Jacqui Gutierrez, the first female athletic trainer in South Carolina Stingrays history, is headed to the AHL's Rochester Americans.
In December 2022, the South Carolina Stingrays made a landmark hire when they brought in Jacqui Gutierrez as the club’s head athletic trainer. She became the first female to serve in that position in franchise history.
Less than two years later, Gutierrez is getting another opportunity, this time as an assistant athletic trainer with the Rochester Americans of the AHL.
"I enjoyed every minute of my time with the Stingrays," Gutierrez said following the announcement of her departure. "I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow with the Washington Capitals organization. I'm grateful to Rob Concannon and everyone in the organization for allowing me to come in and learn and grow as a person and as an Athletic Trainer. I enjoyed working with everyone and am going to miss the Stingrays."
Gutierrez helped the Rays win their seventh ECHL South Division title in 2023, and that summer, she was selected as the athletic trainer for the U.S. Under-18 Men's Select Team at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Before joining the Stingrays, Gutierrez was the Director of Athletic Training and Recovery for the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers, where she made history by becoming the first female athletic trainer to win a Clark Cup Championship.
Gutierrez has a Bachelor's degree in biology from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Nebraska. She joins Rochester’s training staff following the retirement of Amerks Hall of Famer Kent Weisbeck.
"Jacqui did a great job the past two seasons keeping our players healthy and on the ice," said Stingrays president Rob Concannon. "She will be a great addition to the Rochester Americans staff and organization."