NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Head women's ice hockey coach Steve Novodor is pleased to announce the hiring of Vika Simons as the first Assistant Women's Ice Hockey Coach for the Albertus Magnus College women's ice hockey program, set to debut in Fall 2023.

"We are excited to welcome Vika to the Albertus Magnus College women's ice hockey staff for our inaugural season. Vika was a goalie at St. Michael's and we feel that she is going to contribute significantly to the development of our players and our program as a whole" said head coach Novodor.

Simons was most recently the assistant women's ice hockey coach at Spaulding High School in Vermont, where she helped coach the team to a Division I state championship in 2023. Simons has also coached extensively at the youth level, spending time working with the Vermont Make-A-Wish Girls' Team, Girls 4 Hockey, Vermont Shamrocks AA and AAA Select Girl's Teams, the Saint Johnsbury Academy Varsity Girls' Team, the Lyndon Institute Varsity Boys Team, and the South Burlington High School Girls' Varsity team.      

Simons is also a Rink Supervisor at the Essex Skating Facility and is a Spanish teacher at Spaulding High School in Vermont. Simons graduated from St. Michael's College with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and Spanish.

Simons played two years for the Saint Michael's College Purple Knights. She made 41 starts over two years and amassed 1,483 saves in net. She recorded nine 30-save performances, to go along with five 40-save games, and a pair of 50-save matches. In 2019, she was named to the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) All-Rookie Team. In 2020, Simons was awarded the NEWHA Ice Hockey/Goaltender of the Year Award. 

"I am thrilled to be a part of the inaugural women's ice hockey season at Albertus Magnus College," Simons said. "I'm looking forward to meeting the players and helping to create a successful and sustainable team at Albertus Magnus College as the program prepares to enter the highly competitive NEHC next season."