"We are excited to provide Laura an opportunity to gain experience from our NHL and AHL coaching staffs and help her take the next step in her career," said MacLellan. "We feel her playing experience and coaching abilities will greatly benefit our young players in the organization."
Schuler will work closely with the Capitals coaching staff during Development Camp and will join and assist the organization's coaching staff in Washington and Hershey periodically during the 2022-23 season.
Schuler is entering her second season as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs after her triumphant return to UMD resulted in an NCAA championship title game appearance in 2021-22. Schuler is a member of the NHL Coaches' Association's Female Coaches Development Program, which is committed to supporting the development of women in hockey.
"Laura Schuler has been a member of the program since its inception," said Lindsay Artkin, President of the NHL Coaches' Association. "Laura's commitment to the sport, developing players, and supporting her fellow colleagues in the program are unparalleled. We're incredibly proud for her to get this opportunity to shadow the Capitals' coaching staff through the 2022-23 season. Coach Peter Laviolette has been a tremendous supporter of our Association and I know the opportunities afforded to Coach Schuler through this mentorship program will ultimately help prepare her for a role in the NHL."
Schuler, who has been a part of four NCAA Tournament teams with the Bulldogs, including three NCAA Frozen Fours and an NCAA championship in 2010, joined UMD after she was an advisor to the Quinnipiac University women's hockey coaching staff during the 2020-21 season. Schuler brought with her an extensive resume of coaching and playing experience with Hockey Canada, as well as a college coaching career that had spanned over two decades.
As a player, Schuler competed for Hockey Canada after her collegiate career at Northeastern. She won three gold medals at the World Championships in 1990, 1992 and 1997, two gold medals at the Pacific Rim Championships in 1995 and 1996 and two gold and a silver at the Three Nations Cup in 1996, 1997 and 1999. She was also a member of the 1998 Canadian Olympic team and won a silver medal at the Winter Games.
She began her coaching career in 2001 as the head coach of UMass Boston and later at her alma mater of Northeastern from 2004-2008. Schuler became an assistant coach for the Bulldogs in 2008 and, over seven seasons, helped lead UMD to three NCAA Tournament berths, as well as an NCAA title in 2010. She then spent three seasons at the helm of Dartmouth College (2016-2020), with a one-year sabbatical during her tenure to guide the Canadian national team in the 2018 Olympics.
Schuler was named the head coach of the Canadian National Women's Hockey team during the 2015-16 season and again for the 2016-17 season. She would later lead the national women's team to the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Schuler and Team Canada went on to face the United States in the gold medal game; the U.S. would capture the gold medal in a thrilling 3-2 shootout win, and Canada took home the silver medal.
The Scarborough, Ontario native was also a Development Camp coach for Hockey Canada for five years (2008-13), an assistant with the National Women's Team (2010-11), head coach of the U22 National Women's Team (2011-12), assistant of the U18 National Team (2012-13) and head coach of the U18 National Team (2013-14).
