Women's Ice Hockey coaching staff

Maura Crowell
Head Coach
617-287-7869
Email - maura.crowell@umb.edu

Maura Crowell enters her third season with UMass Boston after leading the Beacons to back-to-back ECAC East tournament semi-finals appearances at the helm of the women’s ice hockey program.

In just her first year with the Beacons, Crowell led them to school records in both regular-season and ECAC East victories with a 15-9-1 mark, including a 12-7-0 showing in league play. Under her guidance, UMass Boston advanced to the ECAC East semifinals for the second time in three years, following a first-ever home playoff game at the Clark Athletic Center and three of her players earned All-Conference honors.

Crowell followed her first year with another trip to the ECAC East semifinals and another home playoff game for the second straight year. Three more of her players were honored with All-Conference accolades as she improved her record as the winningest women’s ice hockey coach in school history as well as becoming only coach in school annals to guide her team to a pair of playoff victories during her tenure.

Prior to her arrival, she spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with Connecticut College of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. She helped guide the Camels to their first-ever playoff appearance and also served as an instructor at the Connecticut College Development Hockey Camp. Prior to her time at Conn. College, Crowell served as an assistant coach for the Saint Mark’s School girl’s ice hockey program in Southborough, MA and gained head coaching experience as the Lions’ junior varsity lacrosse mentor. The Massachusetts native remains active within the ice hockey instruction arena, having served as an talent evaluator at the Texas Affiliate Camp, which is hosted by the Texas Amateur Hockey Association and a coach and evaluator for USA Hockey’s Rocky Mountain District Camp in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also coached at various camps throughout the summer months, including the Massachusetts Satellite Program, 14 and Under USA National Development Camp, Boston University Hockey Camp, the Hamilton College Hockey School, the Dynamic Skating program at Merrimack College and Hub City Hockey.

Crowell enjoyed an outstanding collegiate playing career at Division I Colgate University, before moving onto the coaching ranks. The left wing helped the Raiders to three straight ECAC playoff appearances, including a date in the ECAC Championship as a sophomore, and a 63-37-7 record for an impressive .621 winning percentage in her four seasons in Hamilton, NY. The four-year starter was named an Assistant Captain for her senior year and was also selected to the ECAC All-Academic team for her final season. Since her graduation in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in German, she is still prominent in Colgate’s record book, ranking ninth in career points (61), sixth in career goals (29) and ninth in all-time assists (32).

The Mansfield, MA native starred at Saint Mark’s School on the prep level, twice leading the Lions ice hockey team in points, while earning captain status for her junior and senior campaigns. She also excelled for the Saint Mark’s field hockey program and led the field hockey and ice hockey teams to the New England Prep School Athletic Conference title during her career.

Crowell received the Valentine Piotrow German Prize, awarded for academic excellence in German Studies at Colgate and added a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in German to her mantle in 2004, while at Connecticut College. She has been extremely active in community service, helping to organize a “Big Sister” mentor program for Hamilton, NY girls playing youth hockey in addition to serving as a counselor at Brantwood Camp in Peterborough, NH, working with underprivileged adolescent girls in a residential setting and volunteering in the Special Olympics as a speed skating instructor in Connecticut.

Kristin Cirbus
Assistant Coach
Hockey Office Phone - 617-287-7869

Kristin Cirbus is in her third season with the UMass Boston coaching staff as the squad’s first assistant and will direct the Beacons’ defensive schemes during game situations.

Cirbus is no stranger to Coach Crowell, having played together as teammates for the 2001-02 Colgate Raiders when Crowell was a senior and Cirbus was a freshman. During that season, Cirbus led Colgate in assists and would top the team in helpers the following season as well. The right wing graduated Colgate in 2005 ranking 14th on the Raiders’ all-time career points list.

Not only does Cirbus have an impressive playing career on her resume, but the Jamestown, NY native has also compiled valuable experience on the coaching level, serving as an instructor for 12 years at the McFall Brothers Hockey Camp in her hometown and another two years coaching in the Rick Heinz Hockey School. Cirbus was also an instructor at the Boston University hockey camp as well as the Dynamic Hockey camp.

Prior to earning a geography degree with a minor in education from Colgate, Cirbus starred on the junior hockey circuit for the Syracuse Stars, helping them to a pair of national championships as well as three state titles and a state crown with the Buffalo Bisons as well.

Cirbus also served as UMass Boston’s Interim Head Women’s Tennis Coach in the fall of 2006 and is pursuing a masters degree in business administration at UMB.

She now resides in Boston.

Mallory Young
Assistant Coach
Hockey office phone - 617-287-7869

Mallory Young joins the UMass Boston staff after gaining valuable coaching experience as an assistant on the New Hampton School girls hockey team’s bench in New Hampshire.

Prior to her coaching stint at New Hampton, Young enjoyed a solid four-year career for Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she was a forward and saw action in 84 contests for the Mules. She helped Colby to a 13-6-2 mark in her first season for the former Division I program and finished her career with eight goals and two assists for 10 points, including a pair of game-winning scores.

The New Hampshire native starred in both ice hockey and lacrosse, while at Hanover High School and used her lacrosse knowledge to later serve as the Head Coach for the New Hampton School Junior Varsity squad.

Young currently resides in Dedham and owns a geology degree from Colby.