told Blueshirt Banter, “Coach Jon is a great coach with an impeccable eye for detail. He is always available to do extra work, which I have been lucky enough to take advantage of.”

Ruegsegger Baker works with her husband at Premiere Goaltender Development as well as at OS Training, specifically focusing on the development of female athletes. She played two seasons for the Badgers putting up solid numbers in net, before injuries cut short her career.

While not yet 26-years-old, she still can lend enough experience both as a goalie coach and in developing female athletes.

The Riveters have only signed one goaltender, Jamie Leonoff, for the 2016-2017 National Women’s Hockey League season, but expects to sign a second one, as well as adding a third for the practice squad before July 31^st.

With Wiseman and assistant coach, Sis Paulsen already working behind the bench for the upcoming season, the addition of Ruegsegger Baker completes the coaching staff. With only two positions left to fill, New York can then put together the practice squad to finish the puzzle that will help them raise the Isobel Cup.