CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard women’s hockey team 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 return to the Crimsons after a stint as head coach of Yale’s women’s hockey program. With over 20 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, Flygh now returns to Harvard to begin his second stint with the program.

“I am very excited to help Coach Bellamy, Coach Roth and the entire staff in any way possible to provide our student-athletes with the world-class experience that is Harvard Hockey,” said Flygh.

Prior to Yale, Flygh worked with the Crimsons from 2007-2010, helping 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 part of Harvard’s perfect 22-0-0 ECAC Hockey regular season record in 2007-08, the same year the Crimsons advanced to the NCAA’s Frozen Four. During his time at Cambridge, Flygh also helped recruit the program’s current head coach, Laura Bellamy.

“We are very fortunate to add UK’s experience to our coaching staff,” said Bellamy, the Landry family head coach for the Harvard University women’s ice hockey team. “He has proven himself to be a talented scout and exceptional coach both at the Ivy League and national levels. Having coached internationally, UK will have an immediate impact as we continue to build a high-performance environment in our program and work toward returning to the national level in women’s ice hockey.”

Flygh will take over the position of the current assistant, Venla Hoviwho will take a longer leave of absence.

“Our players, coaches and staff are extremely excited for Venla and wish her the best as she takes maternity leave to support her growing family,” Bellamy said. “Her leadership, creativity and demeanor have been invaluable to our group and we look forward to welcoming her back for the second semester.”

A veteran women’s college hockey coach, Flygh also spent time in Minnesota before his time at Cambridge, where he coached the University of Minnesota-Duluth women’s hockey team for three seasons from 2004 to 2007. Flygh, a 2000 graduate of New England College, began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2002 after playing professional hockey for one season in Sweden. Flygh was a member and standout defenseman on the New England College men’s hockey team for four years.

His coaching experience also extends beyond college hockey, as Flygh has spent time working with the Swedish women’s national ice hockey team at the 2012 and 2013 IIHF World Championships and the 2013 Four Nations Cup.

Flygh, or “UK,” currently lives in Massachusetts with his wife Angie and their two children. Angie Francisco Flygh was a member of the Harvard women’s hockey team at the 1999 national championships and graduated from Harvard in 2001. Francisco Flygh scored three goals in the title game to help the Crimsons win the Cup.

The Crimsons are just two months away from the start of the 2024-25 season. To stay up to date on all things Harvard women’s hockey, follow the program on X, Instagram (@HarvardWHockey) and at GoCrimson.com.