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Women's Hockey adds Joakim "U.K." Flygh as an Assistant Coach
6/2/2025 12:30:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown women's hockey head coach Melanie Ruzzi has announced the hiring of Joakim "U.K." Flygh as a new assistant coach for the program. Flygh will focus on the development of the Bears' defensive core, will oversee the penalty kill and will play a large role in recruiting.
Flygh joins the Bears having spent the last season on the bench as an assistant for the Harvard women's program. Flygh and Ruzzi have worked together at two different stops with the duo working together for three years at Harvard and for one season at Yale.
"Being able to welcome U.K. to our program is a home run for our players and our staff. Brown Hockey is on a tremendous climb and the addition of his knowledge, experience and passion for the game raises the level for all of us. Above all else, U.K. is someone who appreciates the opportunity to make a positive impact on the experience of the players. I couldn't think of a better fit for Brown Hockey, and I am proud to get the chance to work with him once again."
Prior to joining Harvard's staff, Flygh had a successful ten-year tenure as the head coach of the Yale women's ice hockey program from 2009-2019. In 2014-15, Flygh led the Bulldogs to their best winning percentage in eight seasons, finishing with the second-most overall wins in school history (15). Yale also made its second straight ECAC Hockey Championship playoff appearance under Flygh after the team tied the school record for wins in conference games with 12 and scored the second-most goals in a season in school history (93). In 2013-14 the Bulldogs made their first ECAC Hockey Championship playoff appearance since 2008, and their first postseason win since 2005.
Flygh's nine-year career as an assistant coach prior to Yale was marked by consistent success; teams he coached for had a combined winning percentage of .701 (176-69-21) and he was a part of six seasons of 20 or more wins. Flygh went to Yale after three seasons as an assistant at Harvard where he helped the Crimson 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.
Flygh joined Harvard's staff in 2007 after spending three seasons as an assistant at Minnesota Duluth. There he worked with the Bulldog defensemen and penalty-kill unit. In Flygh's three seasons in Duluth, the Bulldogs made the NCAA tournament every year, advanced to the NCAA title game in 2007 and posted a total record of 72-26-9. Over Flygh's tenure, UMD ranked fourth nationally in goals allowed per game and third in penalty killing. During his first season in 2004-05, the UMD penalty kill allowed just 16 goals in 206 power plays, operating at a 92.2-percent efficiency.
Before taking the position at Minnesota Duluth, Flygh worked three seasons as an assistant coach, including one as a graduate assistant, with the men's ice hockey team at New England College. He helped the Pilgrims to a combined 53-23-4 record and three second-place league finishes during his three years behind the bench.
Flygh was a standout defenseman as an undergraduate at New Englandand was the Pilgrims' defensive player of the year. He went on to play professional hockey in Sweden for the Lysekil Vikings.
A native of Tyringe, Sweden, Flygh is a 2000 graduate of New England College with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. He earned a master's degree in organizational management from New England in 2002.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
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Flygh joins the Bears having spent the last season on the bench as an assistant for the Harvard women's program. Flygh and Ruzzi have worked together at two different stops with the duo working together for three years at Harvard and for one season at Yale.
"Being able to welcome U.K. to our program is a home run for our players and our staff. Brown Hockey is on a tremendous climb and the addition of his knowledge, experience and passion for the game raises the level for all of us. Above all else, U.K. is someone who appreciates the opportunity to make a positive impact on the experience of the players. I couldn't think of a better fit for Brown Hockey, and I am proud to get the chance to work with him once again."
Prior to joining Harvard's staff, Flygh had a successful ten-year tenure as the head coach of the Yale women's ice hockey program from 2009-2019. In 2014-15, Flygh led the Bulldogs to their best winning percentage in eight seasons, finishing with the second-most overall wins in school history (15). Yale also made its second straight ECAC Hockey Championship playoff appearance under Flygh after the team tied the school record for wins in conference games with 12 and scored the second-most goals in a season in school history (93). In 2013-14 the Bulldogs made their first ECAC Hockey Championship playoff appearance since 2008, and their first postseason win since 2005.
Flygh's nine-year career as an assistant coach prior to Yale was marked by consistent success; teams he coached for had a combined winning percentage of .701 (176-69-21) and he was a part of six seasons of 20 or more wins. Flygh went to Yale after three seasons as an assistant at Harvard where he helped the Crimson 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.
Flygh joined Harvard's staff in 2007 after spending three seasons as an assistant at Minnesota Duluth. There he worked with the Bulldog defensemen and penalty-kill unit. In Flygh's three seasons in Duluth, the Bulldogs made the NCAA tournament every year, advanced to the NCAA title game in 2007 and posted a total record of 72-26-9. Over Flygh's tenure, UMD ranked fourth nationally in goals allowed per game and third in penalty killing. During his first season in 2004-05, the UMD penalty kill allowed just 16 goals in 206 power plays, operating at a 92.2-percent efficiency.
Before taking the position at Minnesota Duluth, Flygh worked three seasons as an assistant coach, including one as a graduate assistant, with the men's ice hockey team at New England College. He helped the Pilgrims to a combined 53-23-4 record and three second-place league finishes during his three years behind the bench.
Flygh was a standout defenseman as an undergraduate at New Englandand was the Pilgrims' defensive player of the year. He went on to play professional hockey in Sweden for the Lysekil Vikings.
A native of Tyringe, Sweden, Flygh is a 2000 graduate of New England College with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. He earned a master's degree in organizational management from New England in 2002.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
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