NEWHL

2024 April Showers Tournament

It's the 20th April Showers Tournament, come celebrate our anniversary!!

Information about the 2024 April Showers Tournament can be found on the tournament page. Find the page through the main menu, click the logo, or click the button below:

Visit the Tournament Page

About NEWHL

The New England Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) is a senior women's day/evening league that offers skills programs at Nashoba Valley Olympia in Boxborough, MA and Founders Training Rink in Somerville, MA. The NEWHL is a fun, semi-competitive skills-based league that is committed to improving women's hockey skills, promoting camaraderie, and growing women's hockey!

NEWHL was established in 2000 and has been successful ever since. We started with 10 brave women and now have over 90 players involved in our multi-level skills programs and games. Our players all share the joy of playing hockey together along with supporting and encouraging each other. We have burned millions of calories, gained flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, skating skills, and most of all confidence in ourselves. We invite you to join us!

See Programs

Our History

In 2001, the New England Women’s Hockey League was founded by Kerri Macaluso. The ten founding members had met at a recreational women’s hockey program sponsored by the town of Acton, Massachusetts. One morning each week, while our children were at school, our coach showed us the rudiments of hockey, starting with how to skate. Steadily and gradually we gained confidence and skills. We proudly wore our red-and-black "Hot Shots" hockey jerseys. We progressed with our skills and eventually organized the first April Showers Women's Hockey Tournament in 2003.

In April of 2006, 14 of the 15 women who skated in the: FIRST-EVER Women’s Over-50 division at a national tourney, sponsored by USA Hockey/LaBatt Blue, in Tampa, Florida, have skated or are presently skating in the NEWHL program. We have sent players or a team every year since 2006.

In the 2010 season we were asked by the NHL to carry 40 banners on the field at the Bridgestone Winter Classic at Fenway Park.

In the 2011 season were were asked to participate in a commercial called "Biscuit" for Eastern Bank which aired on local TV.

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Our Coaches

and Administrators

Brian Fontas

18 years with NEWHL, former UMass Boston player, and longtime Coach of the Acton Boxboro Lady Colonials Varsity Team.

More about Coach Fontas

Annie Hogan

Former Boston Blades professional player and captain of Northeastern University hockey team, 16 years skating and instructional experience.

More about Coach Hogan

Kerri Macaluso

NEWHL Founder and Administrator, organizer of the April Showers Tournament, and all around hockey superstar.

Brian Fontas - NEWHL Coach

Going into his 18th year coaching at NEWHL, Brian brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to every session he teaches. His patience on the ice is a great attribute, which makes for a positive learning environment. Brian has also been head coach of the Acton Boxboro Girls hockey team for the past 20 years, taking over the program in 1999 with no intention of retiring any time soon.

Brian went to Acton Boxboro Regional high school from 1990-1994 and played on the varsity hockey team for 4 years. After graduation he attended the University of Massachusetts at Boston from 1994-1998, playing 4 years for the Beacons. He then started his career as head coach of the Lady Colonials the following year. Over the past 20 years at Acton Boxboro his teams were involved in 7 DCL/MVC Large titles, and have qualified for the state tournament 14 times. They were Division 1 State finalists, playing in the Boston Garden in 2011 and 2015. Brian was named Lowell Sun coach of the year in 2010, 2014, and 2015 and has led the team to 274 wins to date.

Rival coach Bobby ware of Westford Academy states:

“We are fortunate to call Acton Boxboro our rivalry. Each year, our teams compete in an environment that is forever lasting. You can always count on Brian Fontas to have his team prepared to compete. He is an extremely talented coach who takes pride in coaching girls high school hockey. His passion is unmatchable. Brian Fontas is a first class coach and an even better person. The commitment he has made to his Acton Boxboro girls program demonstrates the love he has for the game of hockey. Our league is blessed to have him and is a true role model for what coaching kids is all about.”

The Massachusetts State Hockey Coaches Association inducted Brian in May of 2019. He is only the 2nd girls coach in Massachusetts history to receive this honor.

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Annie Hogan - NEWHL Coach

Annie has over 16 years of hockey instruction experience, including teaching skating camps and clinics, private and small group instruction, team clinics, and youth hockey skills programs. Annie played professionally with the Boston Blades in 2010-2011, was captain for 2 of her 4 years at Northeastern University, and received an invitation to the USA Hockey National Development Camp six times. As a youth, Coach Hogan played hockey at Lawrence Academy and won a National Championship with the Assabet Valley Girls Hockey program.

Annie says of her coaching style:

“Skating instruction is my thing. I think fundamentals are important and work hard to teach proper technique. I am involved in my drills - demonstrating, communicating, and teaching - because I think it helps set the tone and energy of practice. I think simple drills and repetition improve player’s fundamentals. It doesn’t matter age, experience, or skill, I just really like to help people on the ice get better.”

Annie has also worked with experienced NHL skills coaches, including Mark Ciaccio, (NYR) Angelo Ricci (BUF), and Pertti Hasanen (NJD), and uses many of their styles and methods in her instruction.

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