Eddie Ardito, who served as volunteer assistant in2010-11, was promoted to assistant coach for the Yalewomen’s ice hockey team in June of 2011. He played forYale’s head coach, Joakim Flygh, at NewEngland College. Flygh, a 2000 graduate of New England College, wasan assistant coach when Ardito played there.
Ardito has helped the Bulldogs make steady progress on the icein recent years. In 2013-14 they posted their best winningpercentage in conference games (.432) since 2007-08. In addition tomaking their first ECAC Hockey Championship playoff appearancesince 2008, they earned their first postseason win since 2005 witha 3-2 double overtime win at then-No. 5 Harvard Feb. 28 in game oneof the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs eventually lost the series twogames to one (including a double overtime loss in game two),falling one goal shy of the program's second appearance at the ECACHockey semifinals.
Ardito and fellow Yale assistant coach JessicaKoizumi were Flygh’s first two hires after takingover as head coach prior to the 2010-11 season. The Bulldogs showedmany signs of progress on the ice in their first season under theirnew leaders, and they were one of three finalists for ECACHockey’s SKOR Sports Trophy, recognizing the team thatexemplifies sportsmanship, tenacity, commitment and innovation.They were in contention for an ECAC Hockey playoff spot until thefinal game of the year, and increased their goal total inconference games by 17 percent over the previous season (from 36 to42). Yale was one of the least-penalized teams in the conference(8.1 penalty minutes per game) and did not incur a major penaltyall season.
In addition to their sportsmanship on the ice, the Bulldogs areextremely active in the community. They rallied behind theirteammate Mandi Schwartz '10 (1988-2011) in herbattle with cancer, organizing numerous events to raise awarenessof the need for marrow donors and umbilical cord blood donors forpatients like Mandi with life-threatening illnesses. The team alsobegan the “Yale Bulldog PAWS (Pediatric Alliance WithStudent-athletes)” program with Yale-New Haven Hospital,adopting a local nine-year-old girl, Giana, who is recovering fromsurgery for a brain tumor.
A native of Branford, Conn., Ardito was a three-time all-stateand All-Southern Connecticut Conference selection for BranfordHigh’s ice hockey team. He was also a three-time MVP andtwo-time captain, and was a two-time All-SCC selection for thefootball team as well.
Ardito received a B.A. in sport & recreation management:athletic administration with a minor in coaching from New EnglandCollege in 2006. He started his career as a forward for thePilgrims and later served as student assistant coach.
After graduating, Ardito spent a season as the interim headcoach of New England College’s women’s ice hockey team,leading the team to a 12-6-1 conference record and the semifinalsof the ECAC East Tournament. He simultaneously served as the headjunior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach for themen’s team, which went 13-5-1 in the conference and advancedto the ECAC East Championship game.
In addition to his time with New England’s hockey teams,Ardito also served as a volunteer assistant baseball coach for thePilgrims in 2007.
Ardito was assistant coach and director of hockey operations forConnecticut College’s men’s ice hockey team from 2007through 2010. The Camels made a pair of NESCAC quarterfinalappearances in his time with them.
Ardito has worked multiple ice hockey camps, including NationalHockey Training. He has also worked as a trainer at BluestreakSports Training Center in Stamford, Conn.
Off the ice, Ardito has volunteered with Special Olympics andBuddy Walk for children with Down Syndrome.
Updated May 27, 2014
