Flint to help coach US women's team

With Molly Schaus (Boston College) and Jessie Vetter teaming up for a 1.58 goals against average, Team USA captured the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Harbin, China. In April, Vetter and Schaus, along with Megan Van Beusekom, were even better under Flint's tutelage, surrendering a stingy 0.60 goals per game as the United States repeated in Hameenlinna, Finland.

Now the longtime Merrimack, N.H., resident, after recently completing his first season as the head women's coach at Northeastern, will lend his guidance on the Olympic stage.

Flint has been named an assistant coach for the 2010 US Women's Olympic team in Vancouver, working under Mark Johnson, who guided Wisconsin to the NCAA Division 1 women's title this past winter Wesleyan coach Jodi McKenna was also named an assistant.

Flint, a member of the USA Hockey staff since 2005, was appointed the goaltending coach and adviser for the women's national program, his focus evaluating and instructing goalies at all levels. He expected to be "on staff" in Vancouver, but being named an assistant coach was something beyond his imagination.

"If someone had told me two years ago that I would have an opportunity like this, I would have said they were crazy," said the 37-year-old Flint, who will take a leave of absence from his NU coaching duties from Aug. 1 to May 1, 2010. "I am honored. This is a tremendous opportunity. It's an exciting time and I was thrilled to be asked."

Flint will have a say in choosing the 23 players who will make up Team USA, which is expected to be announced in August, and then embark on a whirlwind tour.

First up is the Canada Cup in Vancouver, which will serve as a test event for the Olympics. Then he, along with the team and other coaches, will take up residency in Blaine, Minn., for the start of the Qwest Tour, which features 10 games in nine cities. In between, there's the Four Nations Cup in Finland and three games against the Canadian national team.

Flint's introduction to USA Hockey came in 2006 after Michele Amidon was named director of the women's program.

"I had known her when she was coaching at Bowdoin and I was coaching at St. Anselm," said Flint, who last year guided NU to its first Hockey East playoff berth since the 2003-04 season. "I called her and expressed an interest in getting involved, especially with the goalies. I knew she needed a goalies coach and told her that was what I wanted to focus on. It started with that and progressed from there."

Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby gave Flint his blessing when he asked for a leave of absence.

"We are all very excited for Dave and Northeastern is proud to have him representing the university and our women's hockey program as a coach for the US Olympic team," said Roby. "The appointment is a testament to the quality of coach he is."

Roby said that in Flint's absence, assistant coaches Linda Lundrigan, a member of the Melrose High Hall of Fame, and Lauren McAuliffe of North Reading will be co-head coaches.

Flint is a 1993 grad of North Adams State (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts), where he played four years in goal and was team MVP his senior year. Before taking over the NU reins, he coached five years at St. Anselm, where he was named ECAC East Coach of the Year three times.

New Malden High varsity football coach Joe Pappagallo is ecstatic over the overwhelming support he has received from his players on community service projects. This weekend, his players will be assisting at a Special Olympics event at Malden Catholic. A former assistant at Malden under Rich Cullen, he was the defensive line coach at Framingham State last fall.

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