(Photo Credit: Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael

When Danielle Marmer, a Dorset, Vermont native who grew up watching the Boston Bruins, left her playing career on the ice, she knew her love for hockey and the Black n’ Gold wouldn’t be far behind.

“My introduction with the Bruins, with their scouting department, was through their Diversity and Inclusion Scouting Mentorship Program, which was a mentorship program for people in an underserved community in the hockey world to connect with a mentor who works for the Boston Bruins,” she shared in a recent interview with WBUR in Boston.

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Now, her view is front-and-center (and at times up close and personal) with B’s players, prospects, and coaches as the first ever female Player Development and Scouting Assistant in team history — a position she’s not only earned but was well-equipped for, thanks to her mentorship program.

“Yeah, it’s an incredible honor to be a part of the Bruins organization,” she noted. “And, you know, I’ve said this since I’ve gotten this job ā€” that it’s an honor, regardless of gender. But I do recognize that there’s an impact, and it opens doors for young girls in hockey and women in hockey. And so I’m obviously very excited to take that role.”

A role that a whole new group of mentees will have a shot at — be it a wrister, slapper, or one-timer — when they participate in the 2022-23 Boston Bruins Diversity & Inclusion Scouting Mentorship Program.

According to the official NHL.com/Bruins website, this is the program’s second year, which was originally launched in September of 2021. It aims to provide insider access, hands-on coaching, and networking opportunities to each participant, just like Marmer, who made the most of it to land her dream job with the Spoked-B.

“It’s a little bit of instinct… There are qualities in hockey players that I value, you know, at a certain level… Skating, hockey IQ, work ethic ā€” those are a couple things that are really important for me,” she opened up on. “And then there are the other skills that are sort of what complement them as a hockey player. I try to let those strengths come out to me.”

This year’s program will run from October 2022 until May 2023. It will feature group workshops, film breakdowns, and monthly virtual study sessions, as well as a one-to-one mentorship pairing with a member of the Bruins Hockey Operations department.

Here are the eight highly-skilled and meritorious participants who hope to follow in Marmer’s footsteps… or better yet… skillful skates:

  • Kirsti Anderson Hussey – University of Maine assistant women’s hockey coach and former NWHL player
  • Laura Brennan – Director of Fairfield Ice Academy and goaltending coach for the Connecticut Whale of the PHF
  • Stefan Ceccherini – Melrose Youth Hockey assistant coach and Lasell University senior majoring in Sports Management
  • Emmalee Forristall – Stonehill College women’s club hockey captain and graduate student in Sports Administration at BC
  • Alyssa Gagliardi – Boston Blades (CWHL) and Boston Pride (NWHL) alum and former youth hockey developer for the Carolina Hurricanes franchise
  • Alex Hancock – Amateur Scout for the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) and recipient of the Bill Hay Future Leaders Internship Program
  • Nathan McCarnan – Philadelphia, PA youth hockey player, and apprentice
  • Anant Sidhu – La Ronge Ice Wolves (SJHL) scout and sports advisory board member

For more information on the Boston Bruins Diversity and Inclusion Scouting Mentorship Program, visit the link above and check back in with the Black N’ Gold Hockey Blog for the latest team news and views.