Harvard grad Ruggiero to be enshrined into IIHF Hall of Fame

Angela Ruggiero (Sara Melikian)
Former Harvard standout Angela Ruggiero is a legend in the USA Hockey women’s hockey realm (photo: Sara Melikian).

Adding to a long list of accolades, former Harvard women’s hockey great Angela Ruggiero will be inducted to the IIHF Hall of Fame.

The ceremony for the IIHF Hall of Fame will take place May 21 in Cologne, Germany.

Ruggiero joins Saku Koivu, Uwe Krupp, Joe Sakic, Teemu Selanne and Dieter Kalt as the induction class of 2017.

The 2004 Patty Kazmaier award winner, Ruggiero ranks fifth in Harvard women’s hockey history with 96 goals and third with 157 assists during her playing career from 1998 to 2000 and 2002 to 2004. Ruggiero is one of six Crimson skaters to eclipse the 250-point barrier, and she played a key role in helping Harvard win the 1999 national championship.

Ruggiero is a four-time Olympic medalist and captured gold with the United States in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. She is the all-time leader in career appearances for the Americans with 256, scoring 67 goals to go with 141 assists in those games. Ruggiero was twice named the Olympics’ top defenseman, in 2002 and 2006.

A year ago, Ruggiero was inducted to four different Hall of Fames: The Hockey Hall of Fame, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Capital One Academic All-American Hall of Fame and Beanpot Hall of Fame.