Clarkson University Women's Ice Hockey

Tad Johnson serves as the Head Strength Coach for the Clarkson Hockey Programs.  He also oversee's the entire Athletics Depeartment's Strength and Conditioning Staff and has been instrumental in making the Morrison and Yainokous Strength Facilities a driving force in the success of Golden Knights Athletics.   Over the past 11 seasons, the Clarkson Hockey programs have benefited greatly from the experience, passion and knowledge of Tad Johnson. Clarkson added a key member to the staff with the announcement of Johnson as the new Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Green and Gold's hockey programs in the fall of 2013.  Clarkson's last 5 NHL signings were all un drafted free agents and much of their development can be attributed to the gains made in their off ice training. Since Johnson's arrival, the Knights have been one of the most well condition teams in the nation and have proven to be one of the toughest teams to play against on opponent's schedules. In 2013-14, 2016-17 and 2017-18 Johnson was a driving force for the Golden Knights Women's team, helping them build the endurance and strength necessary to win NCAA titles. Johnson came to Clarkson from the University of Minnesota where he served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach since January 2012. While with the Gophers he worked with numerous athletic teams, including men's and women's hockey, implementing strength and conditioning programs along with performing and managing all athlete testing and tracking. In 2012-13 Johnson played a key role in helping the University of Minnesota's Women's Hockey team build the endurance and strength to complete a 41-0 season with the 2013 national championship. Johnson has also worked with former Gopher professional athletes in hockey, swimming and basketball. "Joining the Clarkson Hockey programs is a very exciting opportunity for me", stated Johnson when he was hired. "It is an exciting time to be a Golden Knight. The passion of the University and the town for Golden Knight hockey is outstanding. Coaches and administrators dedicated to helping the athletes reach their individual and team goals is what every strength coach is looking for, and I have found that at Clarkson." Johnson holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Human Performance and Fitness from Northern State University (August 2010) and a Master's of Education degree in Applied Kinesiology (May, 2012) from the University of Minnesota. Johnson and his wife, Alycia make their home in Potsdam with their sons, Jacory and Blaize.   The Tad Johnson File Hometown Spearfish, South Dakota Professional Credentials M.Ed., CSCS Professional Experience Strength and Conditioning Coach, Clarkson University (2013-Present) Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning, University of Minnesota (2012-2013) Education Master of Education, Applied Kinesiology, University of Minnesota (2012) Bachelor of Science, Human Performance and Fitness, Northern State University (2010) Team/Athlete Accomplishments 5 NCAA Championships 4 ECAC Tournament Titles 4 ECAC Regular Season Titles 2 WCHA Tournament Titles 1 WCHA Regular Season Title 30+ All-Americans 4 Patty Kazmaier Award Winners    

With Matt Desrosiers leading the way as Head Coach for the Golden Knights the past 17 seasons, Clarkson University Women’s Hockey has been established as one of the premier programs in the NCAA. Under Desrosiers guidance, Clarkson has posted thirteen 20+ win seasons, including twelve of the past thirteen, five 30-win campaigns in the past ten years, won four ECAC Hockey regular season titles, earned three conference tournament championships, made thirteen NCAA Tournament showings, advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four five times, and won it all with the 2014, 2017 and 2018 NCAA National Championships. Clarkson has posted a .709 win percentage since Desrosiers assumed the head coaching role in 2008, posting a 427-157-59 record under his watch. The last three seasons have seen Clarkson earn NCAA tournament bids and the Knights have remained highly competitive in the ECAC and on the National scene.   One measure of his influence on Clarkson Hockey has been the number of former and current players that have represented their countries on the world stage, culminating with six former players competing in the 2022 Olympics.  At the 2023 World Championships, 6 former players and 1 current Knight represented the Green and Gold and in 2024, 8 players were on World Championships Rosters. Clarkson has also had a big influence on the PWHL, including the 2025 Draft which saw Golden Knights drafted at the #2, #4, and #9 selections. The 2022-23 season saw the Knights make their 12th NCAA Tournament and advancing to the ECAC Championship Game.  Clarkson would post a 29 win season, along with winning the Adirondack Ice Breaker in Lake Placid. The 2021-22 season marked a return to NCAA play and the Knights pushed Wisconsin to the brink in an opening round game.  The Knights would gain 22 wins and battle through a season that saw injuries play havoc with the line up all season long. During the 2019-20 season, the Knights skated to a 25-6-6 overall record and placed third in the ECAC Hockey standings with a 14-4-4 league mark. Clarkson advanced to its eighth straight conference championship tournament and was set for another NCAA Tournament run before the COVID 19 pandemic forced an abrupt end to the college hockey season in early March. In 2018-19, the Knights challenged for their fourth NCAA Title and third consecutive national crown advancing to the Frozen Four for the fourth consecutive year. Desrosiers guided the Green and Gold to their fourth straight 30-win campaign with a 30-8-2 overall record. Clarkson won its third consecutive ECAC Hockey Tournament Championship and finished tied for second in the conference standings, three points shy of the top spot, with 16-5-1 league mark. In 2017-18, Desrosiers earned ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year honors for the third time after guiding Clarkson to its finest season ever with a 36-4-1 overall record, capped off by the program's second consecutive National Championship and the third NCAA title in five years. The Green and Gold also won both the ECAC Hockey Regular Season (19-1-2) and Tournament Championships. Clarkson won the program’s second National Championship in 2016-17 to close out a 32-4-5 season, including a first-place 19-1-2 ECAC Hockey slate. The Knights also won their first ECAC Hockey Championship Tournament title in 2016-17. In 2015-16, Desrosiers guided the Knights to the 30-win mark for the second time in the 13-year history of the program and moved on to the NCAA Frozen Four for the second time in three years. Clarkson finished with 30-5-5 overall and battled for its third straight ECAC Hockey regular season title in 2015-16, finishing in second place, three points out of the top spot, with a 14-3-5 league mark. In his first year as solo head coach, Desrosiers continued to lead the Green and Gold to success in 2014-15, much as he did when he shared the coaching duties with his wife, Shannon, for the previous six years. Clarkson skated to a 24-11-3 overall record, claimed a share of the ECAC Hockey regular season title with a 16-4-2 conference mark, earned the number one seed in the league playoffs and made its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. In 2013-14 Clarkson reached the pinnacle of accomplishments in Division I women’s hockey when the Knights earned the University’s first-ever NCAA Championship. The Green and Gold won the ECAC Hockey Regular Season title with a 16-2-4 league mark and capped off a 31-5-5 overall record with a 5-4 victory over two-time defending national champion Minnesota in the NCAA Championship game. Desrosiers, served two years as an assistant on the Clarkson coaching staff from 2006-08 prior to being elevated to co-head coach in 2008-09. Desrosiers and his staff won the ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year Award three times – 2014, 2015, and 2018. He has been a NCAA Coach of the Year Finalist eight times. Numerous players have gained all-star recognition under Desrosiers’ guidance, including Jamie Lee Rattray ’14, Loren Gabel ‘19 and Elizabeth Giguere '21, who have won women’s college hockey’s highest honor - the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2014 and 2019, respectively. Cayley Mercer ’17 was a Top 3 Finalist for the prestigious award in 2017, and Gabel was a Top 3 Finalist in 2018. Erin Ambrose ’16, Savannah Harmon ’18, Shea Tiley ’18 and Elizabeth Giguere ’21, & Haley Winn '25 were Top 10 Kazmaier nominees. Ten Golden Knights – Ambrose, Gabel (2), Giguere (3), Gosling (2), Harmon (2), Cayley Mercer, Rattray, Ella Shelton, Tiley, and Winn (2) - have gained All-America honors. Vanessa Gagnon ’14 was named the winner of the NCAA Elite 89, Mandi Schwartz Student-Athlete of the Year and Sarah Devens Award in 2014. Tiley was the Mandi Schwartz Student-Athlete of the Year and Sarah Devens Award winner in 2018. Numerous Clarkson have earned ECAC Hockey All-Star honors. Desrosiers also has international coaching experience having served on the staff of Hockey Canada’s 2019 World Championship team and on Hockey Canada’s National Development Team in 2017-18. No stranger to ECAC Hockey or the North Country, Desrosiers played at St. Lawrence University and joined the college coaching ranks after playing professional hockey for several years. A four-year standout on defense at St. Lawrence from 1997-2001, Desrosiers helped the Saints reach the Frozen Four as a junior and gained ECAC and All-America honors as a senior. The Fort Erie, Ontario native was also named an ECAC Robbins Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2001. Desrosiers played five years of professional hockey after graduating from St. Lawrence in 2001. He played in two East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) All-Star games (2002, 2003) representing the Dayton Bombers and the South Carolina Stingrays. He played two seasons in the Central Hockey League (CHL) and helped lead the Colorado Eagles to the 2005 President’s Cup Championship. Matt and Shannon have a daughter, Brynlee, and son, Brodee and a daughter Blayklee. The Matt Desrosiers File Hometown Fort Erie, ON NCAA National Championships 2014 2017 2018 Coach of the Year ECAC Coach of the Year (2014, 2015, 2018) NCAA Coach of the Year Finalist (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) Coaching Experience Head Coach Clarkson Head Coach (2014-Present) Clarkson Co-Head Coach (2008-2014)   Assistant Coach Hockey Canada World Championship (2019) Hockey Canada National Development Team (2017-18) Clarkson (2006-2008) Playing Experience NCAA, St. Lawrence University (1997-2001) All-American (2001) ECAC Champions (2000, 2001) Assistant Captain (2000-01) Frozen Four Finalist (2000) NCAA Appearance (1999, 2000, 2001)   ECHL Dayton Bombers (2001-2002) South Carolina Stingrays (2002-2004)   CHL Colorado Eagles (2004-2005) CHL Champions, Colorado Eagles (2004) By the Numbers 3 NCAA Championships 3 ECAC Tournament Titles 4 ECAC Regular Season Titles 3 Patty Kazmaier Award Winners 19 All-Americans 1 NCAA Elite 90 Award Winner 2 Sarah Devens Award Winners  

Duggan helped to guide Carkson to a 24-11-3 overall record, a share of the ECAC Hockey regular season title with a 16-4-2 conference mark, the number one seed in the league playoffs and a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. "I am very excited to welcome Meghan to our staff here at Clarkson," said Desrosiers upon the hiring. "With her wealth of experience as a player and proven leadership abilities she will certainly be a great mentor to our players. Meghan's passion and work ethic will be contagious to not only the players on our roster, but also to the young women we are recruiting. "She is a great ambassador of Women's Hockey and will prove to be an excellent role model for young females in our community." A two-time Olympic silver-medalist with USA Women's Hockey, Duggan has extensive experience with the United States National program. She skated in both the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, serving as USA's captain at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. A native of Danvers, MA, Duggan also represented the U.S. at six Women's World Championships, capturing a gold medal five times (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015) and one silver (2007). An all-star forward in college for four seasons (2006-09, 2010-11) at the University of Wisconsin, Duggan helped to lead the Badgers to three NCAA National Titles (2007, 2009, 2011). She graduated (Biology '11) as the leading scorer in Wisconsin's history with 238 points on 108 goals and 130 assists in 159 career games. Duggan was honored with the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in NCAA Division I Women's Hockey in her senior campaign. She has also played professionally in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), skating with the Boston Blades since 2012. Duggan has served as an instructor with the Canadian Hockey Enterprise Just for Girls Hockey Camp in Lake Placid since 2010, and at the Scott Fusco Summer Hockey Camp (2010-12). She has also been involved with Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Sled/Wheel Chair Hockey and Athletes in Action along with numerous motivational speaking engagements.

Smith begins her third year on the Clarkson University Women's Hockey staff after joining the program in 2014-15. Smith has helped guide Clarkson to 54 wins the past two seasons, an ECAC Hockey regular season title, a pair of appearances in the NCAA Tournament and a Frozen Four showing. Last season the Knights reached the 30-win mark for the second time in the 13-year history of the program and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the second time in three years. Clarkson finished with 30-5-5 overall and battled for its third straight ECAC Hockey regular season title in 2015-16, finishing in second place, three points out of the top spot, with a 14-3-5 league mark In the summer of 2015, Smith served as an assistant coach for Canada's National Women's Under-18 team in a three-game series against the United States. Smith was also a part of the Team Canada Under-18 coaching staff at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Cup Championship, helping to guide the team to a silver-medal showing. "I am very excited to welcome Britni to Clarkson as she will be a valuable addition to our staff," stated Desrosiers upon the hiring. "She comes very highly recommended as she possesses a great work ethic and a strong hockey mind. Britni is familiar with ECAC Hockey and the North Country having had a successful playing career at St. Lawrence. She has had experience playing and coaching at the Canadian National level as well as coaching in the CIS." As a top assistant at the University of Toronto in 2013-14, Smith helped lead the Varsity Blues to a 21-9 overall record, including a 17-6 CIS mark. An all-star defenseman for St. Lawrence, Smith played in 146 games for the Saints (2006-10) and accumulated 74 points on 20 goals and 54 assists from the blueline. As a senior, she was named a top-10 finalist for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Smith tallied the third-most points in the country by a defenseman in 2009-10, recording eight goals and 17 assists. The Port Perry, ONT native also gained Second Team All-ECAC Hockey honors in her junior and senior years and was a three-time conference All-Academic team member. Smith has extensive experience playing with Canada's National programs. She skated with Team Canada's Under 22 team for four years (2006-10) and participated in four Air Canada Cup Tournaments, winning the Gold Medal three times and the Silver Medal once. While the Golden Knights were en route to claiming the University's first-ever NCAA National Title in March 2014, Smith was enjoying a memorable moment of her own. Playing professionally for the Toronto Furies, and alongside Clarkson alum Brooke Beazer '08, Smith scored one of the biggest goals in CWHL history on March 22. Just 33 seconds into overtime, Smith tallied the only score in the 2014 Clarkson Cup Championship to lift the Furies to a 1-0 victory over the Boston Blades, giving Toronto its first title.  A former standout at St. Lawrence University,  Britni Smith  begins her third year on the Clarkson University Women's Hockey staff after joining the program in 2014-15. Smith has helped guide Clarkson to 54 wins the past two seasons, an ECAC Hockey regular season title, a pair of appearances in the NCAA Tournament and a Frozen Four showing. Last season the Knights reached the 30-win mark for the second time in the 13-year history of the program and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the second time in three years. Clarkson finished with 30-5-5 overall and battled for its third straight ECAC Hockey regular season title in 2015-16, finishing in second place, three points out of the top spot, with a 14-3-5 league mark In the summer of 2015, Smith served as an assistant coach for Canada's National Women's Under-18 team in a three-game series against the United States. Smith was also a part of the Team Canada Under-18 coaching staff at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Cup Championship, helping to guide the team to a silver-medal showing. "I am very excited to welcome Britni to Clarkson as she will be a valuable addition to our staff," stated Desrosiers upon the hiring. "She comes very highly recommended as she possesses a great work ethic and a strong hockey mind. Britni is familiar with ECAC Hockey and the North Country having had a successful playing career at St. Lawrence. She has had experience playing and coaching at the Canadian National level as well as coaching in the CIS." As a top assistant at the University of Toronto in 2013-14, Smith helped lead the Varsity Blues to a 21-9 overall record, including a 17-6 CIS mark. An all-star defenseman for St. Lawrence, Smith played in 146 games for the Saints (2006-10) and accumulated 74 points on 20 goals and 54 assists from the blueline. As a senior, she was named a top-10 finalist for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Smith tallied the third-most points in the country by a defenseman in 2009-10, recording eight goals and 17 assists. The Port Perry, ONT native also gained Second Team All-ECAC Hockey honors in her junior and senior years and was a three-time conference All-Academic team member. Smith has extensive experience playing with Canada's National programs. She skated with Team Canada's Under 22 team for four years (2006-10) and participated in four Air Canada Cup Tournaments, winning the Gold Medal three times and the Silver Medal once. While the Golden Knights were en route to claiming the University's first-ever NCAA National Title in March 2014, Smith was enjoying a memorable moment of her own. Playing professionally for the Toronto Furies, and alongside Clarkson alum Brooke Beazer '08, Smith scored one of the biggest goals in CWHL history on March 22. Just 33 seconds into overtime, Smith tallied the only score in the 2014 Clarkson Cup Championship to lift the Furies to a 1-0 victory over the Boston Blades, giving Toronto its first title.