Dani Rylan
 Rylan in 2017 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 5, 1987 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Ice Hockey |
| Position | Left Wing |
| College team | Northeastern |
Dani Rylan Kearney (born August 5, 1987) is an American entrepreneur and former ice hockey player. She is the founder and former commissioner of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL),[1][2] the first professional women's hockey league in the United States, and the first professional women's hockey league ever to pay its players in North America.[3] Prior to launching the league in March 2015, Rylan attempted to bring a CWHL expansion team to New York in 2014.[4] She previously played with the Northeastern Huskies women's ice hockey program in NCAA play and was a captain in her final season.
Early life and playing career
[edit]Rylan began playing ice hockey with boys on the Tampa Bay Junior Lightning as an elementary school student.[5] She attended boarding school at the St. Mark's School in New England and was captain of the girls' hockey team.[5]
Prior to joining Northeastern University, Rylan played one season with the Division II club program at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, a men's team that competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. She earned a broadcasting journalism degree at Metro State in 2010.[6]
Career stats
[edit]| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| 2010–11[7] | Northeastern | 37 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011–12 | Northeastern | 33 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Executive career
[edit]Rylan was inspired to create a women's league while watching the United States and Canadian national teams play in the finals of the 2014 Winter Olympics and began researching the new business opportunity.[5] She began calling people she knew in ice hockey circles and the plans for the league began within a year.[5] She contacted players, conducted research on markets, held training camps, created four teams, and scheduled the venues.[5]
On October 12, 2020, Rylan stepped down as commissioner and was replaced by Tyler Tumminia as interim commissioner during a league reorganization. The league changed its governing model to an incorporated association overseen by a board of governors with one representative per team. Rylan remained with the league to oversee the Beauts, Whale, Riveters, and Whitecaps while it searched for independent ownership of the league-operated teams before resigning from that role in March 2021.[8][9]
Personal life
[edit]Rylan grew up in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. Her father worked in marketing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.[6] After college, she moved to New York City and opened a coffee shop named Rise and Grind in East Harlem.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Champion for Women's Hockey Wills Pro League Into Third Year". The New York Times. 2017-03-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ "So We Started a Hockey League | By Dani Rylan". The Players' Tribune. Archived from the original on 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ "These women are about to make hockey history". Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ "CUNY Sports Report Dani Rylan Looks to Bring New Women's Hockey Team to NYC - CUNY Sports Report". Archived from the original on 2015-03-30. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
- ^ a b c d e f Menza, Kaitlin (2015-10-06). "Meet Dani Rylan, the Commissioner of the NWHL". Shape Magazine. Archived from the original on 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ a b Borzi, Pat (April 10, 2015). "Big Plans, Big Questions For New Women's Pro Hockey League". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Player Stats | Year by Year | Dani Rylan :: Statistics :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online". USCHO.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ "AP Source: NWHL founder Rylan stepping down as commissioner". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Dani Rylan Kearney Resigns from NWHL, W Hockey Partners". Premier Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2022-01-06.