BOSTON, Mass. – Former Harvard Women's Hockey star, Angela Ruggiero '02-04, was one of six New England region athletes honored on Wednesday (Dec. 8) night at The Tradition gala, a fundraising event hosted by the Sports Museum at TD Garden. 
 
Ruggiero received the Hockey Legacy Award at the 20th annual gala, on a night in which fellow honorees included former Red Sox star, David Ortiz and Celtics great, Kevin McHale, amongst others. 
 
"It was a special evening honoring Boston's best," Katey Stone, The Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard Women's Ice Hockey said. "We couldn't be more proud of Angela and all she has accomplished. She is a true sports ambassador and one of Harvard's finest." 
 
Now 41-years-old, Ruggiero earned numerous distinctions and accolades during her time at Harvard, most notably the 2004 Patty Kazmaier Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's hockey. To this day, Ruggiero is the only defender to earn the recognition in the history of the award. 
 
At Harvard, Ruggiero was a four-time First-Team All-America selection and the 2004 ECAC Hockey Player of the Year. In Ruggiero's four seasons, the Crimson reached the National Championship game three times (1999, 2003, 2004), claiming the title in 1999.  
 
A native of Panorama City, Calif., Ruggiero ranks in the top five in Harvard Women's Ice Hockey history in both goals (96) and assists (157).  She is one of just six student-athletes to eclipse 250 career points in program history.  
 
Following her collegiate career, Ruggiero went on to play professionally and was a four-time Olympic medalist for USA Hockey. In her post-hockey years, Ruggiero co-founded Sports Innovation Lab, a technology-based market research firm serving some of the world's leading sports organizations.