KIMBERLY SASS

SASS KIMBERLY 2024

ARCHITECTURE / PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Advocating for increased female representation and gender equity while working in a STEM/Sports-based career.

Experience

Kimberly Sass is a Project Manager with Legends Project Development working on the Buffalo Bills Stadium project. She holds a Master of Architecture degree from University at Buffalo, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art & Geography from Colgate University. She is an experienced architectural job captain with a demonstrated history of overseeing and executing projects within the Architecture/ Interior Architecture industry.

ASPIRATIONS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, KIMBERLY ASPIRES TO TAKE PART IN MANAGING/ DEVELOPING ARENAS THAT ARE BUILT SOLELY FOR FEMALE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS.

PRO HOCKEY

USING ON ICE TALENT AND PLATFORM TO INSPIRE THE FUTURE

GENERATIONS AND LEAVE THE GAME IN A BETTER PLACE.

PHWPHA BOARD

Sass was a former board member of the PWHPA, and fought for a future sustainable, living wage league, where players would not have to juggle multiple careers in order to fulfill their dream of being professional hockey players. This future league came to fruition as the PWHL, which completed its inaugural season in 2024.

PWHPA 2019-2022

SASS played 3 seasons in the Dream Gap Tour of the PWHPA before retiring in 2022.

Tri-State Region | 2019 - 2020

Team WSF | 2020 - 2021

Team Bauer | 2021 - 2022

NWHL METROPOLITAN RIVETERS

2017-2019

Sass played for the Metropolitan Riveters in the tri-state area from 2017-2019 while balancing her architecture career in Manhattan. She is a 2018 Isobel Cup Champion & had a proud shootout victory over the Connecticut Whale in 2018.

COLGATE WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

2008-2012

Sass played Division I ice hockey at Colgate University from 2008-2012. She was an Assistant Captain in 2012, and was selected to participate in Leadership Academy from 2009-2012.

As a student athlete, she devoted over 20 hours/week to practice, competition, meetings, and travel, while maintaining a vigorous academic course load. Awards:

Eastern College Athletic Conference All Academic Team 2009-2012; Raider Academic Honor Roll 2009-2011; Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence 2009-2011; ECAC Goaltender of the Year, ECAC First Team All League, ECAC All Rookie Team 20082009; Colgate University Female Rookie of the Year 2008-2009

NWHL BUFFALO BEAUTS

2015-2016

Sass played in the inaugrual season of the NWHL for the Buffalo Beauts in her hometown Buffalo, NY, while finishing her Master of Architecture degree at University at Buffalo.

GIVING BACK THROUGH COACHING

Sass & her two goalie partners formed a goalie coaching business titled OneThree35 Goaltending in 2019 in order to give back to the local NJ community. Sass welcomed coaching opportunities through the NWHL & has recently participated in coaching clinics with the PWHPA.

AAAS IF/THEN STEM AMBASSADOR

Being An Advocate Exhibition

Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ IF/THEN® Initiative presents #IfThenSheCan –The Exhibit. This monumental exhibit of 120 3-D printed statues celebrates contemporary women innovators in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and features the most statues of real women ever assembled together. Kimberly advocates for the future of both women’s professional

hockey and female participation in STEM careers. SASS’ statue was on display at Northpark Center, Smithsonian, and MIT.

EQUITY IN STEM/SPORTS

“I think we’re definitely making progress,” she said. “I’m advocating for the players that are currently living through having multiple jobs and trying to train; for the retired players that were forced into retirement way too soon, and if not for them, for the future players, to have a livable wage so they don’t have to go through what I’m currently going through.”

“Even though I’m this ambassador and having a career in architecture and in hockey, I’m not advocating that people should be doing both at the same time,” she said. “I’m simply making a statement that you don’t have to have a stereotypical job; you can push the boundaries of what people or society think is possible.”

ADVOCACY

ON AND OFF THE ICE

USING HER PLATFORM IN HOCKEY & ART TO ADVOCATE FOR GENDER EQUITY.

SASS STUDIO

SASS STUDIO, formed in 2021, focuses on painting and installation work. Known for its bold, colorful representations and realistic style, SASS STUDIO humanizes the work by including ‘imperfect’ perspectives, pops of color and stylized elements. Drawing inspiration from her background in architecture, the artist focuses on amplifying her technical abilities through the use of precision and refined edges. The work tends to stray away from the use of blended conditions in order to create clean and crisp designs. Behind The Front was SASS STUDIO’s first formal show, debuting in 2022. SASS STUDIO has recently designed the LA Kings WHM jersey in 2024 and the Washington Capitals’ first ever Women in Hockey special warm up jerseys in 2023. To follow along and support SASS STUDIO, please visit www. kimberlysass.com/sassstudio.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

2023 WARM-UP JERSEY

DESIGN FOR NHL TEAM.

HOCKEY+ART

BEHIND THE JERSEY

SASS partnered with the Capitals to design a special warm-up jersey promoting gender equity in sports, and she chose painting as her starting medium. Her painting is titled FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE.

With the 50th anniversary of Title IX in 2022, this jersey project was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the impact that it’s had on society. SASS began the process by taking a trip to Washington D.C. to archive architectural landmarks that helped push forward Title IX in the public sphere.

The painting features all of the historic architecture that Title IX has moved through or currently lives in. The buildings are painted in the Washington Capitals’ colors and collaged at different scales and perspectives. This restitching represents the opportunity to re-examine the current and future impact of Title IX from a new perspective.

SASS STUDIO’S PAINTING, JERSEYS, AND AUTOGRAPHED PUCKS WERE AUCTIONED & A DONATION WAS MADE TO THE WOMEN’S SPORTS FOUNDATION.

CONCEPT

For the jersey design, SASS began with the 2021 Blue Third Alternate jersey as her starting point. The W on the front and numbers on the back are infilled from cropped pieces of her painting, Foundations For Change. The Roman numerals of Title IX are woven into the W logo on the front of the jersey.

“TITLE IX deserves to be worn proudly on the chest as it has provided tremendous opportunities for women in sports.”

TITLE IX SIGNIFICANCE

Title IX has shaped SASS’ life and career significantly.

As a former college D1 athlete & pro hockey player, STEM professional, and entrepreneur, SASS is a living example of how Title IX has opened many doors for females in sports and beyond

“I think it’s important to celebrate and protect this legislation since recent events have proven that these laws can be reversed. We also need to examine how Title IX can be improved to provide equity for all.“

PROCESS

AUCTION RECAP

LINK

“In order for this important law to reach its full promise for all girls and women, it’s vital for everyone – especially younger generations – to understand their rights to equal access and opportunity, to be vigilant in ensuring those rights are upheld and not take them for granted.”

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

LOS ANGELES KINGS HOCKEY+ART

2024 WARM-UP JERSEY

DESIGN FOR NHL TEAM.

“The LA Kings were proud to celebrate Women’s History Month by spotlighting the incredible community of female hockey players and fans in Los Angeles. Additionally, the organization will continue to provide support for vulnerable women through our partnerships with local organizations as well as purposefully invest in growing opportunities in sport for girls both on and off the ice.

The Kings continued to celebrate past, present and future groundbreaking women in sport with the help of specialty jersey and merchandise artist, construction Project Manager, and former professional hockey goaltender, Kimberly Sass of SASS STUDIO. Her designs were a proud acknowledgment of all the barriers that have been broken by pioneering women and the doors this has opened for younger generations. The signed jerseys raised almost $20,000 for the Kings Care Foundation to grow opportunities and support for girls hockey programs.”

CONCEPT

This jersey celebrates the relentlessness of women who have broken gender stereotypes/boundaries in sport & life. Various custom stickers collaged within the kings shield logo/numbers pays homage to all of the female athletes that have proven no limits. The imagery deserves to be worn proud on the chest as an acknowledgement of all the barriers that have been broken by women in sport & the doors this has opened for younger generations. The shattered glass ceiling sticker graphics symbolize moving beyond

gender barriers. Three athletes with ties to LA have inspired me. Manon Rheaume was my coach growing up & role model as a goalie. Blake Bolden has been an inspirational Fellow NWHL & PWHPA player. Beyond their playing careers, seeing both of their trajectories off the ice in the NHL has been exciting.

Billie Jean King & Ilana Kloss are champions of equality, consulted for the PWHPA while I was on the Board, were integral to the formation of the PWHL, & both are now on the PWHL Board of Governors.

WOMEN’S HISTORY CELEBRATION

The LA Kings celebrate past, present and future groundbreaking women in sport with the help of artist, construction Project Manager, and former professional hockey goaltender, Kimberly Sass of SASS STUDIO. Various custom stickers collaged within the Kings shield pays homage to all the female athletes that have proven they have no limits. The imagery is a proud acknowledgment of all the barriers that have been broken by pioneering women and the doors this has opened for younger generations. As an advocate for females in STEM, the artwork also references Sass’ profession in construction.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR CUSTOM NHL MERCH.

SHOW INFO CONCEPT

BEHIND THE FRONT is a thought-provoking, immersive art experience featuring large-scale paintings, installation pieces & video inspired by Sass’ experience as a professional female athlete & highlighting the inequities she and her teammates face while playing professional women’s hockey.

“As female athletes, we often hear the criticism, ‘Just be grateful for the opportunity to play,’ ” Sass said. “I would often question if those critics knew the extent of our opportunity to play. The reality in the locker room was that my teammates would laugh off our negative playing conditions, because the alternative was to cry.”

Sass uniquely juxtaposes the realities of balancing careers in pro hockey and architecture, which stand in stark contrast to the positive images (the “front”) which professional women’s hockey portrays.

Through her show, Sass hopes to spark honest conversations about what it will take to achieve true equity in pro women’s hockey, while fostering public, corporate & private support for and interest in the sport to directly impact female athletes. A percentage of artwork sales through auction and prints will support the Women’s Sports Foundation.

LOCATION: NEW YORK, NY

HOSTED BY NY RANGERS

PRESENTED BY DUNKIN’

NOVADO

GALLERY

LOCATION: JERSEY CITY, NJ

GALLERY

LOCATION: BUFFALO, NY

KRAKEN COMMUNITY ICEPLEX

LOCATION: SEATTLE, WA

HOSTED BY SEATTLE KRAKEN

PRESENTED BY STARBUCKS

ARENA

LOCATION: NEW YORK, NY

HOSTED BY NY ISLANDERS

SASS STUDIO

NEWS + PRESS SASS STUDIO

NHL: SASS STUDIO X KINGS

LA KINGS | LINK

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT | LINK RECAP | LINK

“The LA Kings celebrate past, present and future groundbreaking women in sport with the help of artist, construction Project Manager, and former professional hockey goaltender, Kimberly Sass of SASS STUDIO. Various custom stickers collaged within the Kings shield pays homage to all the female athletes that have proven they have no limits. The imagery is a proud acknowledgment of all the barriers that have been broken by pioneering women and the doors this has opened for younger generations.

As an advocate for females in STEM, and referencing Sass’ profession in construction, Sass included some construction related stickers as a nod to all females in traditionally male dominated fields as they continue to change the narrative. Sass has been personally impacted by two female athletes within the Kings family: Manon Rhéaume, as one of her coaches growing up and a role model to her as a goalie, and Blake Bolden, as an inspirational fellow NWHL and PWHPA player.”

NHL: SASS STUDIO X ISLANDERS

LINK

“The New York Islanders are hosting Women in Sports Night, presented by Northwell, as the Islanders take on the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night at UBS Arena.

The event will highlight and celebrate women in hockey – both on the ice and in sports business – in collaboration with the NHL for Women’s History Month.

The Islanders are showcasing female athletes, business leaders and medical experts for an empowering evening prior to puck drop.

Fans who purchase a ticket to the game through this link will be invited to the panel located in the lower bowl at UBS Arena. All attendees will receive a commemorative pin and a complimentary tote bag designed by Kim Sass, former professional hockey player and owner of Sass Studio.”

SASS STUDIO

NEWS + PRESS SASS STUDIO

NHL: SASS STUDIO X CAPITALS LINK

““ARLINGTON, VA - The Washington Capitals unveiled today a Women in Hockey warmup jersey inspired by Title IX. The jersey, designed by former Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) goaltender and current PWHPA board member Kimberly Sass of SASS STUDIO, will be worn during warmups when the Capitals host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, March 23, during Women in Hockey Night presented by Fresh Vine Wine.

The jersey was unveiled during a special ceremony at the National Archives today. The ceremony followed a tour attend by players from four PWHPA teams who are in town for the Capitals PWHPA Showcase being hosted in Washington, D.C., March 4-5. During the tour, the group visited the “All American: The Power of Sports” exhibit that features a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, including the original Title IX document...”

NHL NOW: SASS STUDIO’S BEHIND THE FRONT LINK

“Kimberly Sass joins the crew to discuss a showcasing of women’s equality in hockey and the possibility of a professional league...”

NBCSW: SASS STUDIO X CAPITALS

Kimberly Sass recaps on the design of the warm up jerseys for the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

NHL: SASS STUDIO X KRAKEN LINK

“Professional goalie Kim Sass wants fans to put themselves in her skates and pads this weekend at Kraken Community Iceplex. Not literally but, more importantly, emotionally.

Invited by the Kraken and Starbucks, Sass is in town this week with an 11-piece “Behind the Front” exhibit of paintings, art installations and video intended to raise awareness about the positive and negative experiences for female players at the professional level of hockey. It’s a must-see advocacy art show for Seattle’s hockey community to inform all of us about the state of women’s professional hockey and what we as fans and citizens of the sport can do with that knowledge...”

SASS STUDIO

CBS WIVB: SASS STUDIO’S BEHIND THE FRONT @ CEPA GALLERY LINK

“The road to having a full art display at a gallery in her hometown has been a winding one for Kimberly Sass...”

NHL: SASS STUDIO X KRAKEN

LINK

“Kimberly Sass was frustrated with her locker room.

Sass, a Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association goalie, and her teammates found themselves trying to get dressed in a locker room that was spilling over to the toilet area. They rolled their eyes and made jokes about it, but the frustrations were mounting...”

NJ: SASS STUDIO”S BEHIND THE FRONT @ NOVADO GALLLERY LINK

“Professional hockey player Kimberly Sass is exposing the realities of professional women’s hockey with a new advocacy art show, “Behind the Front, at Novado Gallery starting Wednesday, Feb. 2. But before that, the show will open at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater on Sunday, Jan. 30. The show is presented by Sass Studio...”

NEWS + PRESS ARCHITECTURE/ PROJECT MANAGEMENT

AP NEWS LINK

“The recently retired goalie, who won a National Women’s Hockey League championship with the Metropolitan Riveters in 2018, has been hired as project manager to represent the Buffalo Bills in the building of the team’s new stadium. The role not only aligns with Sass’ professional career in design and architecture, it’s a job that holds special meaning for someone from Buffalo.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity,” Sass said. “As a Bills fan growing up here and just to be able to work on a project this big, this scale and this magnitude in terms of the future impact it’ll have on this community is awesome.”

Sass is working for Legends, a company co-owned by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. It was hired by the Bills to oversee the construction of a new facility projected to cost $1.4 billion to be built across the street of the team’s current home.”

UB: CAREER ADVISOR LINK

“For a goaltender, it’s all about the angles. A goalie must keep every corner of the net covered, know where the puck is at all times, and always make the cage seem smaller.

While balancing two full-time careers—as an architectural designer and professional hockey player—Kimberly Sass has seemingly covered enough ground to reach all her goals. Still, never content to sit on the sidelines, Sass is poised to take on yet another role—as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) IF/THEN ambassador—in which she will mentor the next generation of women trailblazers.”

AAAS IF/THEN

WIVB: CBS MISSION UNSTOPPABLE

LINK

“As a young goalie, Kimberly Sass didn’t lack for role models. Her father, Robert, was a former goaltender who coached her youth teams in Amherst and supported her every step of the way. Sass also lived around the corner from a pretty fair netminder. Guy name of Dominik Hasek.

Hasek was at his peak when Kim decided to play goal as a 7-year-old, around the time the Dominator was leading the Sabres deep into the playoffs and winning an Olympic gold for the Czech Republic in 1998.

People from that neighborhood tell stories about Hasek going out into the driveway and playing street hockey with the kids. Sass dreamed about being like Dom one day, playing in the Olympics and the pros...”

Mission Unstoppable

LINK

“Kimberly Sass is a fierce professional women’s hockey goalie... but she’s also a skilled architectural designer. Learn more about her exciting double life.

Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove celebrates women who have become superstars in STEM-related careers.”

NEWS + PRESS HOCKEY

REUTERS: PWHPA BOARD

LINK

“Sass is among more than 200 women who announced in May that they were boycotting the North American professional leagues in the hope of a more economically viable option...”

COLGATE: ARCHITECTURE + HOCKEY

LINK

“At 9 a.m., she’s in all black with quirky round glasses and ruby red lipstick, discussing the design of a medical practice renovation in New York City. At 9 p.m. she’s donning a helmet stamped with the mantra “stay sassy,” stealthily blocking pucks in New Jersey....”

JUST WOMEN’S SPORTS: PWHPA

LINK

“Kimberly Sass is a professional women’s hockey goalie who helped found, and now plays for, the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). Sass played collegiate hockey at Colgate University and has previously played for the Metropolitan Riveters in the NWHL. Below, Sass talks with Just Women’s Sports about the PWHPA’s partnership with the United States Premier Hockey League, how COVID has shaped her perspective on sports, and the future of the PWHPA.”