Jordan Lipson spent the 2022-23 season behind the bench at Lindenwood (photo: Lindenwood Athletics).
Robert Morris has announced that Jordan Lipson has been named an assistant coach for the Colonials women’s hockey team.
During the 2022-23 season, Lipson was an assistant coach at Lindenwood.
“Jordan brings a high level of experience in both her coaching and playing career,” said RMU head coach Logan Bittle in a statement. “She will provide a great deal of leadership to our student-athletes. We are thrilled to have Jordan as a member of our RMU women’s hockey family.”
During her one season at Lindenwood, Lipson primarily worked with the defense, as she will with the Colonials.
Lipson, a forward in her playing career, stated, “It’s where I’m comfortable on the bench. I look at it as a quarterback, turning my defenseman into offensive defenseman, moving the play up the ice.” Lipson also had input at Lindenwood on the squad’s special teams’ units, including the power play and penalty kill.
Prior to Lindenwood, Lipson spent four years as an assistant coach of the women’s hockey team at Williams.
Lipson was an accomplished player during her collegiate career at Plattsburgh, located in upstate N.Y. All four seasons, Lipson won a national championship and an ECAC West championship in her career from 2013 to 2017. Lipson is tied for the record for most power-play goals in a season at Plattsburgh and eclipsed the 100-point milestone in her career. While at Plattsburgh, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in history, and minored in political science and coaching.
From Davis, Calif., Lipson moved to Connecticut to attend prep school at Pomfret to play hockey.
“I knew I wanted to coach since I was 14,” said Lipson. “Ten years ago, there weren’t as many opportunities for women, but I knew I wanted to be involved in the game and never be away from it.”
Coming to RMU, Lipson stated she was impressed with the culture built by Bittle and his staff.
“I’m really excited to work with a program that the school really wants,” Lipson said. “We all want to work towards success. Hearing about the team it feels like a family. Logan laid a foundation to create a good culture. I hope to create an environment so they’re successful and look to have a breakout season.”
“We’re incredibly excited about the addition of Jordan to our coaching staff,” added RMU assistant coach Liam Cavanagh. “Her impressive college background and expertise will bring a fresh perspective to our program that will be a tremendous asset to our student-athletes and hockey community. I can’t wait to work alongside Jordan as we make our return this year.”
Over Bittle’s final five seasons as associate head coach from 2016 to 2021, the Colonials compiled an overall record of 97-47-21, including a 66-22-11 mark in the CHA. Robert Morris claimed three consecutive CHA regular-season championships (2017, 2018, 2019) and appeared in a pair of NCAA tournaments (2017, 2021). The Colonials also won their first CHA tournament crown in 2012, Bittle’s second season as an assistant coach with the program.
“The coaches have done a superb job sweeping the portal in the first two weeks,” said Lipson. “We’ll do a great job and I’m excited to see where this first year takes us and the next few years as a program.”
The MASCAC council of presidents and commissioner Angela Baumann have announced that Anna Maria and Rivier will be joining the conference as affiliate members.
Anna Maria and Rivier will join MASCAC men’s hockey beginning in 2024-25 and provisionally for MASCAC women’s hockey. They will join Fitchburg State, Framingham State, MCLA, Plymouth State, UMass Dartmouth, Salem State, Westfield State and Worcester State as the competing members in the MASCAC.
The multi-sport strategic addition of both of these institutions as affiliates adds members to assist in men’s hockey scheduling and positions the conference in preparations for launching MASCAC women’s hockey as a championship sport in the near future.
“The MASCAC is thrilled to welcome Anna Maria College and Rivier University to the conference,” Baumann said in a statement. “The addition of these institutions secures the future of MASCAC men’s ice hockey while addressing some scheduling logistics and sets the pathway for additional opportunities. Partnering as affiliates with these two institutions in our geographic footprint advances the MASCAC membership towards reaching a strategic goal of increasing the number of sports in the league with the addition of women’s ice hockey.
“I look forward to working with both institutions, their administrations and providing outstanding student-athlete opportunities.”
The Anna Maria men’s hockey team is gearing up for its sixth season in their program’s history. The team has amassed a 36-53-13 record since starting back in 2018-19.
“Our student-athletes, coach David McCauley and coach Zachary Perkins have worked hard to build a respected program in the region and the opportunity to compete in the MASCAC conference is something we are all looking forward to,” Anna Maria director of athletics Joseph Brady said. “We are thankful to Commissioner Baumann, the presidents of the MASCAC universities, and the athletics directors for this invitation. The chance to compete for a conference championship is a tremendous opportunity for both programs and our department. This new partnership with the MASCAC will continue to enhance our student-athlete experience for our hockey programs.”
The Rivier men’s hockey team is heading into just its third season in the history of the program, holding a 13-31-4 record in its young existence.
“The Rivier University department of athletics is thrilled to align with the MASCAC for men’s and women’s ice hockey,” Rivier director of athletics Jonathan Harper said. “As we enter our third year sponsoring hockey, we look forward to quality competition while affording our student-athletes with the opportunity to contend for a conference championship. I would like to thank Sister Paula Marie Buley for her support and leadership through this process along with Commissioner Angela Baumann who worked diligently with the MASCAC presidents and directors of athletics to make this partnership a reality.
“This opportunity is a tremendous enhancement for the Rivier hockey student-athlete experience.”
New ECAC Hockey commissioner Doug Christiansen has a long history being involved in the game of hockey (photo: Dan Hickling).
This past season reinforced the two different ways of looking at ECAC Hockey.
In a positive sense, its top team won the national championship as part of a four-bid postseason in the NCAA tournament, and ECAC matched a more heralded conference when it equaled the Big Ten with a quarter of the national tournament’s teams.
Cornell’s shutout win over Denver dethroned the defending national champion, and Quinnipiac’s run to its first title included wins over Ohio State, Michigan and Minnesota, the latter of which were considered star-crossed for a national final rematch.
Defanging the Big Ten produced the league’s third national championship and eradicated any lingering memories of the derisive comments referencing curses, voodoo, hexes or droughts wrought by Harvard’s 1989 championship, but the drama came at a negative cost to the conference’s bottom tier.
Three teams occupied slots among the 10 worst teams in the annual Pairwise Rankings. Three more were within shouting distance, and a whopping 16 spots separated Cornell from Colgate, the fourth team into the tournament and conference tournament champion.
Few seasons matched the success of watching ECAC’s men’s league ascend to hallowed ground, but few seasons equally complemented wins with the frustration experienced by onlookers who saw a 12-team conference place so many teams in the bottom tier. It was, in some ways, the capstone on retiring commissioner Steve Hagwell’s career, even as windows into future needs opened.
That type of duality has long been woven in the conference’s genetic code, and its announcement on Tuesday that Doug Christiansen would become its next shepherd signaled exactly how the league would commit to keeping things the same while changing for the better.
“I love the league,” Christiansen said during his virtual introductory press conference Tuesday. “I’m passionate about the league. I think it’s second to none in terms of the priority and opportunities that it provides for both men and women. You look at those [member] institutions, both academically and athletically, and they’re outstanding. I really enjoyed the opportunity that I had with the USHL. It’s a phenomenal league, and I learned a ton. And when this opportunity came up and presented itself, it was something that I pursued and wanted.”
The hire itself reads like a no-brainer decision for the ECAC’s member institutions. Christiansen played and graduated from Union during the Kevin Sneddon era, but his understanding of college hockey’s evolution extended to every phase and level embedded throughout the sport’s landscape.
His playing career involved years spent traveling throughout the ECHL before spending one season with the infamous Danbury Trashers in the independent United Hockey League, and after cycling through several AHL teams, Christiansen finished his domestic career by playing 99 career games with the Reading Royals. Three years later, he finished his career overseas with the Elite Ice Hockey League’s Edinburg Capitals and transitioned to coaching, and he eventually landed back on North American shores as the head coach of the Indy Fuel, experience he augmented when the USHL made the Wisconsin native its deputy commissioner last season.
“I thought I was going to be a lawyer,” he laughed, “but to me, the one constant in my life has been with hockey. It had been a part of every part of my life, dating back to being a young boy, all the way through high school and college. It’s been at every single spot along my journey.
“The other piece that’s been massive has been the education and the opportunities that I had away from home. I think this is consistent with that [idea]. It’s something that I look back at my time at Union, so I’m cautiously optimistic that I can try to help make sure that student-athletes who are there now or coming in the future have a similar experience to what I had, and then hopefully, they come back, whether that’s as a donor or a fan or somebody who just watches from afar. I want student-athletes to have that connection to all of our schools as well.”
Understanding those ideals are a reason why Christiansen can continue several of the league’s growth initiatives since he left the Capital District at the start of the century. ECAC spent the last 25 years on the cutting edge of the streaming revolution before it leveraged its Ivy League affiliates’ move from the Ivy League Digital Network to the burgeoning ESPN+ platform, and after moving its conference championship to Albany, N.Y., for eight years before three ill-fated seasons in Atlantic City, the Whitelaw Cup’s final rounds returned to Lake Placid in 2014.
Those successes helped the league mine its talent base, and the women’s league produced Olympic medalists opposite the Stanley Cup champions of the men’s league. The first league to ever boast a full complement of membership among both genders claimed the first NCAA Women’s Frozen Four championship for an eastern-based team, and in 2018, the first-ever all-eastern championship game featured Clarkson and Colgate after the Raiders beat second-ranked Wisconsin in double-overtime. Four of this past year’s 11 teams in the women’s tournament also called ECAC home.
“It’s hard to build on a national champion,” Christiansen explained. “Having four women’s teams and four men’s teams make the NCAA Tournament is a hard thing to build upon, but it’s obviously something we want to make sure we continue to work towards and to make that a consistent thing.
Yet there’s an understanding that things aren’t always rosy, and an era defined by realignment, the transfer portal, and the emerging business side of Name, Image, and Likeness puts ECAC in a precarious position. The conference carries more freight than its seven-team or eight-team counterparts, and while it’s nearly impossible to place all of those teams atop college hockey’s annual analytics, being able to further establish or reinforce foundations for both the men’s and women’s league is paramount for teams seeking to reach the next level.
“The coaches [in women’s hockey] have done a phenomenal job of attracting the elite, Canadian players,” Christiansen said, “but I think we can do an even better job of attracting some of the best American players. The highest concentration of women’s college hockey players is in the state of Minnesota, and unlike the East Coast, there aren’t an abundance of programs there.
“On the academic index, where the schools are, what the grade requirements are, hopefully that helps coaches get a foothold and attract women to the ECAC, and the opportunities that academically are available to both men and women is a great selling point. It won me over [as a recruit].”
That’s on the backdrop of a more free-wheeling sports world, and not even a national champion can quiet the rumor mill regarding expansion or break-ups. It doesn’t seem to matter to the hot stove that Hagwell embraced the 12-team model and solidified it during the radical realignment of the 2010s, and while Christiansen affirmed the league’s overall body by openly saying the league will stay at its dozen members, questions remain about how those members will operate in a world increasingly defined by dollars and the business terms.
“In terms of my vision, I think branding and recognition [can improve], whether it’s revenue or really trying to sell and celebrate the players and student-athletes,” Christiansen said. “The second piece is that this is an interesting time with [NIL]. You look at the member institutions of our school or in our conference, there are a lot of different types of schools. But there’s one common piece: they all have passionate fan bases. I think it’s going to be incumbent upon the league to help the coaches and administrators navigate that in this time.
“Because at the end of the day, you look at the schools and some of the endowments, some of the alumni, and it could be very, very impactful for both men and women in the coming years.”
Hagwell’s tenure created ECAC as it appears in the current era. It built a championship league and navigated churning, murky waters after the downturn of the 2000s signaled warning signs. He shepherded a league into which Christiansen arrived, and the players of his era transitioned the conference into an ultra-talented group capable of winning national titles.
The next step turns its attention to how that league converts its academic reputation into consistent capital during an equally muddy era. College hockey is entering arguably its most popular era, and the future is stronger than ever before. This hire, at least on paper and at first glance, more than completes that circle while starting it anew.
Christiansen is a seasoned hockey professional, serving in a range of roles over the past two decades, including player, coach, general manager, administrator, advisor and speaker. A proven leader, he will bring a wealth of experience, a growth mindset and a vast network to ECAC Hockey.
“Doug impressed the search committee with his energy and plans to capitalize on the strengths of our league,” said Sarah Fraser, incoming ECAC Hockey executive committee chair and deputy director of athletics/SWA at Quinnipiac, in a statement. “He is well connected in the sport of hockey and will be able to engage with external constituents as easily as he will with our coaches and administrators. His familiarity with ECAC Hockey and his previous involvement with the entire ecosystem of the sport will be a true benefit to our membership and student-athletes.”
The hiring marks a return to ECAC Hockey for Christiansen who competed for four seasons on the men’s hockey team at Union from 1998 to 2002. The Wisconsin native most recently served as deputy commissioner of the USHL where he oversaw operations and properties and served as the primary point of contact for USA Hockey, NHL Central Scouting, and media entities.
“I am honored to be chosen by the ECAC Hockey membership to be their next commissioner at this transformational time in college hockey,” said Christiansen. “ECAC Hockey is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities and our conference has the potential to lead the way into this next stage of college hockey. I intend to raise the profile of the ECAC Hockey brand in the era of Name, Image and Likeness and the transfer portal. Prospective student-athletes have the opportunity to make a decision that will define the next 40 years of their life in a positive way. I want to help simplify and amplify that message in a way that coaches and administrators can use to attract and retain some of the best student-athletes in the world.”
Player development has been the cornerstone of Christiansen’s career with roles that have consistently placed him at the forefront of the ever-changing hockey landscape. He is currently a member of the USA Hockey Junior Council, which oversees junior hockey in the United States, and has spearheaded a series of collaborative initiatives with the NHL focused on DEI, mental health and player safety.
During his time with the USHL, Christiansen presented at the NHL Leadership Summit and has spoken to over 18,000 players, coaches, advisors and parents. As the new face of ECAC Hockey, Christiansen is well-prepared to raise the profile of the conference through targeted speaking engagements, creative social media campaigns and strategic partnerships.
“As a passionate ECAC Hockey alum, I am excited to promote the benefits of competing in ECAC Hockey, both on and off the ice, and I’m confident that we will have the resources and thought-leadership to build upon an already strong foundation laid by Steve Hagwell,” said Christiansen. “I am excited about generating new revenue to enhance the experience for the student-athletes as they work toward winning national championships in men’s and women’s ice hockey.
“I have seen first-hand how a league office can highlight the great work of coaches and players and I intend to bring that experience to ECAC Hockey. I look forward to using my experience and network in partnership with our presidents, coaches, and athletic directors to shape the future of the ECAC Hockey brand and accentuate our collective strengths.”
In addition to an earlier stint in the USHL as director of player development and recruitment from 2014 to 2018, Christiansen spent four seasons (2018-22) as a general manager and head coach in the ECHL, beginning with the Manchester Monarchs (then-Los Angeles Kings affiliate) followed by three seasons with the Indy Fuel (then-Chicago Blackhawks affiliate).
Following his professional hockey playing career, Christiansen served as a head coach and director of hockey operations for seven seasons in the United Kingdom’s Elite League, which included a league championship in 2012, two-time coach of the year honors, and an appointment as head coach of Team Great Britain for the IIHF World Championships. Perhaps most notably, Christiansen spent three seasons coaching the Belfast Giants and looks forward to returning to Northern Ireland for the Belpot Tournament and Friendship Series.
Christiansen earned his master’s degree in Sports Business Management from the University of Edinburgh and a bachelor’s degree at Union. His family’s ties to league member institutions run deep as his brother, Jeff, was also a hockey player at Union (2010), his wife, Meghan, was a basketball player at Yale (2003) and his brother-in-law Brian was a basketball player at Harvard (2006).
He currently resides in Carmel, Ind., with his wife Meghan and their two children and plans to relocate to the Northeast later this year.
Katey Stone was behind the Harvard bench for 29 seasons (USCHO.com file photo).
After 29 years at the helm of the Harvard women’s hockey program, Katey Stone announced her retirement from coaching Tuesday.
During her tenure as Harvard’s head coach, Stone has built a national powerhouse of a hockey program, including appearances in 12 NCAA regionals, six Frozen Fours, and four national title games, as well as nine Ivy League championships, 14 total ECAC championships, 12 Beanpot titles and the 1999 national championship.
Stone’s student-athletes have garnered over 250 individual, national, conference, and league honors. On the international ice, Stone served as Team USA’s head coach from 2010 to 2014 earning a silver medal at the 2014 Olympic Games, along with gold and silver success at the 2011-2013 World Championships and Four Nations Cups.
“It has been my distinct pleasure to represent Harvard and lead our storied program for nearly three decades,” said Stone in a statement. “The opportunity to coach and empower the amazingly talented women of Harvard hockey has been both a personal and professional privilege. The relationships fostered with my players over the years has been the very best part of my job. Their personal accomplishments both at Harvard and beyond, along with our shared achievements, will always be a point of great pride and inspiration for me.
“The decision to retire from any profession is never an easy decision. For coaches, stepping down from the bench, leaving the program you have poured your heart and soul into for this many years, is especially hard. I believe a coach knows in their heart when it is time for change, and I look forward to supporting the next chapter in Harvard women’s hockey. I am grateful to my coaching colleagues and administrators who have supported my journey. Thank you to my players and alumni for sharing your lives with me. I will continue to root for each and every young woman who has come through our beloved program. It has been an honor of a lifetime to be your coach.”
Harvard athletic director Erin McDermott remarked on Stone’s coaching career at Harvard.
“We recognize the decades of service and commitment that Katey has given to this university and athletic department,” said McDermott. “We thank her for all she has done to build the women’s hockey program here, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
A search for a head coach will commence immediately.
Greg Cronin coached at Northeastern from 2005 to 2011 (photo: Northeastern Athletics).
The NHL’s Anaheim Ducks have named Greg Cronin head coach, the 11th head coach in franchise history.
Cronin, 60, begins his first stint as an NHL head coach following 36 years of prior coaching and player development experience, including 12 years as an NHL assistant coach, and roles in the AHL) NCAA and at USA Hockey.
“While we did cast a wide net in searching for the next head coach, it became clear to me that Greg would be the ideal fit for the position,” said Ducks GM Pat Verbeek in a statement. “Being a young team, I felt we needed a teacher of the finer points of the game, and someone who has worked extensively over time with talented young players, helping them develop into successful NHL players. Greg has done all that and more, and we are excited to name him head coach of the Anaheim Ducks.”
Cronin joins Anaheim after spending five seasons as the head coach of the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
“I’m excited and honored to be named head coach of the Anaheim Ducks,” said Cronin. “This team has a fantastic future ahead, and I’m very grateful to the Samueli family and Pat Verbeek for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity.”
Prior to his role with Colorado, Cronin spent four seasons with the New York Islanders, including three seasons as an assistant coach (2014-17), before being promoted to associate coach in 2017-18. He also served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2011 to 2014.
Cronin’s first stint with the Islanders organization spanned seven seasons, including two seasons as head coach of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers (2002-05), and five seasons as an assistant coach from 1998 to 2003. He also served as the club’s director of player development from 2002-05.
Cronin spent six seasons as the head coach at Northeastern from 2005 to 2011. He was named the Hockey East’s coach of the year in 2009 after guiding the team to a 25-12-4 record and the school’s first NCAA tournament appearance in 15 years. He was an assistant coach at Maine from 1988 to 1990 and 1993 to 1995, while he served as interim head coach from Dec. 1995 through Dec. 1996. He was also an assistant coach at Colorado College (1990-93) where he helped the Tigers reach the WCHA tournament final in 1992 for the first time in 14 years.
A co-founder of the United States National Team Development Program, Cronin spent the inaugural season of the program as director of player development in 1996-97 and served as head coach in 1997-98. Cronin assisted in developing players from the inaugural U.S. NTDP team to be selected in the NHL Draft, including the first overall selection in 2000, Rick DiPietro. Additional top drafted players include Ron Hainsey (13th overall in 2000), Jordan Leopold (second round in 1999), Brad Winchester (second round in 2000) and John Michael-Liles (fifth round in 2000).
Cronin played four seasons of collegiate hockey at Colby College from 1982 to 1986, helping the team to ECAC Division II Final Four appearances in 1983 and 1984, while he received the most improved player award in 1984 and the coach’s award in 1986. He began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1987-88. He earned a master’s degree in business at Maine in 1990 while serving as a graduate assistant for the hockey program.
The Arlington, Mass., native served as an assistant coach for Team USA at three IIHF World Championships (1997, 2011 and 2012). He was also an assistant coach at back-to-back World Junior Championships in 1997 and 1998, helping the U.S. to a silver medal in 1997.
Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America will merge operations beginning with the 2024-25 college hockey season.
Atlantic Hockey and CHA have shared a commissioner and conference staff since 2010 but have operated as separate entities with their own boards of directors and by-laws.
“Merging our two leagues gives us the opportunity to streamline our operations and build an enhanced brand in men’s and women’s ice hockey as a unified conference,” Atlantic Hockey and CHA commissioner Michelle Morgan said in a statement. “Joining forces under one name provides a strong foundation for both leagues as we build a new experience for our current and future men’s and women’s student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
“Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America have a long-standing working relationship, and as we welcome Michelle Morgan as our new commissioner, the timing is perfect to officially merge operations and reimagine the brand and potential of our conference under one banner,” Atlantic Hockey board chairman and Mercyhurst assistant VP for athletics Bradley Davis added. “The board of directors and our head coaches look forward to working with Commissioner Morgan on strengthening our league. This merger is a great first step in that direction.”
The conferences will operate separately for the 2023-24 season and will officially merge operations on July 1, 2024.
“College Hockey America and Atlantic Hockey are at an important and exciting stage in their shared history,” CHA board chairman and Syracuse senior associate athletics director Jamie Mullin said. “We have an opportunity to redefine both leagues as a unified men’s and women’s college ice hockey brand. Merging the conferences with a new vision, under the direction of commissioner Michelle Morgan, sends a clear message that it is a new era for our conference.”
Details regarding the new structure will be announced at a later date.
Mercyhurst women’s players celebrate a goal Jan. 23, 2023 against Penn State (photo: Ed Mailliard).
The Mercyhurst women’s hockey team will travel soon to Sweden as part of an international summer trip.
The Lakers will be the only Division I women’s hockey program to head overseas this summer to compete.
From July 22-31, the team will journey to Stockholm to play a slate of games against both the Swedish national team and the Swedish developmental team. All the newcomers will join head coach Mike Sisti’s returners to gain experience as a full team before the 2023-24 season.
“This will be an amazing educational, cultural, and physically challenging experience for our team,” said Sisti in a news release. “It will be a great opportunity to exchange ideas and showcase women’s hockey. We are very excited that we were able to pull everything together for this trip to Sweden. I appreciate Sweden national team head coach Ulf Lundberg and his staff for inviting us to this unique event.”
Current Laker Thea Johansson and incoming freshman Sofia Ljung have both competed for the Swedish national programs, Johansson on the national team and Ljung on the under-18 team. Mercyhurst will have six student-athletes on next year’s roster from Europe including Nystrøm, Johansson, Ljung, Sofia Nuutinen, Sofia Skriver, and Emmi Mouruarjvi.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming Mercyhurst University to Stockholm in the end of July,” said Lundberg. “I liked their environment and their program a lot when I was over there in January. And I am sure the exchange will be a win-win both hockey wise and in the bigger picture.”
“We are looking forward to having parents, alumni, administrators, and Mercyhurst fans travel to see us in Stockholm,” added Sisti. “This year will be our 25th season and this will be a terrific way to get it started. I am looking forward to seeing how we can share information and find beneficial ways to have both sides improve our systems moving forward. It is fantastic to see the support and enthusiasm our entire Mercyhurst administration has for this endeavor.”
The Lakers team has had many notable international student-athletes, including current alternate captain Ena Nystrøm. Mercyhurst has had upwards of 30 former players who participated in the Olympics and world championships, including Meaghan Agosta, who won three gold medals and a silver medal for Canada in the Olympics. Agosta is still the all-time leading scorer for NCAA Division I women’s hockey. Kelley Steadman, Emma Nuutinen, Johannah Malstrom, Vilma Tanskanen, Vikki Bendus, and Valaria Chouinard are just a few of the many Lakers that have participated internationally for their countries.
Along with competing, the team will be exploring Sweden and learning more about the country through educational and sightseeing opportunities. They are looking forward to meeting young hockey fans in Stockholm and help grow the women’s hockey game in Sweden.
Rachel Grampp played four years at Elmira, graduating in 2018 (photo: Elmira Athletics).
Buffalo State has hired Rachel Grampp as the head coach of the women’s hockey team.
Grampp took over as the interim head coach for the Bengals partway through the 2021-22 season and led the Bengals to a six-win improvement in her first full season as interim coach in 2022-23.
“We are thrilled to officially appoint Rachel Grampp as the head coach of the Buffalo State women’s hockey program,” Buffalo State director of athletics Renee Carlineo said in a statement. “Over the last 18 months, Rachel has showcased her commitment to improving this program academically and athletically, while focusing on the betterment of our student-athletes. Coach Grampp has proven her value as a leader of young women, and I am confident in the direction that this program is headed.
“Rachel has demonstrated a strong knowledge of the game of hockey, an innate ability to build and nurture strong relationships with student-athletes and staff and has displayed a vision for this program that aligns with our department, our university, and our community. I am excited to see the growth and progress that the Buffalo State women’s hockey team will make under Rachel’s continued guidance.”
During the 2022-23 season, Buffalo State posted its best record since the 2018-19 season, including five victories at home. The Bengals also doubled their goal production from the previous year, scoring 58 goals. That mark was the highest in a single season since the 2016-17 season for Buffalo State.
Prior to taking over as interim coach, Grampp was an assistant coach for Buffalo State from 2019 to 2021. She also has previous coaching experience as an assistant coach with Canton in the 2018-19 season.
“I would like to thank director of athletics Renee Carlineo, senior associate AD Jeff Ventura, and associate AD Jim Fowler for this opportunity to lead the Buffalo State Bengals as the head women’s ice hockey coach,” Grampp said. “I have been really blessed throughout my career with the support I have received since joining the staff in 2019. Buffalo is where I call home, and words cannot express my gratitude to be able to continue to develop this program, in this city, alongside my family and loved ones. They have helped me tremendously throughout my journey and I would not be here if I did not have their support. I would also like to thank all the coaches I have worked for, with, or had as a player as they have helped mold me into the coach and person I am today.
“I can’t wait to continue working with our student-athletes, coaching staff, and administration to bring this program back to its winning ways. This program is loaded with potential, and I look forward to continuing to develop the student-athletes both on and off the ice.”
Grampp was a standout defenseman for Elmira from 2014 to 2018, earning UCHC defensive player of the year and All-American honors as a senior. During her time, the Soaring Eagles earned national runner-up finishes twice, and reached the NCAA tournament in all four seasons. She also was a key member of the women’s lacrosse team (28 goals, 16 assists, 44 points) and women’s soccer team (120 saves as a goalkeeper) at Elmira.
Grampp graduated from Elmira in 2018 with degrees in psychology and criminal justice.
From left, Brett Larson, Steve Miller, David Lassonde, and Travis Culhane.
USA Hockey has announced the rest of the coaching staff for the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2023 to Jan. 5, 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
St. Cloud State head coach Brett Larson and Minnesota associate head coach Steve Miller have been named assistant coaches, USA Hockey’s David Lassonde goaltending coach, and Denver director of hockey operations Travis Culhane video coach.
The group will work with Denver head coach David Carle, who was previously named head coach of the team.
“We’ve got a terrific coaching staff overall,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team and assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey, in a statement. “The blend of experience we have will serve us well in our ultimate goal of bringing home a gold medal.”
“I’m thankful to have the great group of assistant coaches in place,” added Carle. “I look forward to utilizing the vast experience they bring collectively to put us in the best possible position to win gold.”
Mike Harder has been named the 15th head coach in Colgate men’s hockey history.
Colgate on Friday announced it has selected all-time leading scorer and former assistant coach Mike Harder as its new men’s ice hockey head coach. Harder replaces Don Vaughan, who retired at the end of the 2022-23 season after 30 years at the helm.
Harder makes his return to Colgate after spending six years (2013-2019) as an assistant coach for his alma mater. As a coach for the Raiders, he compiled 89 wins with a pair of ECAC Championship appearances and an NCAA tournament bid.
Harder will be formally introduced during a press conference Friday, June 9.
He will serve as the Donald F. Vaughan Endowed Chair for Men’s Ice Hockey, named for his predecessor in 2007.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be coming back to Colgate,” Harder said in a statement. “I am beyond excited to be part of a program, institution, and community that have meant so much to me over the past thirty years. I look forward to being a part of Colgate’s future while continuing Coach Vaughan’s legacy of mentoring student-athletes both on and off the ice.”
“Mike has a great passion and love for Colgate University and Colgate hockey,” said Vaughan. “In my time working with Mike he showed an exceptional ability to connect with players, staff and faculty. His outreach across campus in his time here was impressive. His energy and passion are contagious. He is an excellent teacher of the game is always willing to learn and try new things.”
Harder tallied 214 points during his collegiate career. He graduated ranked fourth all-time in goals scored with 88 and second in assists for 126 points. He went on to earn 1997 All-America honors, and was a Hobey Baker finalist and a Hockey Humanitarian Award nominee.
Harder played 13 seasons professionally across North America and Europe, including for Hartford in the American Hockey League where he was part of a Calder Cup championship in 2000.
Harder began his coaching career at Colgate in 2013-14 as a volunteer assistant. After being promoted to assistant coach in July 2014, Harder helped lead the Raiders to a 22-12-4 overall mark and an appearance in the title game of the ECAC Hockey Championship for a second consecutive season.
Harder returns to Hamilton as the 15th head men’s hockey coach in program history. He takes over a program coming off its first ECAC Hockey Championship since 1990 and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
“From the time I arrived at Colgate as a freshman, Hamilton felt like home,” Harder said. “The warm people, supportive community, and ties between the town and university make it an unparalleled place to thrive. I’m excited to get started.”
Following a comprehensive search, Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America have named Eugene Binda, Jr. as their next supervisor of officials.
Binda, who retired from officiating following the 2021-22 season, served as an officials observer for Atlantic Hockey during the 2022-23 campaign. He will begin his duties on July 1.
“Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America are pleased to welcome Eugene Binda, Jr. as our new supervisor of officials,” AHA and CHA commissioner Michelle Morgan said in a statement. “Geno brings more than three decades of officiating experience to the AHA and CHA and a familiarity with both of our leagues. That, along with his long-standing relationships with professional and college officials in the northeast and nationally, make him an ideal fit for this role.”
The South Boston, Mass., native officiated games for Atlantic Hockey, Hockey East, ECAC and NCHC at the NCAA Division I level as well as USHL, AHL, ECHL, SPHL, high school and amateur hockey contests over a 30-year career that began in 1992.
Nationally, Binda officiated three NCAA Frozen Fours (2016, 2018, 2022) and eight NCAA regionals from 2015 to 2022 along with conference tournaments for Atlantic Hockey, the NCHC and Hockey East. He capped his career in 2022 with men’s championship game assignments at the Beanpot, Hockey East and Frozen Four.
At the professional level, Binda refereed playoffs for the AHL, ECHL and SPHL from 2009 to 2018, including ECHL finals assignments in 2009 and 2010 and the AHL conference finals in 2013 and 2014.
“I’m excited to take this next step in my hockey career as supervisor of officials for Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America,” Binda, Jr. said. “I want to thank my wife, Mary, and my two daughters, Cameron and Dylan, for supporting me through the years on the ice and now on my journey off the ice. I also want to thank former commissioner Robert DeGregorio and former supervisor of officials Gene Binda for the support and guidance through this transition. I want to continue to grow the officiating staff and give other officials the opportunities the AHA and CHA did for my career. I am very grateful to be involved in hockey and to commissioner Michelle Morgan for this opportunity.
Mike Schmitt (middle), a longtime NCHC supervisor of officials, receives the NCHC’s 2021 Mark Rudolph Officiating Achievement Award with his family (photo: NCHC).
The NCHC announced Thursday that it has named longtime supervisor of officials Mike Schmitt as its new director of officiating.
Schmitt, who replaces Don Adam, moves into a new role with the NCHC after serving as an officiating supervisor for the conference during its first 10 years of competition. He has been a part of the NCHC since play began in 2013.
Adam had held the same position since 2013.
“I couldn’t be more excited to name Mike Schmitt as the NCHC’s Director of Officiating,” said NCHC commissioner Heather Weems in a statement. “Mike boasts over 30 years of experience as a collegiate and international official, as well as instructor with USA Hockey’s program. Mike has built a tremendous rapport with our NCHC head coaches as an approachable and accessible supervisor. He is also a respected voice amongst the NCHC’s officiating staff for his organization and feedback.”
Prior to becoming an officiating supervisor for the NCHC, Schmitt spent 15 seasons in the old WCHA as an on-ice official, including 13 years as a referee. During his collegiate officiating career, Schmitt was chosen to work seven NCAA Frozen Fours, 11 NCAA Regional tournaments and 12 WCHA Final Five championships. Additionally, Schmitt was selected to referee both the 1998 and 2001 NCAA national championship games.
“I’m looking forward to this new opportunity and excited to be the director of officiating for the NCHC,” said Schmitt. “I consider it an honor to be selected for this position. My priority will be to promote communication between officials, coaches and administrators to enhance and build on the current officiating program. The NCHC showcases hockey at the highest level concerning its teams, players and coaches. I want to ensure the officiating program is at the same level.”
Schmitt earned the NCHC’s Mark Rudolph Officiating Achievement Award in 2021 for his work with the NCHC’s Officiating Program on and off the ice. During that season, he helped the NCHC navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and organize officials for the NCHC “pod” held in Omaha in Dec. 2020.
“Throughout his tenure, Mike has been viewed as a team-builder and strong communicator,” Weems said. “In an increasingly challenging officiating environment, in which video review and replay demand both precision and confidence, Mike’s experience and leadership style will be an asset to the NCHC. Our officiating team is passionate about the game, and we strive to provide them the best possible environment for their own learning and performance. I look forward to working with Mike to continue to support and grow the quality and effectiveness of NCHC officiating for our referees and linesmen, member programs and fans.”
Along with his work in collegiate hockey, Schmitt also has international officiating experience. He previously refereed two IIHF World Junior Championships in 1992 and 1995, a pair of IIHF Men’s World Championships (1996 and 1998), and the annual Spengler Cup in Switzerland in 1994. In addition, Schmitt spent 12 years as a USA Hockey national staff instructor within their officiating program.
Schmitt resides in Minot, N.D., with his wife, Beth. They have two grown sons: Brandon, a current NCHC referee, and Bryce, a former player at Lake Superior State.
“On behalf of the NCHC and our member institutions, I want to thank Don Adam for providing vision and leadership over the past decade,” Weems said. “We are building on a solid foundation and will continue enhancing our officiating program.”
Schmitt will officially begin his duties on June 19.
Bill O’Neill coached the Salem State men’s hockey team for 42 years (photo: Salem State Athletic Department).
Salem State men’s hockey head coach Bill O’Neill has announced his retirement after a distinguished 42-year career with the Vikings.
O’Neill amassed a 626-436-76 (.583) record during his tenure, completing his career ranked second all-time in total victories in NCAA Division III. He is just one of 15 NCAA coaches all-time across all divisions to reach 600 career wins.
“I felt this was the best time for me to call it a career,” said O’Neill in a statement. “I am so appreciative to be able to coach this long. I have created so many great memories over the years with my former players and coaches. The years flew by, and I can’t believe the end is here. The great memories will always be with me. I am at peace with my decision.”
Salem State director of athletics Nicolle Wood expressed her appreciation for the way O’Neill and his teams represented the university, contributing to a legacy that transcended beyond hockey.
“Coach O’Neill was a part of Salem State before I even arrived as a student-athlete,” said Wood. “Despite building one of the most successful programs in New England over his career, he remained one of the most humble people in intercollegiate athletics that I have ever met. His teams have gone to multiple Final Fours, won regional championships, dominated New England ice hockey opponents, and put SSU on the map as a destination for top players across North America and Europe…
“[Coach] does not get enough credit for the type of culture and program he built while pursuing and achieving excellence – he recruits student- athletes, who understand the opportunity to play as a Viking and positively represent the university in the classroom and community.”
O’Neill arrived at Salem State in 1981, appointed by President Dr. James Amsler to succeed head coach Mike Gilligan, a former SSU defenseman who manned the coaching reigns from 1975 to 1981, leaving to become an assistant coach at Yale for two years before being named the head coach at Vermont.
“I had just finished my graduate assistant year at Norwich with Don ‘Toot’ Cahoon,” O’Neill said. “The Salem State position became available, and fortunately I had the support of President Amsler and John Galaris, who was the athletic director then. I was just looking to start coaching and never gave any thought to how long my career in coaching would last.”
Entrenched as the leader of the program, he won an impressive 18 MASCAC titles in his first 22 years behind the Vikings bench. Salem State won 20 games five times in a 10-year span beginning with the 1984-85 season, including compiling a school-record 24 wins in 1985.
Affiliated with the ECAC from 1985 until 2009, Salem State established itself against the top Division II and Division III teams in New England, and the program flourished under O’Neill’s direction. His teams won three ECAC East titles – 1985, 1994, and 1995, culminating in Frozen Four appearances in 1992 and 1994. O’Neill’s 1992 team finished third at the NCAA tournament.
Spanning four decades, O’Neill coached 11 All-Americans, 10 conference player of the year winners and nearly 100 All-New England, All-ECAC East and MASCAC All-Conference team members. He won 23 MASCAC championships during his career, guiding Salem State to five more MASCAC titles after the league reformed after a five-year hiatus in 2008 and three NCAA tournaments. Overall, Salem State made nine NCAA tournament and two Frozen Four appearances during O’Neill’s tenure.
The three-time coach of the year (New England Hockey Writers – 1984-85, ECAC East Co-Coach – 2008-09, MASCAC – 2015-16) left an indelible mark on Salem State hockey and the entire “North Shore” hockey community.
“It has been an honor to play for Coach O’Neill,” said current Salem State hockey player Peyton Hughes. “He has encouraged me to thrive as a hockey player, student, and a member of the Salem State community. To have coached for 40-plus years is an accomplishment. To have done so at one university is legendary. He has had a profound impact on so many players and students…His patience, serenity and approach to athletic development have guided scores of successful leaders who have [graduated] from Salem State.”
Former Salem State hockey captain Ian Canty added, “Bill O’Neill was Salem State hockey. [Coach] not only pushed [you] to get the most out of you athletically, but he also prepared you for life outside of sports. He poured his heart and soul into the program and that was evident. I have the utmost respect for the entire O’Neill family.”
His first career collegiate coaching win came on Nov. 14, 1981, a 7-2 victory over Alaska Anchorage. During the 2011-12 season, O’Neill recorded his 500th career win and posted win No. 600 in the final regular-season game of the 2018-19 season, both against Fitchburg State. In 2017, O’Neill coached in his 1,000th career game. His 1,138 games coached are the most all-time in Division III.
“There were many people who helped me throughout my career,” recalled O’Neill. “My coach at St. John’s Prep, Paul Downey, Jack Parker and ‘Toot’ Cahoon at Boston University, and my predecessor at Salem State, Mike Gilligan all stand out. There were so many great players, All-Americans and special teams. Each had their own identity, and I am proud of them all. They gave everything to the program and played to win. I am very proud of our teams qualifying for 40 out of 41 postseason tournaments and the 1992 and 1994 teams reaching the NCAA Frozen Four, respectively. The three ECAC East championship teams and more recently our four MASCAC championship teams brought continued success.”
O’Neill grew up in Lynn, Mass., before moving to Danvers, Mass. He attended St. John’s Prep before accepting an athletic scholarship to attend Boston University, where he was a member of the Terriers’ 1978 men’s hockey NCAA national championship team. He spent one season as an assistant at Bishop Fenwick in Peabody, Mass., before beginning his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Norwich.
“Hockey has been my family’s life,” O’Neill said. “My daughter Rachel worked in the hockey office at UMass-Amherst. My son Will played college hockey at Maine and went on to play professionally. My oldest son Andrew played and coached with me at Salem State. My wife Liz, who I met at Boston University, has been by my side the entire time. ‘All in everyday,’ she knows all the players; their families…
“I have so many people to thank and are ‘grateful they were part of the journey.’ The late Bill Kipouras, Salem News sports editor, The late Bill Bulloch, Salem State athletic trainer, Tom Roundy, former Salem State sports information director, Bob Moran, SSU statistician in the 1980s and ’90s, My brother John O’Neill, former Salem State hockey player and assistant coach, Tim Shea, former Salem State athletic director, Jim Stoll, former dean of students, and the entire Salem State athletic department.”
Added O’Neill, “Retrospectively, I look back and feel fortunate to have coached for over four decades. It was an honor and privilege to serve Salem State University and recruit and coach so many wonderful people. I want to thank all my former players for their commitment to each other and my assistant coaches, who lived every day trying to impart their knowledge and wisdom in pursuit of our excellence.”
A national search for Salem State’s sixth head coach will begin in the coming weeks.
Van Andel Arena is located in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. (photo: Matt Mackinder).
Van Andel Arena, Michigan Tech, and Michigan State have signed a four-year extension to keep the Great Lakes Invitational tournament in Grand Rapids, Mich., at Van Andel Arena, home of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
The 57th annual tournament will take place on Dec. 28-29, 2023, and will open with Michigan Tech against Alaska and Michigan State versus Ferris State.
“We’re excited to continue this great partnership with Van Andel Arena and Michigan State University,” said Michigan Tech VP for athletics and recreation Suzanne Sanregret. “The GLI is one of the best college hockey tournaments in the country and with the success of the first tournament at Van Andel Arena in 2022, we are thrilled to sign this four-year extension.”
Future teams to compete in the GLI against the Huskies and Spartans are Northern Michigan and Western Michigan in 2024, Miami and Ferris State in 2025, and Western Michigan and Notre Dame in 2026.
Michigan Tech has won the GLI 11 times in 56 tournaments, taking home the MacInnes Cup most recently in 2019. Michigan State has 12 GLI titles in 48 tournaments. Ferris State will be making its fourth appearance at the tournament and was the runner-up in 2022 for the first time in program history. Alaska will play in its first GLI in 2023.
Ticket packages will go on sale in September at VanAndelArena.com.
The Great Lakes Invitational was first played in 1965 after the idea for the tournament was conceived and implemented by Michigan Tech coach John MacInnes, Olympia Stadium GM Lincoln Cavalieri, and Detroit Red Wings scout Jack Paterson.
The tournament has been played at Olympia Stadium (1965-78), Joe Louis Arena (1979–2012, 2014–16), Comerica Park (2013), Little Caesars Arena (2018-19), and Van Andel Arena (2022). COVID-19 canceled the 2020 GLI and teams played a non-tournament showcase-style event in 2021.
Spencer Carbery has previously coached in the Washington system for the AHL’s Hershey Bears (photo: Hershey Bears).
The Washington Capitals have named Spencer Carbery the team’s head coach.
Carbery, 41, becomes the 20th head coach in Capitals franchise history and returns to the organization after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
During his college playing days, Carbery graduated from St. Norbert, where he played for three seasons, putting up 55 goals and 45 assists for 100 points in 55 games after playing the 2002-03 season at Alaska Anchorage, registering a goal and two assists in 26 games.
“We are extremely pleased to name Spencer as our new head coach,” said Washington senior vice president and GM Brian MacLellan in a statement. “Spencer is one of the best young coaches in the game who’s had success at every level at which he has coached. We feel his leadership, communication skills, ability to develop players and familiarity with our organization will be a tremendous asset as he makes this next step in his coaching career.”
“It’s a tremendous honor and privilege to be named the head coach of the Washington Capitals,” added Carbery. “I would like to thank the Capitals organization for affording me the opportunity to lead this team. I look forward to working with this group of talented players and building upon the winning culture in place. I would also like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs organization for all their support over the past two years and wish them all the best in the future.”
Prior to joining Toronto, Carbery served as head coach of the AHL’s Hershey Bears for three seasons from 2018 to 2021.
He also spent five seasons as head coach and director of hockey operations for the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays from 2011 to 2016.
In addition, Carbery served as head coach of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League in 2016-17 and was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Providence Bruins in 2017-18.
Carbery, whose coaching career began in 2010-11 as an assistant coach with South Carolina, played parts of two seasons with the Stingrays (2008-10) and helped the team capture the Kelly Cup in 2009. He also played 181 games over three ECHL seasons from 2007 to 2010 with the Bakersfield Condors, Stockton Thunder, Fresno Falcons and South Carolina and 63 games in the CHL with the Tulsa Oilers in 2006-07.
Taylor Wasylk started the Suffolk women’s hockey program from the ground up (photo: Suffolk Athletics).
Lindenwood has announced Taylor Wasylk as the Lions’ next women’s hockey head coach.
Wasylk comes to Lindenwood after spending the last five years as head coach at Suffolk. During her time with the Rams, Wasylk amassed a 64-44-7 record which culminated in a CCC championship and an NCAA tournament appearance this past season.
“I could not be more excited to be joining the Lindenwood University community,” said Wasylk. “From the second I stepped on campus, I felt the passion and drive that everyone has to further the athletic programs and bring more championships to St Charles. I want to thank Jason Coomer, Katie Zingg, Dr. Porter and the entire Lindenwood community for this opportunity. I cannot wait to get on the ice in the Fall and begin to raise the women’s hockey program to unprecedented heights.”
The Port Huron, Mich. native built the Suffolk program from scratch, taking over in the spring of 2017, a year before their inaugural season. Over that time, she assembled a 22-player roster comprised primarily of freshmen (17). That group put together 15-9-2 overall record and a 10-4-2 league ledger, as they hosted the NEHC quarterfinals as the No. 2 seed.
“We are elated to welcome Coach Wasylk to the Lindenwood community,” said Lindenwood vice president for intercollegiate athletics Jason Coomer. “Throughout her playing and coaching career, Coach Wasylk has set a very high standard of excellence for herself and her program which will serve our young women very well. It was clear after meeting with Coach that she had a clear direction for the program and a plan to elevate the status of the women’s hockey program. Today is an exciting day for Lindenwood women’s hockey.”
Before her time at Suffolk, Wasylk’s coaching career got underway as an assistant coach at UMass Boston in 2014-15. She also spent one season as an assistant at Canton. The Roos reached unparalleled heights during her short time with the program including its first playoff appearance during its inaugural season in the Colonial Hockey Conference.
Wasylk had a decorated playing career at Boston College. The four-year letter-winner led the Eagles to national and regional prominence, making three-consecutive trips to the NCAA Frozen Four (2011, 2012, 2013), two Beanpot crowns, a pair of Hockey East titles, and the Nutmeg Classic championship. In 2014, she earned Hockey East best defensive forward credits, as well as the MVP of the 2014 Beanpot tournament.
“Taylor Wasylk is one of the best young coaches in women’s hockey,” said Boston College head women’s coach Katie Crowley. “She has excellent work ethic, drive, and competitiveness and will help Lindenwood women’s hockey rise to a new level. I am happy for her and excited to see her excel at Lindenwood.”
Wasylk played with Team USA’s under-18, under-22, and senior-level national teams. She skated with all three squads at multiple world championships.
A 2014 graduate of Boston College, Wasylk earned a Bachelor of Arts in history with a minor in international students, concentrating in international cooperation and conflict. Wasylk broadened her education with a semester abroad in London in the summer of 2014.
Carly Beniek and Kate Reilly are this year’s co-winners of the Sarah Devens Award (photos: Beniek/Holy Cross Athletics, Reilly/Rob Rasmussen).
The Sarah Devens Award committee announced Wednesday that the 2022-23 award will be presented to Holy Cross’ Carly Beniek and Quinnipiac’s Kate Reilly.
This year marks the first time the award was presented to multiple student-athletes, as the committee determined that both were highly deserving and ultimately too close to make a clear decision.
Presented annually to a player who “demonstrates leadership and commitment both on and off the ice,” the Devens Award is given as a joint honor between ECAC Hockey and Hockey East and aids a deserving student-athlete with a post-graduate scholarship of $15,000. The award is named in honor of former Dartmouth hockey player Sarah Devens, who died in 1995 prior to her senior year. This year’s winners will each receive $15,000 each in post-graduate scholarship funds.
“It is an absolute honor to receive an award in Sarah Devens’ name,” said Beniek in a statement. “She is the kind of person every athlete strives to be like. She was an incredible athlete, leader and teammate, so it means so much to me to receive an award in her name. I want to thank my amazing coaches and teammates for supporting me and pushing me to be my best self and teammate the last four years; I could not have done it without them. I also want to thank my family for supporting me throughout my hockey journey and showing me what it means to be a good leader. Lastly, I want to thank the Devens family for providing such an incredible gift for college athletes. This scholarship is going to help me so much in my postgraduate journey and I am eternally grateful for your family’s generosity.”
“I am honored to receive the Sarah Devens Award, and I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the Devens family,” added Reilly. “Competing as a college athlete is a privilege that has allowed me to pursue my academic goals and given me the opportunity to be a leader in my community. I am grateful for this scholarship, which will help me to further my education after Quinnipiac. I will strive to continue to be a leader throughout the remainder of my academic and athletic career.”
Reilly, who will compete as a fifth-year at Quinnipiac next season, completed an undergraduate degree in Biology in three years (graduating Summa Cum Laude) and is currently pursuing her Masters in Molecular Cell Biology. She is the President of Quinnipiac’s Q-Munity Service program and won the athletic department award for community service in 2021-22. Reilly also conducted independent research for which she earned a $2,500 grant to support her work and eventually presented at the Gait and Clinical Movement Society conference.
On the ice, she has played 124 games for the Bobcats, tallying 21 goals and 37 assists while helping the program to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of tournament victories.
Beniek is working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Health Professions Advisory Program in the Pre-Med program. She completed undergraduate research with UMass Med and presented her findings at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in November. She serves as an EMT and on-site first responder during non-hockey events and also coordinates Big Brother Big Sister participation for her team.
At the rink, Beniek has played a large role in Holy Cross’ transition into Hockey East. She has played 114 games for the Crusaders, posting seven goals and nine assists in her career.
Past recipients of the award include: 1997 — Kathryn Waldo (F), Northeastern; 1998 — Sarah Hood (F), Dartmouth; 1999 — Jamie Totten (D), Northeastern; 2000 — Carrie Jokiel (F), New Hampshire; 2001 — Christina Sorbara (F), Brown; 2002 — Dianna Bell (F), Cornell; 2003 — Rachel Barrie (G), St. Lawrence; 2004 — Lindsay Charlebois (F), St. Lawrence; 2005 — Nicole Corriero (F), Harvard; 2006 — Karen Thatcher (F), Providence; 2007 — Lindsay Williams (F), Clarkson; 2008 — Lizzie Keady (F), Princeton; 2009; — Marianna Locke (F), St. Lawrence; 2010 — Laura Gersten (F), Rensselaer; 2011 — Jackee Snikeris (G), Yale; 2012 — Aleca Hughes (F), Yale; 2013 — Alyssa Zupon (F), Yale; 2014 — Vanessa Gagnon (F), Clarkson; 2015 — Chelsea Laden (G), Quinnipiac; 2016 — Alison Rolandelli (D), Brown; 2017 — Paula Voorheis (G), Cornell; 2018 — Taylor Willard (D), Vermont; 2019 — Kenzie Lancaster (F), Quinnipiac; 2020 — Sammy Davis (F), Boston U.; 2021 — Grace Markey (F), Quinnipiac; 2022 – Gianna Meloni (G), Yale
Brendan Furry emerged as a go-to player up front this past season for Minnesota State (photo: Matt Dewkett).
The CCHA announced Tuesday that Minnesota State senior Brendan Furry is the conference’s 2022-23 student-athlete of the year, as voted on by the faculty athletics representatives from each member school.
Given annually, the award is presented to one CCHA student-athlete that performed consistently as a regular member of their CCHA team, displayed outstanding sportsmanship, made satisfactory progress towards a degree, displayed leadership and was active in community service off the ice, encompassing a positive culture of the institution and league.
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Furry is a sports management major with a marketing minor who boasted a 3.81 grade-point average. On the ice, he was named the CCHA preseason forward of the year. Collecting 28 points on nine goals and 19 assists, he appeared in all 39 games for the Mavericks this season, helping the team to its record-breaking sixth straight regular-season title.
Throughout his three-year career at MSU, Furry appeared in 111 games and finished with 27 goals and 58 assists for 85 career points. The Mavericks complied an 85-24-2 record during his tenure, which included three MacNaughton Cup championships, two Mason Cup championships, three NCAA tournament bids, two Frozen Fours and one trip to the national championship game.
Furry signed a professional contract with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the conclusion of the 2022-23 NCAA hockey season.
Outside of hockey, Furry has been heavily involved with the JZ Cancer Fund, a local fund established through the Mankato Area Foundation, which is committed to raising community cancer awareness and support. Over the past year, he also participated in mullet growing contest, which was a fundraiser for the JZ Cancer Fund during Hockey Day Minnesota.
Additionally, this past November, Furry participated in the Mustache Bash. Between these two endeavors combined, he has helped raise roughly $22,000 to benefit the JZ Cancer Fund. In August, he helped pack care packages for the JZ Cancer Fund which are distributed to local individuals who are battling cancer. He and his teammates packed over 150 boxes along with local youth hockey players.
Furry has also donated his time with the Anthony Ford Pond Hockey Tournament, an annual event to raise funds to battle childhood leukemia. He has also donated his time over his career with the Mavericks to set up Kiwanis Holiday Lights – an annual light holiday lights show of over 1.8 million holiday lights to benefit over 50 area nonprofits.
Last year, Northern Michigan senior Ben Newhouse was the first to earn CCHA student-athlete of the year honors in the conference’s return to action.
Jake Bobrowski was behind the bench for one season with the Elmira women’s hockey team (photo: Elmira College Athletics).
Elmira has announced the resignation of head women’s hockey coach Jake Bobrowski.
During his one full season leading the squad, Bobrowski helped guide the Soaring Eagles to its seventh straight conference championship appearance (UCHC, NEHC, ECAC West), while Elmira captured its second straight NEHC regular-season title after a perfect 17-0-0 campaign.
Bobrowski picked up his first win at Elmira on Oct. 28, 2022, as the Soaring Eagles skated to a 3-2 victory against Utica.
This season, Bobrowski coached nine Soaring Eagles to NEHC all-conference accolades, including Emma Bradbury, who earned NEHC rookie of the year this past season after scoring nine goals and nine assists for 18 points.
As a team, the Soaring Eagles led the country in short-handed goals this past season with six, while ranking within the top-15 nationally in scoring offense, goals, assists, and team shutouts.
Elmira will conduct a national search for its next head coach.
