BURLINGTON, Vt. - Vermont women's hockey head coach Jim Plumer announced staffing updates ahead of the 2023-24 campaign Wednesday afternoon. Alex Gettens has been promoted to Associate Head Coach while Jess Koizumi has left collegiate hockey to pursue other opportunities. Victoria Blake has been hired as an Assistant Coach to round out Coach Plumer's coaching staff ahead of his 12th season at Vermont.
 
Overseeing the forwards and goaltenders Gettens has helped lead the Catamounts to new heights in Hockey East over the last couple seasons. Vermont scored over 100 goals in each of the last two years for the first time in program history on their way to back-to-back second place finishes in Hockey East with a program record of 22 wins in each campaign.
 
Under his tutelage Theresa Schafzahl became the first the Catamount in program history to be named Cammi Granato Hockey East Player of the Year following the 2021-22 campaign. Schafzahl rewrote the UVM record book that season setting new single-season marks with 25 goals and 46 points. She was also Vermont's first-ever Patty Kazmaier Top-10 finalist and First Team All-American.
 
"Alex has developed into one of the finest assistant coaches in the game and his promotion to Associate Head Coach reflect his importance to our program," said Plumer. "Over the past five years Alex has had a direct impact on the improvements in our offensive output, our power play and our goaltending.  He has stepped up five times and led the team during my absence and our record is 5-0 in those games.  He is an integral part of our program and he has earned the title of Associate Head Coach."
 
Koizumi was hired as Associate Head Coach at Vermont in 2017 and helped reshape the Catamount culture and program. Overseeing the defense and penalty kill Koizumi helped reset the record book in both categories. During the 2018-19 campaign UVM had the best penalty kill in the NCAA with an 88.4% success rate, a Division I record at UVM. Last season Vermont gave up 65 goals against in 36 games, resetting the program standard in a full season.
 
Under her guidance Maude Poulin-Labelle and Sini Karjalainen became the first Catamounts in program history to be named Hockey East Defender of the Year, doing so in back-to-back 22-win campaigns. Karjalainen, also became the second Catamount in program history to earn a medal at the Olympics taking bronze in 2022 with Finland.
 
"I want to thank Jess Koizumi for the incredible effort she put into our program over the past six years," said Plumer. "She was a huge part of our transformation into a Hockey East and national contender and she will be missed both on the ice and in the community.  I know she will excel in the next chapter of her life."
 
Blake comes to Catamount Country after serving in the same role over the last four seasons at Sacred Heart. Excluding the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign the Pioneers won at least 16 games each season with Blake on the bench. During the 2021-22 campaign, she coached NEWHA Defensive Player of the Year Kelly Solak. Solak led all NEWHA defenders in point scoring, logging 21 points. Solak led the NEWHA in plus-minus (+23) and helped her team to the fourth-best penalty kill (92.6%) in the nation.
 
Last season Blake's penalty kill unit was the best in the NCAA. The Pioneers limited their opponents to just eight power play tallies successfully killing off 91.0% of their opponent's opportunities.
 
Before SHU Blake worked at the Pro-Vision Hockey Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee where she served as the academy's skills and development coach. She is a graduate of SUNY Oswego where she played on the women's hockey team for four seasons. While at Oswego, she was named the 2018 NEWHL playoff MVP.
 
"Victoria is a rising star among young coaches and we are very excited to welcome her to the Vermont women's hockey family," said Plumer. "She has a passion for the game of hockey, and most importantly, for connecting with players to help them be their best.  Victoria will work with our defensemen and our penalty kill as well as play a prominent role in our player development.  I am confident that she is going to make a big impact on our program and in the UVM and Burlington communities."
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program