University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey coach Maura Crowell didn't have to go very far to find the next assistant coaches for the Bulldogs.

On Tuesday, UMD announced both Laura Bellamy (a native of Duluth) and Samantha Reber (who hails from Edina, Minn.) have been hired to help Crowell lead the Bulldogs for the quickly approaching 2015-16 season.  

"I am excited to announce Laura Bellamy and Sami Reber as the new assistant coaches for the UMD women's hockey program," said Crowell.  "Both played an integral role in returning the Harvard Hockey program to national prominence, reaching the national championship game this past season for the first time since 2005. They are Minnesota natives, and we are thrilled to be bringing them back to the area to join our program."

Bellamy -- a 2009 graduate of Duluth Denfeld High School and six-year starter for the Duluth Northern Stars who was the state's Let's Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year -- spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Harvard, helping the Crimson reach the NCAA national championship game this past March with a record of 27-6-3 and the NCAA quarterfinals in 2013-14.  During the 2013-14 season, Bellamy teamed up with Crowell, who was Harvard's interim head coach that year, to lead the Crimson to an impressive 23-7-4 overall mark.  Prior to her time on the Harvard bench, Bellamy manned the pipes for the Crimson from 2009-2013.  Over her career, she played in 95 games with a 60-25-7 record while in goal for Harvard.   She also compiled a 1.82 GAA to go with a .915 saves percentage and 19 career shutouts in net, which ranked her second in school history when she graduated.  Bellamy spent the last year of her career between the pipes as the nation's leader in goals against with an average of 0.92, and was second in the country with her .949 save percentage, landing her First Team All-Ivy accolades.  Bellamy earned her History and Science degree from Harvard in 2013.

"I feel very fortunate not only to be returning to Duluth, but also to be joining the storied hockey tradition at UMD," said Bellamy.  "I look forward to coaching with two people I greatly respect in Maura and Sami, and am extremely excited to start working with the student-athletes."

Reber ranked third in scoring for the Crimson this past season, posting seven goals and 25 assists for 32 points in 36 games, and the first-line center was instrumental in leading Harvard into the NCAA title game in Minneapolis on March 22.  Over her four-year career, Reber was a member of Harvard's 100-point club, having amassed 108 points in 134 skates on 26 goals and 82 assists -- ranking her top-10 all-time for career helpers in program history.  A Crimson co-captain for her senior season, Reber was a four-year letterwinner and all-conference selection at Edina High School prior to landing with the Crimson.  Reber graduated this past May with a Bachelor degree in Psychology.

The Bulldogs will begin their new era under Crowell on Sept. 26 against Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.