American Hockey League President & CEO David Andrews announced today several personnel moves within the league’s front office.
Melissa Caruso has been promoted to the position of Director of Hockey Administration/AHL Central Registry, Maria Lauring has been promoted to Manager of Team Business Analytics, and Kelly Flanagan has been named Executive Assistant, Hockey Operations.
Caruso came to the AHL in 2009 and had most recently served as Executive Assistant to the President. In her new role, she will be responsible for overseeing player transactions and team roster maintenance; administration of the AHL officiating program; application of the AHL’s constitution, by-laws and collective bargaining agreement; and assisting in the day-to-day management of the hockey operations department. A native of Newton, Mass., Caruso graduated magna cum laude from Springfield College in 2009 with a degree in sports management.
Caruso takes over the position of Director of Hockey Administration/AHL Central Registry from Lauren Peterson, who has left the AHL after seven seasons for a position with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Lauring joined the AHL front office in 2010 as Coordinator of Team Business Services. In her new role, she will manage all of the league’s financial data collection and assist in the identification of best practices for use by all 30 member teams. The native of Worcester, Mass., holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree in sports management from Springfield College.
A 2011 graduate of Union College, Flanagan will provide administrative support to the hockey operations department in her role as Executive Assistant. Flanagan interned with the AHL during the 2011-12 season and was part of the league’s event management team at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic in Atlantic City, N.J. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports management at Springfield College, Flanagan will begin her duties with the AHL later this summer.
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88 percent of today’s NHL players are AHL graduates, and the 2011-12 season marked the 11th consecutive year in which more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America.
