Providence has announced that Joel Beal has been promoted to associate head coach and Theresa Feaster has been elevated to general manager and director of hockey operations.
Beal enters his sixth season at Providence after being hired on Sept. 3, 2019. Beal works primarily with the Friars’ penalty kill unit, the defense corps and assists on the recruiting trail. The penalty kill units have finished in the top 20 in each of Beal’s first five seasons at Providence.
Prior to Providence, Beal spent the 2018-19 season at Miami where he was involved with the RedHawks’ recruiting efforts and on-ice development. He previously spent five seasons, two as an associate head coach, with the Sacred Heart men’s hockey program where he worked in all elements of player development.
Beal returned to his alma mater, Union, for two seasons from 2011 to 2013 as an assistant coach where he helped guide the Dutchmen to an ECAC title and NCAA regional final appearance in 2012-13. A four-year letterman for the Dutchmen from 2001 to 2005, Beal served as an alternate captain his final two seasons and amassed 27 goals and 74 assists in 135 career games.
Feaster, a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Providence with a B.A. in History and a Business Studies Certificate, is entering her 13th season with the Friars and first as the GM and director of hockey operations. Since being named coordinator of hockey Operations in 2016, Feaster has been responsible for providing video/statistical support and analysis for the coaching staff, scouting, as well as overseeing team travel.
Feaster began working for Nate Leaman and his staff during the 2012-13 season, tracking time-on-ice and other in-game statistics while also serving as coordinator of the team’s involvement with Team IMPACT. Feaster has been a key part of six NCAA tournament appearances, two Frozen Four berths and one national championship during her time at Providence. She also served as video coach for the 2021 gold medal-winning U.S. National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship as well as the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2022 World Junior Championship.
Chad Davis coached Saint Mary’s during the 2023-24 season (photo: Saint Mary’s Athletics).
Adrian has announced the hiring of Chad Davis as the head coach of the women’s hockey team.
Davis will return to Adrian for his second stint as head coach. Overall, Davis has compiled a career coaching record of 193-80-21.
“We are excited to have Coach Davis return to Adrian College as he brings in a ton of national experience and success,” Adrian athletic director Craig Rainey said in a news release. “As someone who has coached at Adrian College before, Coach Davis understands the expectations and the direction we want to take our program.”
Davis’ most recently served as head coach of the Saint Mary’s women’s team. He coached for one season where he led the team to their first appearance in the conference finals and cracked the national rankings for the first time in program history.
“While we have enjoyed having Chad as a Cardinal and are grateful for his expertise during this year of transitions, we also understand his pull to return to his family and Michigan roots,” Saint Mary’s athletic director Brian Sisson said. “We remain extremely excited about our student-athletes and the successful season they accomplished last season and look forward to finding our next leader of Cardinal women’s hockey. After last season, I cannot wait to see what our new coach can accomplish with the returners and incoming freshmen.”
Prior to Saint Mary’s, Davis started the process for the MSOE women’s hockey team by recruiting to lead up to their inaugural season.
After his first stint at Adrian, Davis took a head coaching job at Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2019, Davis was named the CHA coach of the year.
During his time at Adrian from 2011 to 2018, Davis accumulated a record of 150-37-10, still the most wins in by an Adrian women’s hockey head coach. Davis was named the NCHA coach of the year four times and was the NCAA Division III national coach of the year in 2017. The team won four NCHA regular-season championships and three NCHA Slaats Cup championships under the direction of Davis and led the Bulldogs to a national runner-up finish in 2017.
“I would like to thank President Docking, athletic director Craig Rainey, vice president Frank Hribar, and associate athletic director Meg Sharp along with the entire search committee for the opportunity to lead the women’s ice hockey program,” Davis said. “I feel very blessed for an opportunity to return home and lead the Adrian Bulldogs women’s ice hockey program. Former head coach Shawn Skelly did a remarkable job, and the future staff looks to continue working hard to push the program forward.
“We strive for the Bulldogs program to excel in the classroom and community and compete for championships.”
Emma Killeen skated four years for Plattsburgh (photo: Gabe Dickens).
Emma Killeen, a 2022 Plattsburgh graduate, has been hired as the new assistant women’s hockey coach.
“It’s great to have Emma back in the Cardinal women’s hockey family,” Plattsburgh head coach Kevin Houle said in a statement. “She will be a great addition as her knowledge of the game and passion for Plattsburgh State women’s hockey will be a great asset to our program. We are excited to have her on board.”
Killeen enjoyed an outstanding career with the Cardinals as a key piece of the defensive unit over the course of four seasons. Playing 110 games in her career, she tallied five goals and 35 assists and appeared in all 31 games in the team’s 2019 national championship run. In the championship game against Hamline, Killeen tallied an assist on the game-winning goal as they won 4-0 to secure their seventh national title in program history.
Killeen has coaching experience working in a variety of clinics and camps, including the Elite Hockey Camp at Norwich and USA Hockey Development Camps. She also volunteered at Learn to Skate outings hosted at Plattsburgh while a student-athlete.
Outside of athletics, Killeen has most recently worked as a realtor for Regency Real Estate in Connecticut.
Killeen earned her degree in Business Administration while minoring in athletic coaching at Plattsburgh.
Bob Emery spent 30 years behind the Plattsburgh bench (photo: Plattsburgh Athletics).
The NHL’s Dallas Stars have announced that Bob Emery has been hired as an amateur scout.
Emery had been serving as the director of hockey operations for Merrimack after 30 seasons as head coach at Plattsburgh from 1989 to 2019. He is fifth all-time in NCAA men’s hockey wins as a coach across both Division I and Division III.
At Plattsburgh, Emery went 624-215-65 and led the Cardinals to two NCAA Division III national championships in 1992 and 2001. Plattsburgh also won 16 SUNYAC championships and qualified for 18 NCAA tournaments, playing in the national semifinals 10 times.
Maine has announced the hiring of McKenna Wesloh as an assistant coach for the women’s hockey team.
Wesloh’s most recent experience includes a part-time assistant coaching role at Hamline and head coach responsibilities for the Monarchs U16 AAA team in Minnesota. She was also a volunteer coach for the Maple Grove High School girls team during the 2023-24 season.
“We are excited to have McKenna on board; she knows the game, she will be an asset to our players and is eager to get going,” said Maine head coach Molly Engstrom. “There is a lot of energy around Maine athletics, and we believe she will be a great addition to the program.”
Wesloh’s coaching resume also includes over five years of coaching for OS Hockey and Section 7 for Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey.
“I could not be more excited to join the Maine Black Bears this upcoming season,” said Wesloh. “Molly and Kirsti have done a great job of building this program, and I’m eager to be a part of it.”
On the ice, Wesloh has professional experience from her time with the ECDC Memmingen in Germany during the 2023-24 season. Prior to her professional stint, she played college hockey at Ohio State for one season before transferring to St. Cloud State. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Elective Studies from St. Cloud State in 2023.
Wesloh has also been active with USA Hockey, participating in various camps as a player and serving as an intern coach for summer development camps from 2020 to 2022.
Shawn Skelly served six years as head coach for the Adrian women’s hockey team (photo: Adrian College Athletics).
Shawn Skelly has been named an assistant coach with the Union women’s hockey team.
Skelly comes to Union after serving six seasons as the head women’s hockey coach at Adrian.
“Shawn and I have been friends with one another for over a decade and I’m extremely excited to have Shawn join our program,” said Union head coach Tony Maci in a statement. “He has a wealth of hockey knowledge and brings a winning pedigree to our staff as well as a great positive energy. I’ve talked with players that played for Shawn and they rave about how he always gets the best out of them. He does a great job with skill development and breaking things down so players can excel and be at their best. He has a keen eye for talent and built a lot of great relationships on the recruiting path that will bring our recruiting to the next level.”
“I want to thank head coach Tony Maci and athletic director Jim McLaughlin for the opportunity to become the new assistant coach for the Union women’s hockey program,” Skelly added. “I am excited to get to campus soon and get started. This will be a big move for our family from Michigan, but we are excited to become ingrained in the Union College community and can’t wait to get to know our team. I look forward to getting on the ice with them soon to get ready for an exciting upcoming season.”
In his six seasons as head coach at Adrian, Skelly led the Bulldogs to a 140-22-7 record, a pair of Frozen Four appearances, and four NCAA tournament berths in five years. Under his guidance, Adrian posted an 80-5-4 record in the NCHA with six straight NCHA regular-season titles and five NCHA Slaats Cup championships. Skelly was also named the 2020 NCHA coach of the year.
Skelly began his collegiate coaching career in 2016-17 as an assistant coach with the Adrian women’s team, helping the program to its first appearance in the national championship game. He spent 2017-18 on the bench with the Adrian men’s team that finished the year ranked fourth in Division III and reached the NCAA quarterfinals.
A four-year standout on the ice at Adrian, Skelly was a member of the first men’s hockey team in program history and pushed the squad to a 102-12-2 record over four years, culminating in a national runner-up finish as a senior. He ended his career with 102 goals and 127 assists for 229 points in 113 games, including leading the country in goals per game and points per game as a junior, and remains the all-time Division III leader in game-winning goals (20).
He graduated from Adrian in 2011 with a degree in communications.
Michael Gerson is back behind the bench of the Chatham men’s hockey team (photo: Chatham Athletics).
Chatham has announced the return of Michael Gershon as the men’s hockey head coach.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Gershon back to our program and look forward to the future of men’s hockey at Chatham,” said Chatham VP of athletics and recreation Leonard Trevino in a statement.
Gershon, who departed Chatham before this past season for an associate head coach position with the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, is the program’s all-time wins leader (28) and led the Cougars to their first winning season (2022-23) and first postseason appearance (2021-22).
Billy Connelly, who served as interim head coach after Gershon’s departure, will become the associate head coach. Connelly has been a part of the coaching staff at Chatham since the start of the program in 2017-18.
Kevin Dessart spent two seasons behind the Lawrence women’s hockey team’s bench (photo: Lawrence Athletics).
Lawrence women’s hockey coach Kevin Dessart is climbing up to the NCAA Division I level.
Dessart, who took the reins of Lawrence’s program in June 2022, has been hired as the associate head coach at Vermont, taking over for Alex Gettens, who departed for Colgate earlier in August.
“I am extremely excited to become the associate head coach with the University of Vermont women’s hockey team,” Dessart said in a statement. “I leave Lawrence with conflicting emotions, but the opportunity to assume this type of position is one I could not pass up. I look forward to working with one of the top teams in Hockey East and building off of my experience at Lawrence.”
“We are really excited to welcome Kevin to our UVM women’s hockey family,” added Vermont head coach Jim Plumer. “Not only is he bringing a lifetime of passion for hockey and experience from the NHL to NCAA hockey, he has extensive leadership experience developed over years working with elite athletes and organizations. I have no doubt that Kevin is going to be a great fit for culture and make an impact on our players, staff, and the UVM community. I look forward to working with him towards winning our first Hockey East championship.”
Lawrence director of athletics Jason Imperati praised Dessart’s work in establishing a foundation upon which the women’s hockey program can build.
“We want to wish Kevin all the best on his exciting new journey into Division I hockey,” Imperati said. “His departure marks a significant milestone, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible impact he’s had on our women’s program at Lawrence. Kevin didn’t just steer the team in the right direction, he ignited a winning spirit, leading the squad to landmark victories and laying a strong foundation for Lawrence women’s hockey to soar to new heights. His legacy here is nothing short of transformative, and while we’re sad to see him go, we’re ecstatic for the bright future that lies ahead for both him and our program.”
Dessart came to a very new program at Lawrence, which was entering just its third season when he assumed control of the program in the summer of 2022. With Dessart behind the bench, Lawrence notched the first win in program history when Lawrence won 2-0 at Northland on Nov. 25, 2022. Dessart then saw his team pick up its first NCHA win and series sweep on Jan. 27-28, 2023, when Lawrence knocked off Finlandia 4-1 and 3-1 at the Appleton Ice Center.
Lawrence continued to make strides during the 2023-24 season when the Vikings increased their win total from the previous season and reached the NCHA Slaats Cup playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Vikings played two very tight quarterfinal series playoff games on the road at No. 5-ranked Adrian before bowing to the Bulldogs.
“My time at Lawrence was outstanding,” Dessart said. “I cannot thank the players enough for their buy-in and trust in (assistant coaches) Julia (Dessart), James (Schroeder), Blake (Hackbarth) and me and their ability to put in the work necessary to move the program in the right direction. I leave Lawrence feeling like we still have much to accomplish but also feel the coaching staff will be able to seamlessly continue the progress we started. Athletic director Jason Imperati trusted me to instill my vision on the program, and I will be forever grateful.
“I also want to thank President Laurie Carter for her leadership of this university. I was always impressed with her honest approach, and I see nothing but greatness for Lawrence with President Carter at the helm.”
After serving as a part-time assistant during the 2023-24 season, Garrett Windle has been named Bethel’s new full-time men’s hockey assistant coach.
A 2014 graduate of BU and former forward for the men’s hockey program, Windle replaces Brian Gibbons.
In Minnesota, Windle had served as an assistant with the Roseville hockey programs in addition to being a special education paraprofessional in the Mounds View public school system.
Shawn Skelly served six years as head coach for the Adrian women’s hockey team (photo: Adrian College Athletics).
Adrian women’s hockey coach Shawn Skelly resigned on Wednesday morning.
After serving six seasons with the Bulldogs, Skelly has decided to move on to pursue a NCAA Division I coaching opportunity.
During his time as head coach, the Bulldogs won six NCHA regular-season championships and five NCHA Slaats Cup titles. He compiled a career record of 140-22-7 with an 80-5-4 NCHA record. He’s coached four NCHA players of the year and 12 All-Americans. Skelly led the Bulldogs to two NCAA Division III Frozen Four appearances, including a third-place finish in 2019, and another national semifinalist award in 2024.
“It has been a true blessing to have the chance to lead this program for the past six years,” Skelly said in a statement. “The countless wins, championships, and memorable experiences this program has provided me and my family is unmeasurable. This may have been the hardest decision of my life.”
Prior to serving as the head coach of the Bulldogs, Skelly was a member of the staff as an assistant.
During his playing career, Skelly played four years at Adrian on the men’s hockey team where he continues to hold multiple career records. Skelly was the first NCAA men’s hockey player in program history to be named to the Adrian College Athletics Hall of Fame.
After his collegiate career, Skelly played professionally in the ECHL and the SPHL.
Adrian will now begin a search for the next head coach of the women’s hockey team.
Johnny Gaudreau spent three seasons at BC from 2011 to 2014 (photo: Boston College Athletics),
Former Boston College men’s hockey standout and 2014 Hobey Baker award winner Johnny Gaudreau passed away Thursday night after a traffic accident in his native New Jersey.
He was 31.
Gaudreau’s brother, Matthew, who also played at BC, was killed in the accident as well. He was 29.
According to reports, the two were riding bicycles on the side of County Route 551 in Oldmans Township, N.J., and were hit by a suspected drunk driver, who has been arrested.
Both brothers were to have been groomsmen in their sister’s wedding today.
Sean Higgins, a 43-year-old from Woodstock, N.J., has subsequently been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, the team Gaudreau signed with in 2022 after eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, issued the following statement today.
MATTHEW GAUDREAU
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew.
“Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him. Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago, and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy.
“At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve.”
Known as “Johnny Hockey,” Gaudreau tore through the 2013-14 college hockey season, averaging two points per game, putting up 80 points in 40 games to record the highest point total in Division I college hockey in 11 years.
Gaudreau registered points in all but two games, including a 31-game point streak to tie a Hockey East record (Paul Kariya, Maine, 1993).
Two was his lucky number: two-time Hockey East scoring champion, two-time Hockey East player of the year, two-time all-conference, two-time first team All-American and two-time Hobey Baker hat-trick finalist.
Gaudreau completed his Hobey season leading the nation in goals (36), assists (44), points (80) and was second in plus-minus (plus-42) as a junior. He saved his best for last – in three NCAA playoff games, Gaudreau had four goals and seven assists.
“I am devastated and heartbroken over the news of the death of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau,” former BC coach Jerry York said. “They were not only great hockey players but two outstanding young men. They represented their families and Boston College with the utmost class. Please keep the Gaudreau family in your prayers during this tragic and unspeakable time.”
“No words can express our sadness right now,” added current Eagles coach Greg Brown. “Johnny and Matty Gaudreau were first-class members of the Boston College community and left indelible legacies on our program. We will remember the smiles and joy that they brought to everyone in their lives. We are heartbroken for the Gaudreau family. We will miss them terribly.”
A communications major, Johnny Gaudreau signed with the Flames and became just the fifth player in NHL history to score a goal on his first shot in his first NHL game. Calgary drafted Gaudreau in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.
Off the ice, Gaudreau spent time visiting elementary schools and mentoring a special needs team.
He signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent in the summer of 2022.
In his first NHL season (2014-15), Gaudreau scored 24 goals and 40 assists in 80 games and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.
Overall, Gaudreau posted 243 goals and 500 assists for 743 points in 763 NHL games. He had 78 goals and 97 assists for 175 points in 129 games at BC.
Matthew Gaudreau played at BC from 2013 to 2017, putting up 16 goals and 47 assists for 63 points over 119 games. He later played 21 games in the AHL and 127 games in the ECHL.
Corey Leivermann spent the 2023-24 season helping the USHL’s Fargo Force win a Clark Cup title (photo: Marissa Shiock/Fargo Force).
Corey Leivermann has joined the Cornell men’s hockey coaching staff as an assistant coach.
In addition to his assistant coaching duties, Leivermann will also oversee the Big Red’s video and hockey operations for the upcoming season.
“I’m really excited to add Corey to our coaching staff with his experience coming from leagues that are vital to our recruiting,” Cornell head coach Mike Schafer said in a statement. “He has vast experience and connections with the USHL and NAHL, and I’m looking forward to him connecting with our players. He comes highly recommended.”
“I’m excited and honored for this tremendous opportunity to work with Coach Schafer in his last year at Cornell and with Casey Jones and Sean Flanagan,” added Leivermann. “I’m really excited and ready to hit the ground running with hockey season right around the corner.”
Leivermann joins the Big Red after spending the 2023-24 season as an associate head coach with the USHL’s Fargo Force. Fargo had a successful 2023-24 campaign, highlighted by its 50-10-2 regular-season record that set the USHL’s single-season record for wins and concluding the year by claiming its second-ever Clark Cup title.
Before his time in Fargo, Leivermann was an associate head coach with the USHL’s Madison Capitols for two years before being elevated to general manager and head coach of the Capitols for the 2022-23 campaign.
Following his one season of playing professional hockey with the Mississippi RiverKings in the SPHL in 2014-15, Leivermann joined the NAHL’s Wichita Falls Wildcats as a scout for the 2015-16 season. He spent the next season as the general manager and head coach of the NA3HL’s Jersey Shore Wildcats before returning to Wichita Falls to serve as an assistant coach for the remainder of the season upon the conclusion of the NA3HL season.
He remained in the NAHL for the next three seasons, working with the Janesville Jets, where he assumed the role of assistant coach for the entire 2017-18 season and the first half of the 2018-19 campaign before being elevated to head coach on Jan. 2, 2019, a role he held for a year and a half. He also served as the Jets’ director of scouting for two years (2018-20).
Following his time as a player with Fargo, Leivermann played at Minnesota State for parts of three seasons, registering eight points (four goals, four assists) in 42 games with the Mavericks.
A mid-year transfer to Gustavus Adolphus in 2012-13, Leivermann averaged a point per game over his 40 career games with the Gusties. He registered 20 goals and 20 assists, highlighted by his 30-point season (18 goals, 12 assists) in 2013-14, where he earned second team West AHCA All-American honors while serving as team captain.
Emma Guzdek skated in 49 games over three seasons for Wilkes (photo: Steve Finkernagel).
Former Wilkes forward/defender Emma Guzdek has been named the 2024 recipient of the annual College Hockey Inc. scholarship, presented by JLG Architects.
Guzdek will receive a $2,500 postgraduate scholarship that was created to celebrate an NCAA hockey student-athlete who helps build the game through their support of the next generation of hockey players.
The scholarship is given in honor of JLG founder Lonnie Laffen, a passionate college hockey supporter who passed away in 2020.
A native of Amherst, N.Y., Guzdek skated at Wilkes from 2021 through 2024 and graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
She appeared in 49 collegiate games during her three seasons – collecting five goals and six assists – and helped lead the Colonels to the program’s first conference playoff berth in 2023-24.
In 2023, Guzdek and the New York State Amateur Hockey Association co-founded the NYSAHA House League Skills Clinic, a grassroots program that focuses on player development and growing the game within the state, providing players with an affordable opportunity to develop their individual skills during on-ice training sessions.
“Seeing the smiles on these kids’ faces as they step out on the ice, often for the first time, is incredibly rewarding,” said Guzdek in a statement. “Initiatives like this are so vital for bringing new families into the hockey community and strengthening the foundation of the sport.”
Guzdek has served as a coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Jr. Knights program and the NYSAAHA Girls Development Camp. She has also been a team leader for USA Hockey’s Girls 15 Player Development Camp and recently worked at the USA Hockey Girls 16/17s Camp.
Guzdek became a published author this summer, having written The Ultimate 101 Guide to Recruiting for Female Hockey Players, and launched her own business at www.thehockeyparty.com.
“Congratulations to Emma on a job well done,” said College Hockey Inc. executive director Sean Hogan. “Her efforts to grow hockey and make it more accessible stood out to us in a great group of candidates. Thanks to Emma for all her hard work.”
“JLG looks for strong student-athlete leaders on and off the ice, and Emma Guzdek truly embodies the spirit and values that founded our firm and the CHI scholarship,” added Michelle Mongeon Allen, FAIA, LEED AP, CEO – JLG Architects. “We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate Emma’s outstanding dedication to growing the sport, empowering youth, and ensuring the joy of hockey is attainable for every family.”
Guzdek is currently enrolled in graduate school at the Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies, where she is pursuing her master’s degree in public policy. She is also serving as an assistant coach locally with the Cherry Creek Hockey Association.
“I feel immensely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to make a positive impact on the next generation of hockey players,” said Guzdek. “Hockey has given me so much over the years, and I feel tremendous pride in playing a hands-on role in helping the sport continue to thrive and grow. As I embark on the next chapter of my career, I look forward to finding new ways to support youth hockey and raise the next generation of players.
“The game has the power to shape lives, and I will always be passionate about using my platform in hockey to uplift young people.”
The College Hockey Inc. scholarship, presented by JLG Architects, was first awarded in 2020 and is open to any NCAA hockey player (men’s or women’s, any division) who has exhausted their collegiate eligibility. Applications required a written essay on the student-athlete’s contributions to the youth hockey community, which could be accompanied by videos, photos, or other supplemental information. The winner is selected by a committee made up of representatives from College Hockey Inc. and JLG Architects.
College Hockey Inc. Scholarship Recipients:
2020: Breanna Scarpaci, Boston University
2021: Michael Korol, Norwich
2022: Brooke Leone, Augsburg
2023: Stephanie Martin, Wisconsin-Eau Claire
2024: Emma Guzdek, Wilkes
Rutger McGroarty was a top offensive player in his two seasons with Michigan (photo: Michigan Photography).
After two seasons playing for Michigan, forward Rutger McGroarty has signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, forgoing his last two seasons of NCAA eligibility.
The Penguins acquired McGroarty’s rights on Aug. 22 from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forward Brayden Yager.
“We had a difficult decision to make with this trade because we hold Brayden Yager in such a high regard as a person and prospect. After much consideration, we decided that the opportunity to add Rutger McGroarty was ultimately in the best interest of the Penguins,” said Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas in a statement. “Rutger possesses the combination of ability, leadership and competitiveness that the Penguins need to achieve our goals in the short and long run. We look forward to welcoming Rutger and his family to the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins.”
McGroarty, 20, played at Michigan from 2022 to 2024, tallying 34 goals, 57 assists and 91 points in 75 games. Last season, he ranked second on the team with 36 assists and 52 points.
The Lincoln, Neb., native captained Team USA to the gold medal at the 2024 World Junior Championship, tallying five goals and nine points in seven games. McGroarty captured a bronze medal at the 2023 World Junior Championship.
McGroarty was originally drafted by the Jets in the first round (14th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The CCHA and WCHA announced today the hiring of Byron Synstegaard as assistant commissioner of operations.
He joins the respective conference offices bringing six years of administrative experience in sport and event operations.
“To borrow a hockey term, Byron’s hiring puts our staffing plan back at ‘full strength’ in the WCHA and CCHA,” said Minnesota State director of athletics and CCHA management council chair Kevin Buisman in a statement. “He brings a tremendous level of operational, event management, budget and administrative experience that will prove valuable in this role. He has a real passion for the game that will be more than evident to the coaches, student-athletes and staff he will serve. I am confident that he will acclimate quickly and make immediate, high-impact contributions across both leagues.”
Synstegaard spent the last four years with the Mavericks as an assistant athletic director for sport operations, overseeing all aspects of sport operations, including event management, at the university. He worked in facility management, business and financial management, department scheduling, and corporate partnerships.
“I want to thank (CCHA commissioner) Don Lucia, (WCHA commissioner) Michelle McAteer, Kevin Buisman, and the CCHA and WCHA staff for this opportunity,” said Synstegaard. “I am excited to continue to advance the renowned brand of both the CCHA and the WCHA in this role, and am honored to serve the prestigious institutions that make up both leagues.”
“I am very excited to welcome Byron to the WCHA,” said McAteer. “Throughout the application process, it was clear that he is experienced, qualified, and possesses a skill set that will add tremendous value to our organization. Bryon has advanced in sports administration roles throughout his career and came highly recommended. He has a lot to offer and will do a tremendous job managing the operations of our league and supporting our outstanding member institutions.”
Prior to his time at Minnesota State, Synstegaard was an event operations manager at Northern Michigan, where he served from 2018 to 2020, handling operations, marketing and promotions for all 16 programs.
“Byron has the unique skill set we were looking for and has previous experience at Northern Michigan and Minnesota State,” added Lucia. “He came highly recommended and his passion for college hockey was clear through the interview process. I look forward to working with Byron and welcome him to the CCHA.”
Synstegaard will oversee all league operations for both the CCHA and WCHA, including managing payroll for all employees (including officials), budgeting for all league activities and postseason tournament management, among other fiscal and operational duties.
Earning a bachelor’s degree in Geography/Environmental Studies from St. Thomas in 2015, he completed his master’s in Sports Management from Minnesota State in 2018.
Colgate has announced Chris Nell as the men’s hockey team’s newest assistant coach and director of hockey operations.
Nell will serve as the Raiders’ goalie coach.
“Chris has rapidly ascended through the goalie coaching ranks, and we are so excited to have him join our staff,” Colgate head coach Mike Harder said in a statement. “His ability to teach the position, think through the game, and push our student-athletes to get better every day will be an enormous asset to our Colgate hockey community. His passion is both evident and contagious.”
Nell arrives in Hamilton after serving as the assistant/goalie coach with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers in 2023-24.
He got his start in collegiate coaching at Marian, where he spent the last two years as the goalie coach for both the men’s and women’s programs.
Nell played professional hockey from 2017 to 2022. He spent 110 games between the pipes in the ECHL, posting a 3.33 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. Nell also recorded a 3.18 GAA and a .893 save percentage in 31 AHL games.
He played college hockey at Bowling Green. As a sophomore, Nell earned first team all-WCHA honors after recording one of the best seasons in program history. He set the Bowling Green record in goals-against average (1.91) and save percentage (.930) while posting an 18-11-6 record.
As a junior, Nell totaled 807 saves and logged a 2.15 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. He finished atop the Bowling Green record book in career shutouts (11), career save percentage (.922), and career GAA (2.07).
Nell graduated from Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2022 with a BA in organizational leadership.
Jori Jones was a goaltender on the 2023 Gustavus Adolphus national championship team (photo: Gustavus Adolphus Athletics).
Gianna Gasparini, the Gustavus Adolphus hockey player who was driving the car during the 2023 crash that killed teammate Jori Jones, was charged with reckless driving, a misdemeanor, on Aug. 16, 2024.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both. Gasparini did not play during the 2023-24 hockey season.
Gasparini, Jones and GAC teammates Kayla Bluhm and Lily Mortenson were returning home from a North Dakota team bonding trip when the car crashed into a van at a four-way intersection in western Minnesota. All four women were freshmen on the Gustavus Adolphus hockey team that won the NCAA Division III championship in 2023.
Only Mortenson played the 2023-24 season.
Jones died at the hospital following the crash. Her three teammates and the driver of the van, Brandi Rasmussen, suffered minor injuries.
Gasparini gave a statement to police saying that she “didn’t notice that it was a four-way intersection until way too late,” according to reports. She took a preliminary breath test that showed no trace of alcohol.
The accident occurred about 20 miles west of Willmar on Highway 40 at the intersection with Highway 29 in Grace Township, the State Patrol said.
The women’s SUV was heading east on Hwy. 40 and collided with a minivan as it headed south, the patrol said.
Mathew Thompson has played and coached at Adrian (photo: Adrian Athletics).
Adrian announced on Tuesday that Mathew Thompson will be elevated to associate head coach for the men’s hockey team.
Thompson is a 2018 graduate of Adrian where he was a member of the hockey team and spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach.
During his time as a player at Adrian, Thompson played in 105 games where he scored 61 goals to go with 67 assists for 128 total points. He served as captain of the team for his junior and senior season and was a four-time NCHA champion and a two-time NCAA tournament semifinalist. Thompson was also named to the NCHA all-freshman team during his career, was a three-time Harris Cup all-tournament team honoree, and a two-time NCHA all-conference selection.
Thompson then went on to pursue a professional career starting in the ECHL with the Indy Fuel before being promoted to the Rockford Ice Hogs in the AHL. After the 2019-20 season, Thompson returned to the Fuel where he served as captain before playing with the Coventry Blaze in the EIHL.
Zach McKelvie and Brian Riley talk strategy for Army West Point during a game last season (photo: Army West Point Athletics).
Army West Point head hockey coach Brian Riley has announced that the upcoming 2024-25 season will be his final following 21 years at the helm of the program.
Associate head coach Zach McKelvie will take the reins as head coach in 2025-26 as Riley passes the torch to an Army Hockey legend both on and off the ice. McKelvie now enters his 11th season on staff with the Black Knights and ninth as associate head coach.
This upcoming season will mark the 75th consecutive campaign with the Riley family leading the program, with Brian’s father Jack taking over in 1951 before passing the torch to Brian’s brother Rob from 1986 to 2004. The trio has combined for 1041 wins during the span, accounting for over 83% of the program’s victories.
“I would like to thank our athletic director Mike Buddie and our deputy athletic director Dan McCarthy for their guidance during this process,” said Riley in a statement. “The opportunity to grow up at West Point, raise our children here, and be a coach here at West Point has been both rewarding and humbling. West Point has provided not only me but the Riley family with so many great memories and we are all so grateful. Growing up at West Point, I always wondered why my dad stayed here as long as he did but having sat where he sat, I now know why he stayed. The chance to be around all the amazing people, Cadets and others makes this the best coaching opportunity in all of sports. Saying all of this, the staff is excited about preparing our cadet-athletes for the upcoming season.”
Riley has amassed 242 wins across his 20 seasons, currently ranking fifth on Atlantic Hockey America’s all-time wins list and 20th among active college hockey coaches. He has collected Atlantic Hockey coach of the year a record four times during his tenure including three straight from 2006 to 2008 before receiving the honor again in 2021. He has led 21 cadet-athletes to receive all-conference recognition along with Atlantic Hockey’s first-ever two-time All-American in Colin Bilek.
McKelvie first arrived at West Point as a plebe in 2005 before going on to have one of the most successful playing careers in Army Hockey history. A native of New Brighton, Minn., McKelvie was a two-time Atlantic Hockey first team selection for the Black Knights on the blue line. He was a team captain as a senior and an alternate captain as a junior. He finished his career with 56 points on 14 goals and 42 assists.
McKelvie was honored in 2008 as the league’s defenseman of the year along with receiving the AAA Award from the Army West Point Athletic Association, the most recent winner of the prestigious award from the program. Following the season, he also received team MVP honors along with another significant off-ice award from the academy – the Mike Krzyzewski Teaching Character Through Sport Award. The award is presented annually to “West Point athletes and coaches for their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership.”
“I am honored to be named the next head coach of this historic program,” said McKelvie. “As a former player and a grad, West Point holds a special place in my heart. I want to thank LTG Gilland, Mike Buddie, and Dan McCarthy for their support and trust in me. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Coach Riley and his family for their unwavering commitment to this school and the Army hockey program. His belief in me has been a cornerstone of my journey, and for that, I will be forever grateful. I am excited to embark on this next chapter and am confident we have a program capable of winning at the highest level and continuing to produce leaders of character ready to serve our nation. Go Army.”
McKelvie was originally signed by the Boston Bruins organization after his senior season in 2009. He then served two years of active duty as an infantry officer before officially starting his professional career in the Calgary Flames organization in 2011. McKelvie went on to appear in over 100 games in the AHL between the Providence Bruins and Abbotsford Heat. He was honored as a member of the AHA 10th Anniversary Team, which was announced in 2013. McKelvie eventually returned to West Point in 2014 to join Riley’s staff as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2016.
In 2022, McKelvie was inducted into the Atlantic Hockey Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class and is one of two Black Knights along with Bilek to receive the honor.
“This is an exciting time for the Army hockey program knowing that Zach McKelvie will be the next head coach,” Riley said. “Zach has given so much to this program both as a player and a coach. I will be forever grateful to Zach for all that he’s done for me and the Army hockey program. There’s nobody better suited than Zach to take over this program. He’s one of the finest young coaches in the country and I have no doubt that he’s going to do a great job leading this program in the coming years.”
McKelvie will become the 21st head coach in program history and just the fourth since 1956. He will join sprint football’s Mark West and golf’s Chad Bagley as current head coaches at Army to have graduated from the academy.
“It is with mixed emotions that I celebrate what Brian Riley, and the entire Riley family, has meant to Army hockey for decades,” said Buddie. “I am thrilled for Brian to embark on his next chapter, but I also know that his presence in our department will be missed on many levels. It is extremely heartening to have someone of Zach McKelvie’s experience, expertise and character waiting in the wings to continue to build on what the Riley’s have devoted their careers to establishing.”
The Riley family legacy began at West Point in 1951 with eventual USA and International Hockey Hall of Famer Jack Riley taking the reins. He went on to guide Army to 29 winning seasons and earned a pair of NCAA coach of the year awards in both 1957 and 1960. Riley served as head coach of the United States Olympic team in 1960 and directed the squad to its first gold medal. His 542 wins ranks second in Army athletics history for a head coach and was second in NCAA hockey history at the time of his retirement, with the mark currently standing 19th all-time.
With Rob and Brian succeeding their father’s head coaching position for the last 39 seasons and the upcoming 40th, the Riley family will continue to have its fingerprints on the program with current assistant coach Jack Riley entering his third campaign with the program and second on the bench.
Alaska Anchorage has announced the addition of Vincent Pietrangelo as the team’s new assistant coach.
Pietrangelo is no stranger to college hockey having served as an assistant and head coach in the college ranks since 2015. He spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach at Lake Superior State.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be adding Vinnie to our team,” said UAA head coach Matt Shasby in a news release. “He brings a significant amount of experience at the collegiate level that will make us better immediately. His passion for coaching and desire to be a Seawolf was second to none during the hiring process.”
Pietrangelo served as an assistant coach at Ferris State in 2015-16, helping the Bulldogs to a 201-15-6 overall record and the WCHA Final Five championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament.
He served as an assistant coach at Canton, helping the Kangaroos to a 14-9-2 overall record that included a pair of wins over nationally ranked opponents.
Pietrangelo was also the head coach at Arcadia for two seasons (2021-23), leading the Knights to an 11-37-3 record.
He played three seasons of collegiate hockey at Finlandia, appearing in 36 games as a defenseman.
Pietrangelo earned a bachelor’s degree in healthcare services administration from Ferris State and a master’s degree in sport management from Cortland.
