Salve Regina has announced the hiring of Christopher MacPherson as its new men’s head coach.
MacPherson, a native of North Eastham, Mass., inherits a program that has finished eighth each of the last two seasons in the ECAC Northeast. He is only the third head men’s coach in the history of the program. Prior to attaining NCAA Division III varsity status in 1997, the Seahawks had enjoyed a number of successful seasons as a club program since 1984.
MacPherson served as an assistant coach with Skidmore for the past five seasons, a position he earned after graduating with a number of Thoroughbred ice hockey records.
As a player at Skidmore, MacPherson ranks eighth all-time in scoring with 63 goals and 49 assists for 112 points in 94 career games played. He also played on three regular-season ECAC South championship teams. Skidmore was 68-23-4 during his four seasons. In addition, he holds Skidmore career records for game-winning goals (14) and power-play goals (33), and season records for power-play goals (14) and penalty minutes (126).
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a group of hard-working players,” says MacPherson, whose Thoroughbred squad defeated the Seahawks, 2-1, last January. “They’ve shown a tremendous ability to adjust to different systems.”
MacPherson may implement a number of systems he learned from his dad, Malcolm MacPherson, the coach at Fitchburg State. It’s a family affair at the Falcon Hockey School each summer in Fitchburg, Mass., Chris and his dad teach youth hockey players proper stance, stride, stick handling, shooting and checking techniques.
Salve Regina upset top-seeded Tufts in the first-round of the ECAC Northeast playoffs last season, and two players earned all-New England accolades from the New England Hockey Writers Association (NEHWA). Leading scorer Brian Hannafin, also an ECAC All-Star, graduated in May, while defensemen Jack Wallace returns for his senior season.
