Danielle Goyette speaks about becoming first woman to serve as assistant coach in ECHL

Toronto Maple Leafs director of player development Danielle Goyette made history on Thursday evening when she became the first woman on a coaching staff to work behind the bench for an ECHL game serving as an assistant with the Newfoundland Growlers for their matchup against the Reading Royals.

Newfoundland, Toronto's ECHL affiliate, fell to Reading 9-2, and Goyette spoke about the experience following that defeat. 

"I always say, when you put yourself outside your comfort zone, good things come out of it," Goyette said, per the NHL's website. "The fact that we lost the game tonight, it's a different feeling because I hate losing, maybe I would have felt different with a win, but for me it's about the team and doing the right thing."

Goyette, in the IIHF Hall of Fame and Hockey Hall of Fame, was needed because Newfoundland head coach Eric Wellwood entered COVID-19 protocol earlier in the week. She previously worked as head coach of the University of Calgary Dinos for 13 seasons but joined the Maple Leafs on May 17 of last year. 

"To be honest, I was a bit nervous when I said yes, but at the end of the day it was about the team and what was best for them," she added about accepting this opportunity. 

Newfoundland and Reading are scheduled to face off again on Friday and Saturday.