Haley Skarupa is turning the page.
The former Boston College standout proved herself to be one of the best women’s college hockey players in the country and an emerging presence with the U.S. Women’s National Team during her time with the Eagles. It’s a time that produced some of Skarupa’s fondest hockey memories but she is now looking forward as she tackles the challenge of transitioning to women’s professional hockey in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) as a member of the Connecticut Whale.
“It’s a new team, a new season and a new league,” Skarupa said. “I’m just going to continue to work hard and get better each practice.
“Obviously, [Boston College] was an incredible experience and I loved every second of it. But I’m using what my coaches and teammates taught me … using that to help me in the NWHL and bringing those tools so I can expand and broaden my game.”
It has been a transition from the college game to the professional ranks, but Skarupa has had help making the jump. Skarupa is playing with four former BC Eagles, taking the ice with Dana Trivigno, Meagan Mangene, Kaliya Johnson and Kelli Stack. Unlike the other three, Skarupa wasn’t Stack’s teammate at Boston College, but the two have played together at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships and at different USA Hockey camps and events.
“It’s been kind of a smooth transition because I’m playing people I’ve played before with the USA Hockey team,” Skarupa said. “It has been a lot of fun though. It has been a different community, environment, atmosphere and schedule, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the season going forward.”
Skarupa, Trivigno, Johnson and Mangene still live in Boston, and the four carpool two hours to Connecticut two-to-three times per week for practices and games.
“It’s a lot of fun just spending time with them and being able to continue playing with them from college to professional hockey,” Skarupa said. “It would be so much more difficult making the drive on our own. We already have so many stories and it’s only been a couple weeks. It makes the whole experience so much more fun.”
Skarupa, a Rockville, Maryland native, capped her remarkable career at Boston College ranked second in career points (244), assists (129), game-winning goals (23), power-play goals (25) and plus-minus at plus-178. Skarupa, who finished third in team history with 115 goals, was the second-highest scoring hockey player in school history among men or women.
Skarupa twice was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the nation’s top women’s hockey player, and ended her career 12th on the NCAA career points chart and tied for ninth in career goals.
Skarupa, who graduated in May with a psychology degree, and standout teammate Alex Carpenter helped lead Boston College to a near-perfect record last season before a heartbreaking loss against the University of Minnesota in the national championship game.
“It was an incredible four years at BC,” Skarupa said. “Alex taught me so much as a player, a teammate, a person and a friend. There’s so much she was able to teach me on and off the ice that has helped me and my career grow as a player.
“I probably wouldn’t have had half as good of a career without her and my other teammates and coaches. It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but it was a great journey.”
Skarupa has been involved in the USA Hockey program since 2009 when she played on the Under-18 Select Team. Skarupa played in two IIHF Women’s World Championships, capturing gold in 2015 and 2016, and three IIHF Women’s Under-18 World Championships, winning gold in 2011 and silver twice in 2010 and 2012.
Skarupa, who has 27 goals and 51 points in 51 career international games, also participated in two Four Nations Cup tournaments and was recently named to the 2016 roster for the upcoming edition of the Four Nations Cup.
“USA Hockey is pretty much the foundation of my career,” Skarupa said. “It’s always such an honor to be able to represent your country and put that jersey on because each tournament is so special.
“It’s unbelievable to be able to play with and against the best players in the world. It doesn’t get much better than that and I never take it for granted.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.