CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's hockey will have a familiar face behind the bench for the upcoming 2024-25 season, as Joakim Flygh will join the program as an assistant coach. A native of Sweden, Flygh will rejoin the Crimson after a stint as the head coach of Yale's women's ice hockey program. With over 20 years of coaching experience at the college level, Flygh now returns to Harvard to begin his second stint with the program.  
 
"I am thrilled to assist Coach Bellamy, Coach Roth, and the entire staff in any way I can to help give our student-athletes the world class experience that is Harvard Hockey," said Flygh.
 
Prior to his time at Yale, Flygh worked with the Crimson from 2007-2010, helping guide the team to a 71-20-8 overall record, two NCAA tournament appearances, two ECAC Hockey regular season championships, two Beanpot tournament championships and one ECAC Hockey tournament championship. He was a part of Harvard's perfect 22-0-0 ECAC Hockey regular season in 2007-08, the same year the Crimson advanced to the NCAA's Frozen Four. While in Cambridge, Flygh also helped recruit the program's current head coach, Laura Bellamy.
 
"We feel extremely fortunate to be adding UK's experience to our coaching staff," said Bellamy, The Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard Women's Ice Hockey. "He has proven to be a talented recruiter and exceptional coach, both in the Ivy League and on a national level. Having coached internationally, UK will have an immediate impact as we continue to build a high-performance environment in our program and work to return to the national picture in women's ice hockey."
 
Flygh will step in for current assistant, Venla Hovi, who will be taking an extended leave of absence.
 
"Our players, coaches, and staff share great excitement for Venla and wish her the very best as she goes on maternity leave to support her growing family," said Bellamy. "Her leadership, creativity, and poise have been invaluable assets to our group and we look forward to welcoming her back in the second semester."
 
An experienced women's college hockey coach, Flygh also spent time in Minnesota prior to his time in Cambridge, coaching the University of Minnesota-Duluth women's ice hockey team for three seasons from 2004-2007. A 2000 graduate of New England College, Flygh began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2002 after playing a season of professional hockey in Sweden. Flygh was a four-year member and standout defenseman on the men's ice hockey team at New England College.
 
His coaching experience extends past college hockey as well, as Flygh spent time working with the Swedish Women's National Hockey program in the 2012 and 2013 IIHF World Championships and the 2013 Four Nations Cup.
 
Flygh or "UK", currently resides in Massachusetts with his wife Angie and their two children. Angie Francisco Flygh was a member of the Harvard women's hockey 1999 National Championships squad and a 2001 graduate of Harvard. Francisco Flygh scored three goals in the title game to help the Crimson lift the trophy.
 
The Crimson are now just two months away from beginning its 2024-25 season. To stay up to date on all things Harvard women's ice hockey, follow the program on X, Instagram (@HarvardWHockey) and on GoCrimson.com.