skip navigation

D2 Sportswoman of the Year


#37 -- Therese Cox, COLUMBIA

.

If you were to look up “enthusiastic” in any English-language dictionary, there would be a picture of Therese Cox grinning from ear to ear, holding a hockey stick, and probably wearing an “OH MY SAAD” t-shirt. Her infectious passion for the sport of hockey is second to none despite—or perhaps because—she began playing at age 37, a number she displays proudly on the back of her jersey. Therese’s determination to improve every day is truly admirable, but it is her attitude that is most impressive—she gives her all on every shift, and when not on the ice, she’ll unfailingly divvy out much-needed encouragement to her teammates.

Therese is a diehard member of Blackhawks nation, and even though she currently resides in Brooklyn, she hasn’t lost an iota of her Midwestern charm. She also plays accordion in a band, because she’s just that awesome. 


#51 -- Laura Gedrimas, ROWAN


#5 -- Nikole Gregoris, IUP

Nikole has been an essential part to our offense. Scoring 16 goals this season, she was an asset to our top line. She average 2.77 point per game and had 12 assists. Not only did Nikole lead our team in terms of goals, she has excellent leadership qualities. In her second season as an alternate captain, Nikole showed sportsmanship on and off the ice. She is constantly assisting the team in anything and everything that may need to be done. She was always the first to volunteer to do things for our team. Nikole even stepped up and played goalie for us during a game when we needed her. Players like Nikole are excellent examples of good leadership and sportsmanship. 


#18 -- Kieran Koch-Laskowski, UPENN

A local bred player, Kieran has been a constant on the University of Pennsylvania’s team for the past two seasons. Also ready to hit the ice when practice begins, always at the rink before anyone else on the team. And always is the first person to help out someone else. Kieran will willingly give up her playing time for a novice player. Kieran who played on our top line for the entire season, always was willing to sit a shift for a less experienced player. Kieran is also ready to help out the other team when one would fall down and seem to be injured. Always seeing if they were okay before skating to the bench. The most forgotten skater on the ice, are the referees; and Kieran would be the first one to skate over to them and shake their hands, “good game refs, thanks.” Kieran Koch-Laskowski is very deserving for the Sportsmanship Award.


#68 -- Tiffany Melillo, PHOENIX

At the start of the season, I did not know much about Tiffany. She joined us late in the season, about half way through. I knew she could play, that’s obvious. I saw her in practice and it was lights out. Previously, I met her at our holiday party for the team and she was very quiet and polite.
     In game, however, a switch goes on and she becomes engaged in hockey mode. I have never seen such a transformation: Off­ice this quiet and calm woman becomes a super energized and engaged player. She raises her voice and makes her opinions known.
    This does not sound like a sportsman of the year I’ll admit. However, in the first period of the first game, she turned to me and asked if I had a white board (I did). She grabbed it and started showing one of our developmental players where to be on the ice during a faceoff. As she was getting on the ice, she was still talking. After the next shift, she did the same. This continued through the year. Tiffany is basically another coach. 
    Again, is the a Sportswoman? On our team, we have really good players and some just starting players. It is critical that our experienced players  put aside their own statistics and chances of winning to serve as mentors. It is a tough buy in. In fact, without Tiffany it would have been much more difficult. She demonstrated by example that if a person takes the time to mentor, the rewards pay off in the end. By her stats, you can tell that she can score. However, it is by her actions that you can tell she embodies all that we want as coaches.
    By having her, we had a coach that was a player. She got the other experienced players to truly become mentors. She taught others how to teach and even had a few lessons in grit. I wasn’t there, but many players talk about her impact during players only meetings. If self­sacrifice and being a role model is what we mean by sportswoman, truly Tiffany is a shining star. 
Tiffany writes: “I started playing roller hockey when I was 6 after a year of convincing my parents.  I saw how much fun the kids in my neighborhood (Morris Park, The Bronx) had playing in the Morris Park Roller Hockey League and knew that it was something I wanted to do! I immediately fell in love with the game and since then have traded in my pink Barbie roller blades for some nice Reebok Pumps 7Ks. I started playing ice hockey when I was 12 with the Mt. Vernon Hockey Club in Mt. Vernon, NY.
We went from losing every game in my first season with them to winning the championship in the next! The team folded because we lost our funding from the City of Mt. Vernon, so I joined the Rye Mariners Bantams team.  The next season I decided to join a girls team, the Westchester Ice Cats and stayed with them until they folded in 2010.   I participated in the Empire State Games representing New York City in 2010 and found out about the  Quarry Cats in Montclair, NJ from one of my teammates. I stayed with the Quarry Cats until I aged out and finally joined the North Jersey Phoenix! I’m a huge Ranger fan and ran into Henrik Lundqvist while walking on the Upper West Side.  I was co­captain of my volleyball team in high school and a Level 2 USA Hockey referee.  I’m currently a junior at Fordham University studying public accounting.” 

 


#19 -- Nicole Roberts, AU

Nicole's good humor & dedication to her team served as glue that held us together this season.  She was always there for anyone and everyone this year, offering mature support while still keeping things fun.  Against opponents she was just as gracious.  She's recorded ONE penalty in 2 YEARS of playing for AU.  When she was hurt this season, she still came to support her team, even at practices.  Nicole's strong & open energy has brought us closer together & helped new players to feel supported / grow stronger.  She's also fought through injury to continue to play for AU.  We're really proud of her & grateful to have her as a teammate.


#41 -- Liana Taylor, SJU

Liana has a work ethic that would make Rocky tremble.  This amazing young athlete joined the hockey program having never played ice hockey and quickly became a force to be reckoned with.  Along with that, I could always count on her to get the team pumped up when games got close and times got hard.  She took every bit of advice I, or any of the other coaches could give, and took it to the next level every time.  Accomplishing all this while playing other sports as well as being a full time student is absolutely incredible, and something I could never manage. Thank you Li, it has truly been a pleasure.