Molly Engstrom, born on March 1, 1983, in Siren, Wisconsin, is an accomplished American ice hockey player with Swedish descent. She has left an indelible mark on the sport through her achievements as a player and her contributions as a coach.
Early Life and Education
In high school, she participated in track and field and golf. A 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Engstrom played collegiate hockey in the WCHA with the Badgers. She received First Team All-American honors while at Wisconsin and was also named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. She was selected as a Patty Kazmaier Award top 10 finalist in 2005. Engstrom went on to receive a Masters of Sports Administration from the Russian International Olympic University in 2014.
Olympic Achievements
As a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team, she has achieved significant success on the international stage:
- Bronze medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
- Silver medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Engstrom earned the 'Best Defenseman' award at the 2010 Winter Games.
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships
Engstrom was a member of Team USA at six IIHF Women's World Championships from 2004-2011 and helped Team USA win IIHF World Championships in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2011, along with silver medals in 2004 and 2007.
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Her contributions to the national team also include participation in the Women's Under-22 Select Team in 2003 and 2004.
Episode 70: Molly Engstrom - Head Coach of the Maine Women’s Ice Hockey Team
Professional Career
In addition to her Olympic and international achievements, Engstrom has had a notable professional career:
- March 23, 2008: Engstrom was part of the Brampton Thunder team that won the first Championship of the CWHL. Her teammates included Carla McLeod, Colleen Sostorics, Chanda Gunn.
- Engstrom played and coached in the Swedish Women's Professional Hockey League (SDHL) from 2016-2018, and helped her team Djurgarden IF win the SDHL championship in 2017.
- In addition to her professional playing and coaching experience in Sweden, Engstrom played professional hockey with teams in Minneapolis, Toronto and Boston in the CWHL and NWHL from 2007 to 2013.
Coaching Career
Engstrom has transitioned into coaching roles, sharing her expertise and passion for the game:
- In her senior year at Wisconsin, Engstrom served as one of two undergraduate assistant coaches. The other coach was future Olympian Carla MacLeod. Engstrom and Macleod assisted coach Mark Johnson with analysis of game footage.
- She served as the girls varsity hockey head coach and assistant athletic director at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H. from 2014-2016.
- Two-time Team USA Olympic defenseman Molly Engstrom was named an assistant women's hockey coach for St. Cloud State University on July 17, 2017. Engstrom, a native of Siren, Wis., spent the 2018-2022 seasons as the assistant coach at St. Cloud University.
- ORONO, Maine - Molly Engstrom has been named the seventh head coach of women's ice hockey at the University of Maine.
Molly Engstrom Award
The Molly Engstrom Award was introduced in 2011. The criteria for the award are for the "Overall Defensive Player of the Year". The award is presented by Wisconsin Prep Hockey to a female ice hockey player from Wisconsin prep school and coaches are asked to nominate a player from their respective team.
Josie Johnson earns Player of the Year award". March 6, 2011.
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Career Statistics Summary
The following table summarizes Molly Engstrom's achievements:
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Olympic Games | Bronze Medal (2006), Silver Medal (2010) |
| IIHF World Championships | Gold (2005, 2008, 2009), Silver (2004, 2007) |
| CWHL Championship | Winner (2008) with Brampton Thunder |
| SDHL Championship | Winner (2017) with Djurgarden IF |
| WCHA Awards | Defensive Player of the Year (2004, 2005), First Team All-American |
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