Gagliardi Adding a Fresh Perspective at Prospects Development Camp

MORRISVILLE, NC. -When envisioning the characteristics of who you would want your organization's future to learn from, the Carolina Hurricanes have found someone that checks a few boxes.

An individual that won a championship at the highest level of professional play? Check.

A leader whose talents have allowed them to stand out as one out of several hundred behind the bench? Check.

Add in the fact that they're a Raleigh-grown product too and that's just a bonus.

Welcome back, Alyssa Gagliardi.

"It's a great opportunity for us to see Alyssa on the ice working with our prospects and it's great for our prospects to learn from her," Canes Assistant General Manager Darren Yorke remarked on Monday as Gagliardi was on the ice with the group. "It really helps our prospects understand a different perspective and she's a great fit given everything that she's accomplished in both her playing and coaching career."

Those accomplishments?

A successful five-year playing career in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL), including an Isobel Cup in 2016, as well as being the only woman coaching a men's NCAA ice hockey team this past season, among others.

To put it bluntly, she's more than qualified.

"I think the biggest thing for this week is that I'm not looking at this as I'm a female coach here. I'm another coach that's part of the staff," Gagliardi said confidently. "I think elite athletes are elite athletes, whether male or female."

Speaking on how she hopes to add "value" and "tools to the toolbox" of some players over the next few days, the Canes' special guest coach hopes that this is just another step on her journey in her coaching career.

"I want to make it as normal as possible so hopefully someday there's not all these cameras here making too big of a deal about it," Gagliardi continued. "I've got friends that work in that work in pro hockey already in different aspects and we just happen to be female."

With Jessica Campbell making history this past season as the American Hockey League's first female coach, if you spend a few minutes with Gagliardi, it's not hard to see a position of that capacity potentially in the near future for her.

"She's super knowledgeable. We're lucky to have her here and I'm sure it's a good experience from her," Peter Harrold, Canes Defensemen Development Coach offered. "For the rest of us here, we're trying to learn from her too. Nobody knows it all and it's an opportunity for us to learn as well. We're pumped to have her."

Previously serving as the Canes' first Girls' and Women's Youth and Amateur Hockey Specialist from 2019-22, Gagliardi also operated as a skills development coach for the Maine Mariners of the ECHL this past season, in addition to her role at Neumann University.

"One of the big things for me is that you want to show belief in players. You want to invest in their game to help them get to the next level and that's something I hope I can bring," the Cornell University graduate said. "I just want to be the best coach I can possibly be and getting exposure here is great."

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