Anne Blair, a part-time assistant the past three seasons, was named the Purple Knights' first full-time assistant women's ice hockey coach in August 2005. She assists head coach Chris Donovan with all facets of the program.

“Increasing Anne’s responsibilities within the women’s ice hockey program is an extremely positive step,” said Donovan, the only head coach the program has ever known who will be entering his sixth season in 2005-06. “I’m excited that Anne has this opportunity to continue to display her commitment and dedication to these young women.”

Blair, who has also served as the secretary and treasurer of the American Women's Hockey Coaches Associaiton since September 2004, has assisted Donovan with the women’s ice hockey program on a part-time basis for the past three seasons, the three winningest seasons in program history. Among her many roles with the team, Blair has developed and implemented successful dry-land and on-ice practices, organized and facilitated team meetings and team-building activities, and assisted in recruiting. She also was an assistant with the Saint Michael’s women’s lacrosse program in 2003 and 2004, helping the 2004 squad win a program record nine games.

Blair, who currently works as a retail assistant at the Alpine Shop in South Burlington, is a 1997 graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., where she received her bachelor of arts in economics. She was a captain of the women’s lacrosse team, and finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in assists and second in points (currently third and sixth, respectively). Blair also captained the women’s ice hockey club team at Wheaton, while also serving as the club’s treasurer.

Blair spent the summers of 2003 and 2004 working at both the Saint Michael's lacrosse camp, and the Breakaway Hockey Camp for Girls, She has served as a retail assistant at the Alpine Shop in South Burlington since November 2002, and as an independent event manager for the past eight years.

Click here to email Coach Blair.