Women in Hockey: When Erin Whitten became the first woman to win a professional hockey game

Erin Whitten is a former American ice hockey goalie who is currently the head coach of the Merrimack Warriors women's ice hockey team. Today is International Women's Day, so let's talk about some of her biggest achievements on the ice.

On October 30, 1993, Erin Whitten became the first female hockey player to win a professional game as a goaltender. Whitten and ECHL club Toledo Storm defeated the Dayton Bombers 6-5. She replaced starting goalie Alain Harvey, who sustained an injury in the second period. She recorded 15 saves on 19 shots in the final frame.

Toledo Storm were a professional ice hockey team that played in the ECHL from 1991-2007. The franchise returned in 2009 with a new name, the Toledo Walleye.

The Toledo Walleye are based in Toledo, Ohio. They play in the ECHL and compete in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The team was founded in 1991. Back then, they were known by the name "Toledo Storm."

Whitten wasn't satisfied with one professional hockey win. During the 1993–94 American Hockey League season, she played for the Adirondack Red Wings. She became the first female to compete in an AHL game.

She also won four silver medals representing the U.S. women's national hockey team at the IIHF Women's World Championships. In 1994, she won Women's Player of the Year for USA Hockey.

She accomplished a lot of milestones in the following few years. Erin Whitten played for the Flint Generals during the 1995–96 season. She made history by becoming the first female to play a full 60-minute game, leading the Generals to a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Falcons.

Erin Whitten's induction into the Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame and her successful career as a coach.

In 2017, Erin Whitten was enshrined in the Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame. On February 25, 2017, the induction ceremony took place before an ECHL match between the Adirondack Thunder and the Brampton Beast. The local Hall of Fame was founded in 2010, and she was the first woman to be honored.

On July 17, 2000, Whitten started her coaching career as an assistant at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). On July 27, 2006, she received a promotion to associate head coach. She worked at UNH for a total of ten seasons (2000-2010).

At both the 2007 IIHF World Championship and the 2006 Four Nations Cup, Whitten served as the U.S. women's hockey team's assistant coach. During the 2007–2008 season, she served as an assistant with the American Women's U18 ice hockey team.

On September 17, 2010, the Boston Blades hired Erin Whitten to serve as their inaugural head coach. During one season, Whitten was the team's coach. In its inaugural season, she served as the head coach of the women's ice hockey team at the University of New England.

She was appointed the head coach of the Merrimack Warriors women's ice hockey team in Hockey East on June 24, 2013. In seven seasons, Whitten's teams at Merrimack have produced some professional players such as Dominique Kremer and Courtney Maud. Dominika Lásková and Kateina Bukolská are two players who have been coached by her. They went on to participate in the Olympics.