Oilers make smart move in hiring NWHL founder Dani Rylan Kearney
By Paul Taylor
The Edmonton Oilers have shown some foresight in their decision to hire National Women’s Hockey League founder Dani Rylan Kearney as a regional pro scout.
The Edmonton Oilers’ on-ice product looked terrible on Wednesday night, as they were humiliated 8-1 by the Vancouver Canucks. Off the ice however, the news was more positive the following day.
As confirmed by the Oilers on Thursday afternoon, they have hired Dani Rylan Kearney. She will be joining their hockey operations department as a regional pro scout.
Rylan Kearney is best known for founding the NWHL in 2015. (The league was eventually renamed the Premier Hockey Federation.) It was the the first professional women’s hockey league in the United States, as well as the first North American professional women’s hockey league to pay its players.
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The Oilers have apparently been pursuing the 36-year-old for some time. She also served as commissioner of the NWHL/PHF, and this is the type of signing which shows foresight, alluding to how the organization is being operated these days.
As per Zach Laing of Oilers Nation, Rylan Kearnery served as commissioner from 2015 until 2020, but her tenure ended in less than ideal circumstances. She was asked to step down and take on an advisory role during an overhaul of the league, which eventually ceased to exist in June of this year.
The Tampa, Florida native played two seasons for the Northeastern Huskies, scoring 20 points (six goals and 14 assists), in 50 games as a winger. Notably she was captain during her second season, which speaks to her leadership skills.
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Rylan Kearney previously earned a broadcasting journalism degree in 2010, at Metropolitan State University in Denver. As per Pat Borzi of ESPN, her father worked in marketing for the Tampa Bay Lightning when she was growing up.