Gina Kearns McLaughlin begins her 11th season at the helm of the Women’s Ice Hockey team for the 2024-25 season.
The 2019-20 season saw the Knights earn a UCHC playoff berth for the second consecutive season. Neumann went 8-17-1 overall with a 7-10-1 record in the UCHC, good enough to earn the sixth-seed in the conference playoffs. In the opening round of the playoffs, the Knights fell to third seeded William Smith to conclude their season. Katelyn Brown and Helen Cooney each earned UCHC honorable mention.
McLaughlin led the Knights to one of their best seasons in recent memory during the 2017-18 season, going 12-11-2 overall and 9-6-2 in UCHC play to earn a playoff berth for the first time in five seasons. Neumann fell in the UCHC opening round to Utica College by a score of 4-1. Two Knights earned all-conference honors, as Bek Lucas was named to the First Team, while Katelyn Brown was named UCHC Rookie of the Year. In addition to conference honors, Lucas also earned AHCA/CCM Second Team All-America honors as well as being named the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area At-Large Player of the Year. Lucas was also the NCAA Division III statistical leader in goals per game for the 2017-18 season, recording 1.17 goals per game during the season.
During the 2016-17 season, the Knights went 7-15-3 overall. Bek Lucas received First Team All-Conference and was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team.
Neumann went 6-18-1 in 2015-16 and 3-14-1 in ECAC West action over the 2015-16 season. Bek Lucas was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team. In 2014-15, the Knights went 7-16-2 overall and 5-12-1 in conference play. Coach Kearns’ overall record is 32-60-8 in four seasons at Neumann.
Prior to Neumann, Kearns was at Penn State University where she served as the Assistant Women’s Ice Hockey Coach. Since 2011, Kearns was in charge of Penn State's forwards and power plays as well as serving as recruiting coordinator as well as arranging team housing and volunteer opportunities.
Kearns was also responsible for all of the social media updates for Penn State Women’s Hockey during the 2011-12 season.
Kearns is no stranger to Neumann. She was an Assistant Coach for the women’s program for two seasons, 2009-2011, under Head Coaches Matt Kennedy and Casey Handrahan.
Kearns, who played boys high school hockey for Interboro High School and went on to an unbelievable career at Boston University. While at BU, Gina finished the all-time leading scorer for the Terriers tallying 52 goals and 50 assists for 102 points in her four-year career. She was also a three-year captain for BU head coach Brian Durocher. She was the first three-year captain in program history. She is also the first player to score 50 goals and record 100 points in a career.
A native of Norwood, Pa., Kearns graduated from Boston University in 2009 with a Bachelors of Science in Health Science. She and her husband, Bill, have three children, Callie, Maddie and Brady.
