Mercyhurst recently announced that Joey Mormina has been hired to join the coaching staff, beginning with the 2016-17 season.
Mormina replaces former assistant John Ronan, who took a position at Union.
“We think he’s going to bring a lot of great perspective to the game,” said Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin in a statement. “He has a fresh set of eyes and has just finished playing, so he’s still going to look at things potentially from a player’s standpoint. It’s very important that we have that perspective of what the player is thinking in every situation.”
“I’m looking forward to helping younger players become better and reaching their potential at the college level, and then hopefully, after a good college career, watch them become good pros,” added Mormina.
A native of Montreal, Mormina spent his college career with Colgate from 2001 to 2005. During his time with the Raiders, he played a total of 141 games while scoring 16 goals and picking up 40 assists for 56 points.
Mormina was drafted in the sixth round (193rd overall) of the 2002 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Without a contract from the Flyers after Colgate, he started out his professional career with the Manchester Monarchs, which was the Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate.
In July 2007, Mormina signed with the Carolina Hurricanes and spent time with their AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats. He eventually received the call from Raleigh and joined the Hurricanes for a one-game stint in the NHL. Mormina played his only NHL game during a 4-2 home win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 14, 2008.
Outside of his one-game appearance in the NHL, Mormina spent 11 years in the AHL.
Mormina then spent one season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before spending one season with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms and then moving back to playing for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for three seasons.
With WBS, Mormina served as the team’s 2011-12 alternate captain and wore the ‘C’ during the 2012-13 season.
After that, Mormina spent three seasons with the Syracuse Crunch, serving as the team’s alternate captain during all three seasons.
Last season, 2015-16, he split his time between the Crunch and the Rochester Americans.
“I’m a guy that has been through the system,” stated Mormina. “I’ve seen a lot and have been surrounded by a lot of good players, Hall of Fame players and good coaches, so I’ve learned from the best in the game and hope to pass that knowledge to younger players.”
