Erika Lawler

Erika Lyn Lawler (born February 5, 1987) is a retired Women's Ice Hockey player. She was notably a member of the 2009–10 United States national women's ice hockey team which participated in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and a member of the CWHL's Boston Blades (2011-2013) and the NWHL's Metropolitan Riveters (2017-2019). Lawler also played prep hockey at Cushing Academy where she won the Bette Davis Award as the top athlete in her class three times. She then played collegiately for the Wisconsin Badgers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and won three NCAA titles (2006, 2007 and 2009).

Playing career

Wisconsin Badgers

Over the course of her career as a Wisconsin Badger, Erika Lawler received many accolades and awards. With her team, she won three NCAA titles in four seasons (2006, 2007, and 2009). She played in 163 games for the Wisconsin Badgers, which was the most in school history. She also ranks 2nd for most career assists with 119, 7th for all-time Career goals with 55, and 3rd all time in points with 174.

2005-2006

In her first year as a Badger, Erika Lawler helped her team win the NCAA National Tournament. She played all 41 games that season, and finished sixth in scoring on the team with 13 goals, 19 assists, and 32 points.

2006-2007

In her sophomore year, Lawler helped her team win their second consecutive NCAA title. She again played in all 41 games that season, and led the team with 28 assists.

2007-2008

In her junior year, Lawler led her team in assists with 28 for the second consecutive year. Though Lawler and the Badgers did not win the NCAA title in 2008, they still made it to the Championship game, where they lost 4–0 to Minnesota-Duluth.

2008-2009

In her senior year, Erika Lawler was named captain of the Wisconsin Badgers. She led the team to the NCAA Championship, where she won her third and final title. She led the entire NCAA in assists scoring with 44 assists. She was a Top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

USA Hockey

Three-time member of the United States Women's National Team for the
International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship (gold-2008-09, silver-
2007) … Four-time member of the United States Women's Select Team for the Four Nations Cup
(1st-2008, 2nd-2006-07, 2009) … Member of the United States Women's National Team in 2009–
10 (Qwest Tour) … Three-time member of the United States Women's Under-22 Select Team for the
Under-22 Series with Canada (2006–08). Cocaptained the team in 2008 … Four-time USA
Hockey Women's National Festival participant (2006–09) … Four-time USA Hockey Player
Development Camp attendee (2002–05).

2010 Olympic team

Received Silver Medal in the XXI 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Erika and the USA Women's Hockey Team lost 2–0 against Canada on February 25, 2010.

Awards and honors

;USA Hockey:
Three-time member of the U.S. Women's National Team for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship (gold-2008-09, silver-2007) ... Three-time member of the U.S. Women's Select Team for the Four Nations Cup (1st-2008, 2nd-2006-07) ... Three-time member of the U.S. Women's Under-22 Select Team for the Under-22 Series with Canada (2006–08). Co-captained the team in 2008 ... Four-time USA Hockey Women's National Festival participant (2006–09) ... Four-time USA Hockey Player Development Camp attendee (2002–05).

;College: Played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, where she was part of three national championship teams ... Her 174 career points (55–119) rank third in school history. As a Senior (2008–09): Captained the Badgers to the 2009 NCAA National Championship ... Led the NCAA with 44 assists ... Earned All-WCHA Second Team honors ... Top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. As a Junior (2007–08): Helped the Badgers to the NCAA title game ... Led the team with 28 assists and ranked third with 40 points ... All-WCHA Second Team honoree. As a Sophomore (2006–07): Helped lead the team to the NCAA National Championship for the second consecutive year ... All-WCHA Third Team selection. As a Freshman (2005–06): Helped the Badgers win the NCAA title.

* 2008 Badger Award
* Led the NCAA with 44 assists in 2009

Personal life

Lawler is an ally and champion for LGBTQ+ rights. In 2023, she signed an open letter opposing transgender sports bans in America, joining star athletes like Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, and longtime teammate Meghan Duggan.

References

External links

On The Ellen DeGeneres Show

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawler, Erika
1987 births
American women's ice hockey forwards
Ice hockey players from Massachusetts
Ice hockey players at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Living people
Medalists at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic silver medalists for the United States in ice hockey
Sportspeople from Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Ice hockey people from Worcester County, Massachusetts
Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey players
21st-century American sportswomen