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EDITH RACINE '01: Building Teams by Caring for Each Other

Growing up in St. Albert, Canada, a small town between Ottawa and Montreal, Edith played ice hockey on both boys and girls teams.

When a friend on the girls team (who attended Pomfret) introduced her to boarding schools, the idea of studying in the U.S. and perfecting her English before heading off to college was alluring. After playing in a prep school showcase in Montreal, Edith soon found herself talking to Millbrook coach Kevin Soja on the phone. The idea quickly became a reality. By the fall of 1999, Edith was driving from Montreal to Millbrook with a tight group of hockey players, mostly boys, to begin her Millbrook education in the Vth form.

CARING IS GROWING

Science and math required little translation, but reading and writing in English were especially challenging for Edith. Teachers were supportive, and Mrs. Howe ran an English as a Second Language class that provided additional practice in writing and completing homework assignments. The small class size meant rigorous one-on-one instruction, and Edith felt accountable for improving. She also realized the importance of reaching out to communicate a real need—like letting her soccer coach know she was having trouble running because she didn’t know how to say “blisters” in English.

A talented athlete, Edith played soccer in the fall, ice hockey in the winter, and lacrosse in the spring. Her skills transferred easily from one sport to the other. She was passionate about sports but also determined to set a good example in every area of school life. She enjoyed a year at the Trevor Zoo before earning a role as dorm leader in her VIth form year.

CARING IS WINNING

Because she appreciated the close-knit Millbrook community, Edith chose to attend Elmira College, where she majored in business and played hockey for four years. Her first year at Elmira was also the first year of their women’s ice hockey program.

Players were mostly freshmen, except for two upperclassmen, and that young team went on to win national titles in each of their first two years. Edith credits her coach for building a team that combined skill with a dedication to caring for each other and a desire to rise to the opportunity presented.

“At Elmira, my teammates were all good people and cared about each other, just like my experience at Millbrook. When you’re surrounded by like-minded, caring people, that plays into winning championships.”

MOVING UP TO THE IVYS

Because Edith greatly enjoyed her experience at Millbrook, she felt a calling to coach hockey and teach. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she began working at Portsmouth Abbey, teaching French and math for two years. Her interest in coaching at the college level led to a volunteer position with the women’s hockey team at Brown University, where she eventually became a full-time assistant coach. When Cornell needed a second assistant coach, the head coach at Brown, a Cornell alum, recommended Edith for the job. In her first season with Cornell, 2009-2010, the Big Red reached the Frozen Four final, unfortunately experiencing a heartbreaking loss to the Minnesota Bulldogs in triple overtime.

In her 15th year at Cornell, Edith now serves as the team’s associate head coach, focusing on training the goalies, coaching on the bench, managing video analysis, and recruiting. She has learned to appreciate the small details essential for a successful program, and for her, recruiting is about finding the right players who love Cornell, not just talented hockey players. Cornell’s team culture is all about working hard every day to improve and having everyone play a crucial role in the team’s success.

The team starts skills training at 6:30 a.m., and Edith is on the ice, working on player development. The daily routine includes morning skills sessions, video analysis, and evening practices. Edith finds the most enjoyable part of her job to be connecting with the players, watching them grow from shy freshmen to confident seniors ready to face new challenges. She finds it rewarding to see their development and success, whether they go on to the Olympics or start their own businesses. The head coach, Doug Derraugh, a Cornell graduate, understands the balance between academics and athletics. Edith and the other coaching staff ensure that school comes first, allowing players to prioritize their studies and providing support to help them succeed academically.

In 2020, Cornell’s women’s hockey team was ranked #1 all year, and then COVID hit. The 2020-2021 season was canceled, which was challenging for the players. “To go from being #1 all year, and then the following year, no season…we learned from it, and now we enjoy every moment, celebrate, and keep going.”

In their most recent season, the Cornell women’s ice hockey team was consistently ranked in the #5 or #6 spot, winning the Ivy League. On March 16, the team faced Colgate in the ECAC playoffs with a chance to make the NCAA tournament. While Cornell fell short of an NCAA Frozen Four berth with a 3-1 loss to Colgate, they proudly shared the news that 21 of their 26 players were named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.

Edith’s future will continue to be coaching hockey at the collegiate level. In the 2021-2022 season, she acted as Cornell’s interim head coach while Coach Derraugh was at the Olympics. With a taste of those responsibilities, she aspires to be a head coach someday. For now, Cornell is home, her colleagues are family, and she continues to coach with care.

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