by Emilia Farrell ‘28 on October 1, 2026
Uncategorized
Providence College women’s ice hockey welcomes Nicole Norton as their interim head coach for the 2026–27 season. Although Norton is new to the head coaching role, she is not new to this Friars team; this will be her sixth season with them. In her first four seasons, she worked with the team’s defense and then switched to work with the offense last season. In her role coaching offense, Norton was instrumental in developing three players who produced over 20 points in the season: Reichen Kirchmair ’26, Audrey Knapp ’27, and Jessie Pellerin ’28. Kirchmair had over 100 career points, with 55 goals and 45 assists in her 141 collegiate games.
Prior to her time at Providence, Norton graduated from Syracuse University in 2016, where she played in 145 games during her collegiate career. She was assistant captain during her junior and senior seasons. Norton was also named CHA Defenseman of the Year as a senior. After her graduation from Syracuse, she continued to play ice hockey in the European Women’s Hockey League, where she played for the EV Bozen 84 Eagles and helped the team win the regular season and playoff championship. Following her time in Europe, she spent two years as the assistant coach of the Division III Nichols College, where she helped the team set a record for program wins in a season. Then, Norton transitioned to the Division I scene, where she served as the assistant coach of the Long Island University women’s program, including during its inaugural season in 2019–20.
One of Norton’s key assets is that she was recently a player herself. She knows the collegiate athlete experience just as much as her players do and is not that far removed from her own experience. Due to her vast experience, Norton will be able to foster a positive culture and relationships amongst her players. Her previous coaching experience, specifically at Providence, has led Norton and the team to this moment, and Friar fans alike can’t wait to see them back in action in their first game against Sacred Heart on Sept. 25.