Women's Ice Hockey | 1/13/2022 12:22:00 PM

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Associate Vice President Director of Athletics Dr. Lee McElroy has announced the hiring of Shelby Perry as an assistant women's ice hockey coach. Perry joins Tara Connolly on the staff of fifth-year head coach Bryan Vines.

"We are thrilled to welcome Shelby to the RPI hockey family," said Vines. "Her decorated playing career at Colgate University and familiarity with ECAC Hockey will be a great asset in helping our program compete at the highest level. I am excited for the impact she will have on our student-athletes and the RPI community."

A native of Elginburg, Ont., Perry joins the Engineers coaching staff after spending the last three years as an assistant with the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves of the Provincial Women's Hockey League (PWHL). With the Ice Wolves, she was responsible for instructional practices and conditioning, as well as guiding the players to help them reach their goals of playing at the next level.

From 2012-2019, Perry was an instructor at the Dupuis & Hefford Hockey School in Kingston, Ont., working with 12 to 16-year-old girls to improve skating and game skills, speed, conditioning and overall performance on the ice. She also managed the athletes' daily schedules, which included off-ice activities.

A 2018 graduate of Colgate University, Perry worked as a counselor at the Colgate Women's Hockey Exposure Camp during her time in Hamilton, planning, coordinating and executing off-ice activities for campers, as well as assisting in the supervision of dorms during their stay on campus.

While at Colgate, she was the lead organizer for the Learn to Skate Program and Autism Awareness Annual Fundraiser in 2018. Helping raise of $10,000 for ADHD & Autism Psychological Services and Advocacy, she also taught individuals with special needs to skate through the Learn to Skate Autism Awareness Program.

Perry played in 150 games for the Raiders from 2014-18, scoring 31 goals and recording 57 assists for 88 career points. She was a +6, with 10 of her tallies coming in the power play and seven standing as game-winners. She helped Colgate earn a share of the ECAC Hockey regular season title during her senior season, before reaching the NCAA National Championship game.

After graduating, Perry played one season of professional hockey in Italy for EV Bolazno 84 of the European Women's Hockey League. For the Eagles, she notched 22 points on 13 goals and nine assists in 14 EWHL games during the 2018-19 season. Domestically, she collected eight goals and three assists for 11 points in four contests.

Perry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Educational Studies in 2018.