Staff
Laura Schuler
Head Coach
Laura Schuler will enter her third season as head coach in 2026-27. She became the third head coach in the 25 year history of one of the most successful programs in all of Division I women's college hockey on July 10, 2024 after finishing her third consecutive season with the Bulldogs in 2023-24 as an associate head coach. Her return to UMD bench in 2021-22 helped result in an NCAA championship title game appearance and three-straight NCAA Tournament berths for the Bulldogs.
A part of six NCAA Tournament teams at UMD in all, including three NCAA Frozen Fours and an NCAA championship title in 2010, Schuler has spent a total of 10 seasons on the bench of the Bulldogs over her coaching career in Duluth, and helped those 10 UMD teams to a record of 187-105-29.
Schuler notably owns an extensive resume of coaching and playing with Hockey Canada, and an international background that has spanned over two decades. Named the head coach of the Canadian National Women's Hockey team during the 2015-16 season, Schuler was again tabbed for the job over the 2016-17 season. Schuler was then chosen to lead the Canadian Olympic women's team in the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Schuler and Team Canada went on to face the United States where Canada took home the silver medal in a 3-2 shootout loss.
Ashleigh Brykaliuk
Assistant Coach
Brykaliuk enters her sixth season as an assistant coach for UMD in 2026-27. During the 2020-21 season, Brykaliuk became just the fourth former UMD player to play in both a NCAA Quarterfinal game and coach in one, and was the third former player to coach in an NCAA Frozen Four after helping the Bulldogs get back to college hockey's biggest stage in 2021.
As a student-athlete, she captained the Bulldogs into the 2017 NCAA Quarterfinals, helping UMD earn its first home NCAA Tournament contest since 2010. Brykaliuk was a two-time All-WCHA Second Team honoree, earning the award in both 2016-17 and 2015-16. Brykaliuk had back-to-back 40-plus point seasons as a junior and a senior, and finished her career as the 12th highest scorer in UMD history. Over 146 career games, Brykaliuk scored 62 goals and added 83 assists for a whopping 145 points -- nearly a 1.00 point per game average.
Olivia Soares
Assistant Coach
Olivia Soares enters her third season as an assistant coach in 2026-27 and is a current USA Hockey National Development Camp coach. Prior to UMD, 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 enters his fourth season as a an assistant coach of the Bulldogs in 2026-27.
Grant came to UMD after serving as the goalie coach for the women's team at the University of St. Thomas for the previous 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.
Grant, a goaltender himself, spent four years between the pipes for Northland College before graduating in 2007 with a degree in business management. Grant also played one season in the SPHL with the Knoxville Bears, two seasons in the AAHL and two seasons in the CHL, most recently with the Missouri Mavericks and Quad City Mallards over the 2011-12 season.
