Women's Hockey
Kennedy, Courtney
Courtney Kennedy
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- kennedcv@bc.edu
- Phone:
- 552-3104
Courtney Kennedy is in her 16th season on the Boston College women’s hockey staff in the 2022-23 season and has been a key component of the Eagles’ rise to prominence.
Since arriving at the Heights as Katie (King) Crowley’s top assistant in 2007, Kennedy has helped BC develop into one of the East’s top team and one of the nation’s powers, as well as one of the top-choice collegiate hockey destinations for North America’s top junior players.
In addition to her on-ice coaching duties – with an emphasis on the defensive corps and special teams – Kennedy also heads the Eagles’ recruiting efforts and oversees hockey operations for the team. She was promoted to associate head coach before the 2012-13 season.
In 2015, Kennedy was honored by her peers with the AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey Assistant Coach Award, which recognizes an assistant coach’s body of work in women’s hockey.
Since arriving at BC, Kennedy has helped guide the Eagles to the 2016 NCAA Championship game, six NCAA Frozen Fours (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), 11 NCAA Tournaments (2009, 2011-19, 2021), five Hockey East regular-season titles (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18), three Hockey East tournament titles (2011, 2016, 2017) and six Beanpot titles (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
Boston College has made a steady progression into one of the nation’s elite programs, improving on its win totals from a then-program best 22 wins in 2008-09 to 40 wins in 2015-16. In Hockey East conference play, the Eagles improved from 14 league wins to a perfect 24-0-0 mark in 2015-16 while putting together Hockey East’s first perfect season – men or women – in conference history.
Kennedy spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach with the U.S. National Team, helping the team win a silver medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing China. Kennedy coached a trio of Eagles on the U.S. squad in forward Alex Carpenter '16 and bue liners Megan Keller '19 and current Eagle Cayla Barnes.
Under Kennedy, many members of the Eagles’ elite defensive corps have gained national and international attention, as well.
Former goaltender Molly Schaus ‘11 was a mainstay on the U.S. National Team before her 2015 retirement, and represented the U.S. at two Olympic Games (2010, 2014). Defensemen Emily Pfalzer ’15 and Keller were members of the gold-medal winning squad at the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 IIHF World Championships, and the duo was joined by newcomer Kali Flanagan ’19 at the 2017 IIHF World Championships when the U.S. again won gold again. All three players – plus Cayla Barnes ’23 – were among the five Eagles who won the gold medal for the United States at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Boston College claimed four of the seven defensemen who played on the 2018 U.S. Olympic team.
Defensemen Blake Bolden ’13, Pfalzer, Keller, Barnes and Toni Ann Miano ‘18 have all earned All-America selections. Pfalzer (2015), Keller (2016, 2017, 2019) and Miano (2018) also earned places on the Top 10 Finalist list for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding college player.
With the 2018-19 season, Keller became just the eighth defenseman ever to be named a Top-3 Finalist. Keller – one of the world’s most dominant players – was a three-time First Team All-American, a three-time Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist and was the first-ever defenseman to win the Cammi Granato Award as the Hockey East Player of the Year in 2017 before repeating in 2019. She also had four Hockey East All-Star First Team nods.
Pfalzer also became the first-ever BC defender to score at least 100 points, graduating with 102 points from 23 goals and 79 assists. Keller joined her in the 100-point club in 2016 and became the program’s first defender – and just sixth-ever player – to eclipse 150 career points in her senior season. In her sophomore, junior and senior seasons of 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2018-19, respectively, Keller was the leading scorer nationally among defenseman. With Keller off at the Olympics during the 2017-18 season, Miano kept the Eagles’ defensive tradition going in 2017-18. She led all Division I defenseman nationally in points (43) and goals (18).
Between Bolden (2013), Pfalzer (2014, 2015), Keller (2016, 2017, 2019) and Miano (2018), Boston College has claimed seven Hockey East Best Defenseman Awards.
Additionally, Katie Burt ’18 wrapped up her career in the Eagles’ goal as the NCAA career wins leader, setting a new standard with 121 victories in her stellar four-year career. Burt graduated owning almost every BC career goaltending record, as well as the Hockey East records for wins, goals against average, shutouts and minutes played. Her career numbers also placed her in the NCAA career top 10 in wins, shutouts, winning percentage and in the top 15 in saves, save percentage and goals against average.
Since 2007-08, Boston College has claimed 19 defenseman spots and six goaltender spots on the Hockey East All-Star teams, including Barnes (first team) in 2021-22.
While Kennedy’s defenders earned praise and recognition for their personal accomplishments, the parts come together to form a tremendous unit. The Eagles are consistently among the nation’s top 10 defensive corps in Division 1 women’s hockey, five times ranking in the top five:
In 2014-15, Burt – a freshman – led the nation in goals against average with a 1.11 mark – the ninth-best single-single mark ever in NCAA Division I history – as well as winning percentage (.886, going 30-3-2) and wins (30), while posting 10 shutouts to tie the school record originally set by Schaus in 2008-09. The Eagles boasted the fourth-best defense in the country, allowing just 1.21 goals per game.
One year later in 2015-16, BC posted 14 shutouts and a 1.24 goals against average, the third-best mark nationally. Burt’s 13 shutouts ranked third nationally, while her 1.23 GAA was third-best nationally and her 35 wins led the nation.
In 2017-18, BC tied for third with a 1.50 GAA and eight shutouts. Burt’s 1.54 GAA was third-best nationally among full-time starters, and her eight shutouts were tied for fourth in the country. Despite losing three defensemen to the U.S. Olympic team, the Eagles still finished the year ranked inside the top 10 defenses among DI teams, allowing 2.00 goals per game.
Kennedy came to BC after three years as the head coach of women’s ice hockey at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School in Cambridge, Mass.
Kennedy and head coach Katie (King) Crowley were mainstays on the U.S. National Team, including two cycles as teammates on the 2002 and 2006 U.S. Olympic teams. In 2002, Team USA won the silver medal in Salt Lake City, Utah, and in 2006, it took home the bronze medal in Turin, Italy. Kennedy played for Team USA when it captured the gold medal at the World Championships in 2005.
After stepping off the ice for Team USA, Kennedy remains active with USA Hockey. In additition to serving as an assistant coach at the 2022 Winter Olympics, she was an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 team at the 2013 and 2014 IIHF U18 World Championships, helping lead the squad to silver medals at both tournaments. She returned to the U18’s bench again in for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, helping lead the team to its third- and fourth-straight gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Championships. She also served as an assistant coach of the Under-22 team during the 2018-19 season.
Kennedy, a Woburn, Mass., native, was a two-time All-America defenseman at Minnesota in 1999 and 2001. As a senior in 2001, she earned Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also a Top-3 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. As a junior in 2000, she helped lead Minnesota to its first national title.
As a Gopher, Kennedy scored 112 points on 35 goals and 77 assists in 106 games. She still ranks fourth on the Gophers' defensemen career list for goals, fifth in defenseman career assists and sixth in defenseman career points. In 2008, Kennedy was inducted into the Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame. She attended at Colby College in Maine for a year before transferring to Minnesota in 1999.
Kennedy’s coaching experience also includes director of on-ice practices for the East Coast Wizard Girls Youth Hockey Program, USA Hockey Select Festival coach and director of the Kennedy School of Hockey.
Kennedy graduated from Minnesota in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in youth studies and currently lives in her hometown of Woburn.
Since arriving at the Heights as Katie (King) Crowley’s top assistant in 2007, Kennedy has helped BC develop into one of the East’s top team and one of the nation’s powers, as well as one of the top-choice collegiate hockey destinations for North America’s top junior players.
In addition to her on-ice coaching duties – with an emphasis on the defensive corps and special teams – Kennedy also heads the Eagles’ recruiting efforts and oversees hockey operations for the team. She was promoted to associate head coach before the 2012-13 season.
In 2015, Kennedy was honored by her peers with the AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey Assistant Coach Award, which recognizes an assistant coach’s body of work in women’s hockey.
Since arriving at BC, Kennedy has helped guide the Eagles to the 2016 NCAA Championship game, six NCAA Frozen Fours (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), 11 NCAA Tournaments (2009, 2011-19, 2021), five Hockey East regular-season titles (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18), three Hockey East tournament titles (2011, 2016, 2017) and six Beanpot titles (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
Boston College has made a steady progression into one of the nation’s elite programs, improving on its win totals from a then-program best 22 wins in 2008-09 to 40 wins in 2015-16. In Hockey East conference play, the Eagles improved from 14 league wins to a perfect 24-0-0 mark in 2015-16 while putting together Hockey East’s first perfect season – men or women – in conference history.
Kennedy spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach with the U.S. National Team, helping the team win a silver medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing China. Kennedy coached a trio of Eagles on the U.S. squad in forward Alex Carpenter '16 and bue liners Megan Keller '19 and current Eagle Cayla Barnes.
Under Kennedy, many members of the Eagles’ elite defensive corps have gained national and international attention, as well.
Former goaltender Molly Schaus ‘11 was a mainstay on the U.S. National Team before her 2015 retirement, and represented the U.S. at two Olympic Games (2010, 2014). Defensemen Emily Pfalzer ’15 and Keller were members of the gold-medal winning squad at the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 IIHF World Championships, and the duo was joined by newcomer Kali Flanagan ’19 at the 2017 IIHF World Championships when the U.S. again won gold again. All three players – plus Cayla Barnes ’23 – were among the five Eagles who won the gold medal for the United States at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Boston College claimed four of the seven defensemen who played on the 2018 U.S. Olympic team.
Defensemen Blake Bolden ’13, Pfalzer, Keller, Barnes and Toni Ann Miano ‘18 have all earned All-America selections. Pfalzer (2015), Keller (2016, 2017, 2019) and Miano (2018) also earned places on the Top 10 Finalist list for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding college player.
With the 2018-19 season, Keller became just the eighth defenseman ever to be named a Top-3 Finalist. Keller – one of the world’s most dominant players – was a three-time First Team All-American, a three-time Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist and was the first-ever defenseman to win the Cammi Granato Award as the Hockey East Player of the Year in 2017 before repeating in 2019. She also had four Hockey East All-Star First Team nods.
Pfalzer also became the first-ever BC defender to score at least 100 points, graduating with 102 points from 23 goals and 79 assists. Keller joined her in the 100-point club in 2016 and became the program’s first defender – and just sixth-ever player – to eclipse 150 career points in her senior season. In her sophomore, junior and senior seasons of 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2018-19, respectively, Keller was the leading scorer nationally among defenseman. With Keller off at the Olympics during the 2017-18 season, Miano kept the Eagles’ defensive tradition going in 2017-18. She led all Division I defenseman nationally in points (43) and goals (18).
Between Bolden (2013), Pfalzer (2014, 2015), Keller (2016, 2017, 2019) and Miano (2018), Boston College has claimed seven Hockey East Best Defenseman Awards.
Additionally, Katie Burt ’18 wrapped up her career in the Eagles’ goal as the NCAA career wins leader, setting a new standard with 121 victories in her stellar four-year career. Burt graduated owning almost every BC career goaltending record, as well as the Hockey East records for wins, goals against average, shutouts and minutes played. Her career numbers also placed her in the NCAA career top 10 in wins, shutouts, winning percentage and in the top 15 in saves, save percentage and goals against average.
Since 2007-08, Boston College has claimed 19 defenseman spots and six goaltender spots on the Hockey East All-Star teams, including Barnes (first team) in 2021-22.
While Kennedy’s defenders earned praise and recognition for their personal accomplishments, the parts come together to form a tremendous unit. The Eagles are consistently among the nation’s top 10 defensive corps in Division 1 women’s hockey, five times ranking in the top five:
- 2008-09 allowing 1.75 goals per game (fifth in the nation)
- 2010-11 allowing 1.73 goals per game (fifth in the nation)
- 2014-15 when they allowed 1.21 goals per game (fourth in the nation)
- 2015-16 when they allowed 1.24 goals per game (third in the nation)
- 2016-17 when they allowed 1.50 goals per game (third in the nation)
In 2014-15, Burt – a freshman – led the nation in goals against average with a 1.11 mark – the ninth-best single-single mark ever in NCAA Division I history – as well as winning percentage (.886, going 30-3-2) and wins (30), while posting 10 shutouts to tie the school record originally set by Schaus in 2008-09. The Eagles boasted the fourth-best defense in the country, allowing just 1.21 goals per game.
One year later in 2015-16, BC posted 14 shutouts and a 1.24 goals against average, the third-best mark nationally. Burt’s 13 shutouts ranked third nationally, while her 1.23 GAA was third-best nationally and her 35 wins led the nation.
In 2017-18, BC tied for third with a 1.50 GAA and eight shutouts. Burt’s 1.54 GAA was third-best nationally among full-time starters, and her eight shutouts were tied for fourth in the country. Despite losing three defensemen to the U.S. Olympic team, the Eagles still finished the year ranked inside the top 10 defenses among DI teams, allowing 2.00 goals per game.
Kennedy came to BC after three years as the head coach of women’s ice hockey at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School in Cambridge, Mass.
Kennedy and head coach Katie (King) Crowley were mainstays on the U.S. National Team, including two cycles as teammates on the 2002 and 2006 U.S. Olympic teams. In 2002, Team USA won the silver medal in Salt Lake City, Utah, and in 2006, it took home the bronze medal in Turin, Italy. Kennedy played for Team USA when it captured the gold medal at the World Championships in 2005.
After stepping off the ice for Team USA, Kennedy remains active with USA Hockey. In additition to serving as an assistant coach at the 2022 Winter Olympics, she was an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 team at the 2013 and 2014 IIHF U18 World Championships, helping lead the squad to silver medals at both tournaments. She returned to the U18’s bench again in for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, helping lead the team to its third- and fourth-straight gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Championships. She also served as an assistant coach of the Under-22 team during the 2018-19 season.
Kennedy, a Woburn, Mass., native, was a two-time All-America defenseman at Minnesota in 1999 and 2001. As a senior in 2001, she earned Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also a Top-3 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. As a junior in 2000, she helped lead Minnesota to its first national title.
As a Gopher, Kennedy scored 112 points on 35 goals and 77 assists in 106 games. She still ranks fourth on the Gophers' defensemen career list for goals, fifth in defenseman career assists and sixth in defenseman career points. In 2008, Kennedy was inducted into the Minnesota "M" Club Hall of Fame. She attended at Colby College in Maine for a year before transferring to Minnesota in 1999.
Kennedy’s coaching experience also includes director of on-ice practices for the East Coast Wizard Girls Youth Hockey Program, USA Hockey Select Festival coach and director of the Kennedy School of Hockey.
Kennedy graduated from Minnesota in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in youth studies and currently lives in her hometown of Woburn.
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