Staff
Laura Schuler
Head Coach
Assistant coach Laura Schuler will begin her third consecutive season with the Bulldogs in 2023-24 after her triumphant return to UMD resulted in an NCAA championship title game appearance in 2021-22 and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022-23.
Schuler, who has now been a part of five NCAA Tournament teams with the Bulldogs, including three NCAA Frozen Fours and an NCAA championship in 2010, joined UMD after she was an advisor to the Quinnipiac University women's hockey coaching staff during the 2020-21 season. Schuler brought with with her an extensive resume of coaching and playing experience with Hockey Canada, as well as a college coaching career that had spanned over two decades.
Ashleigh Brykaliuk
Assistant Coach
Ashleigh Brykaliuk is a former UMD standout and two-time team captain who returns to the Bulldog coaching staff in 2024 after playing professionally with the Minnesota Whitecaps from 2021–2023.
Brykaliuk began her coaching career at UMD in 2018, becoming one of the few former players to both compete in and coach at the NCAA Quarterfinal and Frozen Four levels. A Brandon, Manitoba native and UMD graduate, she also represented Team Canada at the U18 and National Development levels and brings elite playing and coaching experience to every athlete she works with.
Olivia Soares
Assistant Coach
A current Bulldogs assistant coach and USA Hockey National Development Camp coach. She helped guide Union College to the most overall and conference wins in a two-year stretch in the program’s Division I history, including multiple victories over nationally ranked teams.
Soares previously helped lead Colby College to its best season ever and first NCAA Tournament appearance, and brings championship-level experience from her playing career at Ohio State, where she was a team captain and part of the Buckeyes’ first Frozen Four team.
Known for her leadership, high-performance mindset, and player-first approach, Soares adds elite coaching experience and a deep understanding of winning culture to the Bulldog staff.
Justin Grant
Assistant Coach
Justin Grant begins his first season as the third full-time assistant coach of the Bulldogs in 2023-24.
Grant comes to UMD after serving as the goalie coach for the women's team at the University of St. Thomas for the past two seasons, and the North Campus Director for MEGA Goaltending for the previous six years. Grant was also the Bethel University Goalie Coach (men) for the last five years.