New York State Amateur Hockey Association announced that Linda Groff has been named the district’s new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator. 

In addition to her new role, Groff is also the Recording Secretary for NYSAHA, the co-coordinator for Grow the Game and serves on the Girls’ & Women’s Development Committee. She is also the director of the Recreational Skills Clinics sponsored by NYSAHA, running skills clinics across New York State.

Groff received the USA Hockey New Leader Award in 2022, reflecting her dedication to the growth of hockey. She is a USA Hockey Level 5 coach who continues to be on the ice with players of all ages and skill levels.

Raised in Amherst, Groff was a standout varsity athlete in field hockey, ice hockey and softball at Nichols High School. She earned MVP honors in hockey as a freshman and in both field hockey and softball as a senior. She was the assistant captain for hockey in her junior and senior years and served as captain for field hockey and softball during her senior year. 

A former Div. I defenseman for Niagara University, her team reached the NCAA Frozen Four during her junior year in 2022, placing third in the nation. The 2001-2002 team was inducted into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Groff holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Niagara and a Master’s in Arts in English Education from Buffalo State College.

Groff has coached for 20 years, including varsity field hockey and lacrosse at Sacred Heart in Buffalo and served as head coach for the Monsignor Martin varsity girls’ ice hockey team as well as for youth hockey and youth baseball.

She was the first general manager of the Buffalo Beauts in the NWHL. In their first season, the Beauts fell to the Boston Pride in the Isobel Cup Finals, and in their second season they made history by bringing Buffalo its first hockey championship, defeating the Boston Pride, 4-3.

Groff continues to live in Amherst with her two sons, Riley (16) and Cooper (12) and their dog Alli.