Meghan Duggan (born September 3, 1987) is an American former ice hockey forward and director of player development for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. She played for the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2014 Winter Olympics, winning two silver medals; she was the captain of the U.S. team at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where she won a gold medal. She also represented the United States at eight Women's World Championships, capturing seven gold medals and one silver medal. Duggan played collegiate hockey with the Wisconsin Badgers between 2006 and 2011. After her senior season (2010–11), Duggan was named the winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award, presented annually to the top women's ice hockey player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). After her career at Wisconsin, Duggan was the team's all-time leading scorer. She was drafted 8th overall by the Boston Blades in the 2011 CWHL Draft.[1]

Meghan Duggan
Meghan Duggan at the IIHF World Women Championship 2011
Born (1987-09-03) September 3, 1987 (age 36)
Danvers, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Right
PWHPA team
Former teams
PWHPA
National team  United States
Playing career 2006–2020
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Pyeongchang Team
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver Team
Silver medal – second place 2014 Sochi Team
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2007 Canada
Gold medal – first place 2008 China
Gold medal – first place 2009 Finland
Gold medal – first place 2011 Switzerland
Gold medal – first place 2013 Canada
Gold medal – first place 2015 Sweden
Gold medal – first place 2016 Canada
Gold medal – first place 2017 United States

Duggan announced her retirement from professional hockey on October 13, 2020 at age 33.[2]

Early life edit

Duggan was born on September 3, 1987, in Danvers, Massachusetts. Growing up, she played ice hockey, soccer, softball, and lacrosse, but hockey was always her "number one sport".[3] She began skating in the Danvers Youth Hockey program, and admired United States women's national ice hockey team player Gretchen Ulion.[4] Her older brother Brian also played hockey, and Duggan often played in boys' leagues, which was the "only option" at the time.[5]

Duggan attended high school at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, where she played on the school's girls' hockey team in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC).[6] Her roommate was Erika Lawler, who would later become her college and Olympic teammate.[7][8] While attending Cushing, Duggan met Olympian Julie Chu and other members of the USA women's national team at an informal skate in Boston.[9] Duggan was also a three-time honoree of the Bette Davis award, given by Cushing to the best female athlete in her class.[10]

Playing career edit

Wisconsin Badgers edit

On December 6, 2005, the University of Wisconsin announced that Duggan was one of four student-athletes who signed a National Letter of Intent, committing to joining the Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey program beginning in the 2006–07 season. The other three were Alannah McCready, Emily Kranz, and Kyla Sanders.[7]

Her freshman season with the Badgers was in 2006–07. She ranked second on the team with 52 points, as she led freshmen in scoring, while scoring 26 goals. During the season, she scored three game-winning goals and recorded 16 multi-point games. In the NCAA, her 52 points were good enough for third in the nation in rookie scoring. Duggan earned three consecutive WCHA Rookie of the Week honors, becoming the first Badger to ever win a conference award in three straight weeks.[11] In addition, she accumulated five WCHA weekly honors overall, the most by a Badgers player in a single season.

On January 22, 2011, Duggan assisted on the Badgers’ second goal of the game, against the defending national champions, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, and extended her point streak to 22 games, the longest individual point streak in Wisconsin women's hockey history.[12]

Duggan finished the season as the WCHA scoring champion by accumulating 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 28 games.[13] On March 12, 2011, she scored the game-winning goal (it was her sixth game-winning goal of the season) in the NCAA regional playoff, as Wisconsin defeated Minnesota-Duluth by a 2–1 mark.[14]

 
Meghan Duggan playing for Team USA in 2017

Professional career edit

Duggan played six seasons of professional hockey, including four with the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (2011–15), who won the Clarkson Cup in 2013 and 2015.[2] In 2015 she moved to the newly formed National Women's Hockey League played one season with the Buffalo Beauts.[2] In December 2015, it was announced that Duggan had signed a personal services agreement with Dunkin Donuts as part of the company's sponsorship deal of the NWHL.[15] She played her final pro season with the Boston Pride for the 2016–17 season.[2]

International play edit

Duggan's first International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) tournament with the American senior women's team was the 2007 IIHF Women's World Championship held in Manitoba, Canada. Duggan recorded a single assist for the Americans at the tournament, as they took home the silver medal.[16] At the 2009 tournament, the American team captured its second straight gold medal by defeating Canada in the final.[16] Duggan scored two goals in the tournament, finishing tenth on the American team in scoring.[17]

Duggan was chosen to the 2010 US Olympic team.[18] At the Olympics, Duggan played mainly with Gigi Marvin and Natalie Darwitz. She finished the tournament with four goals, as the American team captured the silver medal.[16] At the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championship, Meghan Duggan was among the tournament's top five scorers. Duggan was fifth with seven points (four goals, three assists).[19]

Duggan captained the Team USA women's hockey team in the 2014 Olympics, once again losing to Canada.[2] On March 15, 2017, players for the U.S. women's ice hockey team, led by Duggan, announced that they would boycott the 2017 World Championship over inequitable support and conditions for women's ice hockey unless concessions were made by USA Hockey.[20] On March 28 USA Hockey agreed to the players demands and Duggan led Team USA to a gold medal win at the tournament.[2] They would finally win Olympic gold at the 2018 Olympics, defeating Canada in a shootout, with Duggan again serving as captain. [2]

Duggan announced her retirement from professional hockey on October 13, 2020 at age 33.[2]

Administrative career edit

On May 19, 2021, the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that Duggan had been appointed manager of player development, a new role within the franchise's hockey operations department.[21] On May 31, 2022, she was promoted to director of player development.[22]

Awards and honors edit

Coaching edit

Duggan began coaching for Clarkson University's women's ice hockey team in September 2014 while she played for the American national hockey team and the Boston Blades.[25]

Personal life edit

 
Duggan (right) waves to crowd after being introduced at a Wisconsin Badgers football game

On April 19, 2010, Duggan threw the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game before a sellout Patriots' Day crowd of 37,609[32] with former teammates. On April 25, 2014, Duggan was honored to throw the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game for a second time with her Team USA 2014 US Olympic teammates.[33]

On September 22, 2018, she married Canadian women's hockey player Gillian Apps, whom she had played against at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.[34] They had their first child together, a boy named George, in February 2020.[35] Their second child, a daughter named Olivia, was born in October 2021.[36] Their third child, daughter Sophie, was born on December 31, 2023.[37]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 University of Wisconsin WCHA 39 26 26 52 34
2007–08 University of Wisconsin WCHA 38 20 23 43 38
2008–09 University of Wisconsin WCHA 41 23 33 56 44
2010–11 University of Wisconsin WCHA 41 39 48 87 30
2011–12 Boston Blades CWHL 4 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Boston Blades CWHL 14 5 8 13 24 4 0 2 2 4
2013–14 Boston Blades CWHL 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Boston Blades CWHL 7 1 5 6 12
2015–16 Buffalo Beauts NWHL 13 6 10 16 14 2 0 1 1 4
2016–17 Boston Pride NWHL 17 13 7 20 24 2 0 1 1 0
CWHL totals 26 6 13 19 36 4 0 2 2 4
NWHL totals 30 19 17 36 38 4 0 2 2 4

International edit

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2007 United States WWC   5 0 1 1 4
2008 United States WWC   5 4 1 5 2
2009 United States WWC   5 2 0 2 2
2010 United States OG   5 4 0 4 2
2011 United States WWC   5 4 3 7 2
2013 United States WWC   5 0 1 1 4
2014 United States OG   5 1 1 2 2
2015 United States WWC   4 1 2 3 0
2016 United States WWC   5 1 0 1 2
2017 United States WWC   5 0 0 0 0
2018 United States OG   5 0 2 2 0
World Championship totals 39 12 8 20 16
Olympic totals 15 5 3 8 4

References edit

  1. ^ "2011 Draft Pick Results". cwhl.ca. Archived from the original on August 26, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Meghan Duggan retires". NHL.com. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  3. ^ Gostkowski, Amy (January 2010). "Meghan Duggan: Vancouver-Bound Duggan Happily Living The Dream". USA Hockey Magazine. USA Hockey. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Byrne, Mary (April 9, 2018). "'That's going to be me': Meghan Duggan recalls Olympic dreams as she's honored in Danvers". Wicked Local. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Lunis, Kwani A. (November 20, 2020). "10 Questions With Meghan Duggan, Danvers Native and US Hockey Legend". NBC 10 Boston. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Flaherty, Liam (February 20, 2021). "Gold medalist Meghan Duggan on The Rink Shrinks: 'Hockey literally changed my life'". New England Hockey Journal. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Wisconsin Signs Four To 2006–07 Roster". Wisconsin Badgers. University of Wisconsin. December 6, 2005. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Milewski, Todd D. (October 14, 2020). "As she retires, 'queen of ice hockey' Meghan Duggan says she found what she needed with the Badgers". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  9. ^ Scifo, Dan (October 14, 2020). "Former Teammates Reflect on Meghan Duggan's Career". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  10. ^ York, Bob (February 7, 2018). "Former NEPSAC Athletes Turn Olympic Dreams Into Reality". nepsac.org. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "07 Meghan Duggan". www.uwbadgers.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
  12. ^ a b "Wisconsin's Duggan, North Dakota's Ney, Minnesota's Davis Named WCHA Women's Players of the Week" (PDF). Western Collegiate Hockey Association(wcha.com). 26 January 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-29. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  13. ^ "Wisconsin's Meghan Duggan Named Player of the Year, Highlights 2010-11 WCHA Women's Awards" (PDF). Western Collegiate Hockey Association(wcha.com). 3 March 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  14. ^ "Knight and Duggan lead Badgers past Bulldogs and Rigsby makes 29 saves". uwbadgers.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  15. ^ "DUNKIN' DONUTS SCORES FIRST CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP WITH NATIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE". Dunkin' Donuts. Archived from the original on 2015-12-20. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  16. ^ a b c Podnieks, Andrew, ed. (2010). IIHF Media Guide and Record Book 2011. Toronto: Moydart PRess. p. 568.
  17. ^ "Player Statistics by Team – USA" (PDF). IIHF. 2009-04-12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
  18. ^ McMahon, dave (2009-12-19). "Vancouver women's hockey team announced". United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
  19. ^ "Knight lifts U.S. past Canada, 3-2 in OT, for gold". uwbadgers.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  20. ^ Domonoske, Camila (15 March 2017). "U.S. Women's Hockey Team Boycotting World Championships To Protest Low Pay". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2020-06-14. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  21. ^ "RELEASE: Devils Name Meghan Duggan to Hockey Operations Role". NHL.com. National Hockey League. New Jersey Devils. May 19, 2021. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  22. ^ "Dr. Mugford Joins Devils, Duggan Promoted | Release". National Hockey League. New Jersey Devils. May 31, 2022. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  23. ^ Aykroyd, Lucas. "Living the American dream". www.worldwomen2015.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  24. ^ "CWHL All-Star Showcase". mapleleafs.nhl.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  25. ^ a b Rice, Justin A. (16 September 2014). "Olympic Captain Meghan Duggan Ready for Coaching Role at Clarkson". USA Hockeey. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  26. ^ "Kessel Named League's Rookie; Raty/Schelper First Team". gophersports.com. 2011-03-03. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11.
  27. ^ "Meghan Duggan a finalist for 2011 Sportswoman of the Year". uwbadgers.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  28. ^ "2010-11 Sportsmanship Honorees" (PDF). grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  29. ^ "American Hockey Coaches Association". www.ahcahockey.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
  30. ^ "USA Hockey". usahockey.com. 3 June 2011. Archived from the original on 19 June 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Wisconsin's Duggan, Minnesota Duluth's Larocque, St. Cloud State's Mott Named WCHA Women's Players of the Week" (PDF). Western Collegiate Hockey Association(wcha.com). 16 February 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  32. ^ Forman, Ethan (April 20, 2010). "Duggan has a ball at Fenway Park". The Salem News. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  33. ^ Clayton, Andy (25 April 2014). "U.S. women's hockey captain Meghan Duggan mocks Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda during Fenway Park first pitch". nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  34. ^ "Olympic ice hockey rivals Meghan Duggan, Gillian Apps get married". ESPN. 2018-09-26. Archived from the original on 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  35. ^ "meghan duggan retiring". ESPn.com. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  36. ^ Prewitt, Alex (7 February 2022). "For Married Pairs of Ex-Players, the U.S.–Canada Women's Hockey Rivalry Is Uniquely Complicated". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  37. ^ "The End of 2023 did not disappoint". www.instagram.com. Retrieved January 13, 2024.

External links edit

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Captain, United States Olympic Hockey Team
2014, 2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Patty Kazmaier Award
2010–11
Succeeded by