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.
The ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings have announced that Jonathon Elliott has been named a new assistant coach.
Elliott comes to Kalamazoo after two years with Miami as director of hockey operations in 2022-23 and an assistant coach last season.
Prior to his time with the RedHawks, he spent four seasons as an assistant coach for Saint Mary’s.
“It’s an honor to be chosen as the next assistant coach of the Kalamazoo Wings,” Elliott said in a statement. “I would like to thank (head coach) Joel Martin, along with owners Bill Johnston and Ronda Stryker, for their belief in me and for trusting me with this incredible opportunity with such a storied franchise.
“Kalamazoo is a special place, and I am very excited to be back in my home state surrounded by such a passionate fan base. I look forward to contributing to the team’s success and being involved in the community.”
Before coaching, Elliott played four seasons (2012-16) at Saint Mary’s.
The NHL’s Colorado Avalanche has announced today that the organization has named Kim Weiss the video coach of the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
Weiss was a guest coach for the Avalanche in 2023-24 where she assisted in the last two Avalanche development camps, part of the 2023 training camp and periodically throughout the 2023-24 regular season.
She most recently served as an assistant coach for the Trinity men’s hockey team in 2023-24.
Prior to coaching at her alma matter, Weiss’ coaching career included stints with the NAHL’s Maryland Black Bears and Washington Pride AAA programs in various capacities.
Weiss is a member of the NHL Coaches Association Female Coaches Program and has been a featured speaker in the organization’s mentorship program. She is involved with USA Hockey’s player development camps in the summer as well as the coaching education program. Weiss is a USA Hockey Level 5 certified coach and graduated from Georgetown Visitation School in Washington, DC.
She played college hockey at Trinity from 2007 to 2011, serving as team captain as a junior and senior. She was a first team All-American and NESCAC player of the year as a senior in 2010-11. As a junior, she helped guide the Bantams to an NCAA tournament bid for the first time in program history.
Weiss was a four-time All-NESCAC honoree and remains Trinity’s all-time leading scorer.
Former Western New England player Lukas Radina has been named an assistant coach at his alma mater.
“Transitioning from a player to a coach at WNEU is exciting,” Radina told USPHLPremier.com. “I’m eager to leverage my on-ice experience and contribute to the team’s development from a new perspective. My NCAA years were a great learning experience. They taught me a lot about playing at a high level and gave me a strong foundation in teamwork and discipline.”
Radina played for two seasons with Anna Maria, before transferring in 2022 to WNEU.
“I learned a lot about game strategy, how to stay in top shape, and what it takes to improve as a player,” said Radina. “These lessons will help me teach and guide players more effectively. Our first official practice is scheduled for early September. This summer, the WNEU coaching staff and I are focusing on team-building exercises, conditioning, and reviewing game strategies to ensure a strong start.”
Wall, who played at Lake Superior State, had been with the Vikings since the 2022-23 season. He graduated with a BS in Sports Recreation and Management from LSSU in 2013.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to coach one of the top organizations in junior hockey with Janesville Jets,” said Wall in a statement. “The Jets have a proud history of developing and advancing players to the next level while teaching players the value of giving back through community service that I plan to continue. The future of the Jets is very bright as the team gets ready to play in the new Woodman’s Center in a year. I’m grateful to the ownership for entrusting me to lead this group of young athletes as they seek to achieve their dream of playing Division 1 college hockey. Being an alum of the NAHL, I know firsthand what the league meant to me as a player and a person and want to make sure our players have the same great experience.
“My goal is to bring a Robertson Cup to Janesville.”
At Lawrence, Wall guided the team to a 12-36-4 mark over his two seasons behind the bench.
Chris Azzano will work with goaltenders at SHU (photo: Sacred Heart Athletics).
Chris Azzano, who has eight seasons of college hockey coaching experience as well as two in the USHL, has been named assistant coach for the Sacred Heart men’s hockey team.
Azzano oversaw goalies at Army West Point in 2023-24 after three seasons on the staff at Colgate. He became a full-time Raiders assistant coach for the 2022-23 season, helping Colgate win the ECAC Hockey tournament championship.
“I am thrilled to be part of a talented staff working in an amazing arena,” said Azzano, who will lead the Pioneer goalies, in a statement. “I am excited to begin working with a young goaltending group that has great potential.”
Azzano worked as an assistant coach at Morrisville from 2019 to 2022. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars, where he assisted with on-ice instruction and practice planning.
“We are pleased to add Chris Azzano to our staff as an assistant coach. First and foremost, Chris is a passionate coach who will work hard to foster relationships with our student-athletes,” said SHU head coach C.J. Marottolo. “He is very familiar with our league from his time at West Point and won a championship at Colgate. His experience will have a positive impact on our program.”
Azzano spent two seasons on the bench with Cortland, serving as an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator. He also coordinated academic efforts for the Red Dragons. Azzano got his collegiate coaching start at Canton, where he was the assistant coach for the men’s program during the 2014-15 season. He coordinated recruiting efforts and was responsible for in-game management of the defensive unit.
Before coaching, Azzano spent three seasons with the Mustangs as a goaltender, where he was a three-time SUNYAC all-academic team and two-time SUNYAC Commissioner’s List recipient for excellence in academics and athletics. Azzano also spent six years as an instructor with the Salt City Prospects in Syracuse.
“Chris will be heavily involved in all facets of our program from recruiting, practice planning, video work and will also implement and oversee our goalie development plan,” said Marottolo. “We are happy to welcome Chris and his wife Amy to our SHU hockey family. We look forward to him progressing in the profession while raising the bar for our netminders.”
Azzano earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Morrisville in 2014, before earning his Master of Science in Sports Management from Cortland in 2017.
Clarkson has announced the addition of Sebastian Ragno to the men’s hockey coaching staff as a new assistant coach.
In addition, Cam Basarab has been named an assistant for the Clarkson women’s hockey team.
In the summer of 2023, the NCAA expanded the size allowable for college hockey programs from two paid assistants to three full-time assistants. In the 2023-24 season, both the men and women shared Basarab as that third assistant. This season, Basarab has been named the assistant exclusively with the women’s hockey staff.
Ragno comes to the Knights after spending last season with Stonehill, where he worked with goaltenders and assisted in skill sessions and recruiting. Ragno will work with goaltenders and run on-ice skill sessions along with help with recruiting for Clarkson
Mike Clougherty has also been named video coach/hockey operations. He will be a graduate assistant as he will enroll in the Master of Business Administration program at the Reh School of Business. Clougherty graduated from Boston College in May 2024 with a Corporate Systems Major. While at BC, Clougherty was the associate head coach with the EHL’s Valley Jr. Warriors and ran his own hockey skill development program, Claw Hockey.
Jennifer Wilson spent six seasons as Lake Forest women’s hockey head coach (photo: Oto Bauman).
Lake Forest women’s hockey coach Jennifer Wilson announced Thursday that she will be resigning to accept an opportunity as an NCAA Division I assistant at an unnamed school.
Wilson has coached the Foresters for six seasons and compiled an overall record of 77-57-10 and an NCHA mark of 56-25-7. Lake Forest qualified for the NCHA Slaats Cup playoffs each season and advanced to the semifinal round of the league’s postseason tournament five times.
“We greatly appreciate everything Coach Wilson has done for Forester women’s hockey, as well as our department and the campus community, since she came to the college,” said LFC director of athletics Nicki Pieart in a statement. “We also wish her nothing but the best as she moves on to the next phase of her coaching career.”
“While I am excited and honored to take the next step in my career, it is not without mixed emotions to depart from Forester hockey,” added Wilson. “The last six years have greatly and positively impacted my growth as a coach, and I want to thank Jackie Slaats, Blake Theisen, and Nicki Pieart for their support and guidance while providing me with the opportunity to make an impact on the college, its student-athletes, and the program. I have had the privilege to work with phenomenal student-athletes over the years and will cherish those connections. I want to express a sincere thank you to the Forester staff, both past and present, who made Lake Forest the wonderful place that it is.”
Wilson’s final day at LFC will be Aug. 30.
A national search for Lake Forest’s next head women’s hockey coach will begin immediately.
Jake Bobrowski is the new Northland women’s hockey head coach (photo: Northland Athletics).
Jake Bobrowski has been named the new head coach for the Northland women’s hockey team.
Bobrowski, who becomes the fourth head coach of the program, takes over for Natasha Hawkins, who left the program in July.
“Northland women’s hockey is excited for a new era, with new leadership in Jake Bobrowski,” said Northland athletic director Dan Schumacher in a statement. “He has coaching experience at all levels of women’s hockey, and we are excited to have him at Northland College.”
In the inaugural PWHL season, Bobrowski was an assistant coach to the Walter Cup champion Minnesota Professional Hockey Team. The prior year, he was the head coach at Elmira, where he led the Soaring Eagles to a conference championship and finished the year ranked 10th in the nation.
“I want to thank director Schumacher for this opportunity,” said Bobrowski. “I am excited to showcase the beautiful campus and all the breathtaking shores of Lake Superior have to offer. I also look forward to the opportunity to build NC into a national contender.”
Bobrowski has spent time at the Division I level as an assistant with Minnesota.
Bobrowski’s collegiate coaching career started at Hamline. During his tenure, he helped the Pipers reach their first NCAA tournament. Hamline reached the NCAA Frozen Four twice, ending in a second- and third-place finish.
Before coaching, Bobrowski spent 22 years in law enforcement with the Saint Paul Police Department.
The Big Ten and Chicago Cubs announced Thursday plans to host a pair of college hockey doubleheaders at Wrigley Field in Jan. 2025.
The event will be known as The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series.
The Frozen Confines will feature three Big Ten men’s hockey games, plus a WCHA women’s game, the weekend of Jan. 3-4, 2025 at Wrigley Field. Big Ten Network will carry all four games live. While the order of games is pending, start times are set for 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 3 and for 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. CT on Jan. 4.
The game pairings are:
Friday, Jan. 3, 2025
Penn State vs. Notre Dame, BTN
Ohio State vs. Michigan, BTN
Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, BTN
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State, BTN
Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin each spent time in the national polls last season with four of the teams finishing in the top 10. Since 2022, all six schools have seen NCAA tournament action with Michigan advancing to three straight Frozen Fours.
On the women’s side, Ohio State and Wisconsin have combined to win the last five national championships and have met in the last two NCAA championship games.
The weekend of college hockey follows the NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 31, 2024, the second NHL Winter Classic to be held at Wrigley Field.
Tickets for the Frozen Confines go on sale to the general public on Friday, Aug. 30, at 10 a.m. CT and are available at Cubs.com/BigTenHockey.
A lawsuit against the NCAA and some Division I men’s schools is asking to end the loss of U.S. college hockey eligibility for players who compete in major juniors.
Attorneys for Canadian player Rylan Masterson claimed in a lawsuit filed Monday that the NCAA’s rule taking away eligibility for those who play games in the Canadian Hockey League violates U.S. antitrust laws.
Masterson is seeking unspecified financial damages and class status for other major junior players who have been prevented from playing NCAA hockey. He also wants an end to enforcement of the rule.
Ten private schools are listed as defendants along with the NCAA: Canisius, Niagara, RIT, Boston College, Boston University, Denver, Quinnipiac, Notre Dame, Stonehill and St. Thomas.
Masterson, from Fort Erie, Ont., played two exhibition games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires when he was 16, according to the lawsuit. The NCAA considers the OHL, the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League — collectively, the CHL — as pro leagues because they include players who have signed contracts with NHL teams.
Players who have appeared in a limited number of major junior games can have NCAA eligibility restored in some cases, according to College Hockey Inc.
Masterson’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Western District of New York, claims schools have illegally agreed to avoid recruiting players who have appeared in major junior games. That, the lawsuit argues, limits competition and depresses the labor market for players.
Changes to the prohibition on major junior players joining NCAA teams have been discussed recently in the wake of compensation starting to flow to college athletes.
There has been no decision, however, from college coaches or administrators to seek a change in the major junior rule since amateurism policies have been relaxed.
“Adrian College is very excited that Adam Phillips has agreed to be our third head coach for our high-caliber men’s hockey team,” Adrian athletic director Craig Rainey said in a statement. “He was a former assistant at AC for our national championship team in 2022. He knows what hockey means to the city of Adrian and our campus. We know Coach Phillips brings a ton of hockey experience, knowledge, and coaching ability to our program.”
Phillips returns to Adrian after serving as assistant coach from 2020 to 2022. After a short time away from the Bulldogs, Phillips returned on a volunteer assistant coach status for the remainder for the 2022-23 season. During his time at Adrian, the Bulldogs won three NCHA Peters Cup championships and two NCHA Harris Cup championships. Phillips was the assistant coach when Adrian went on to win its first NCAA national championship in 2022 and was also a member of the coaching staff that was national runner-up in 2023.
“It’s an absolute honor to be named the third head coach in program history,” Phillips said. “I’d like to thank President Docking, Frank Hribar, Craig Rainey, Meg Sharp, Bill Schindel and the entire search committee for their trust and belief in me. This program, Adrian College as a whole, and the Adrian community is incredibly special to my family and I. We are thrilled to be returning to Adrian. Lastly, I need to extend a special thank you to Adam Krug for his mentorship and friendship. The opportunity to continue what Coach Fogarty started in 2007, along with the success Coach Krug has built and achieved over the last ten years, is not something I take lightly.
“I can’t wait to get started.”
Recently, Phillips served as the assistant to the head coach at Miami. At Miami, Phillips worked with the video and analytics team which contributed to in-game decision making. Phillips also facilitated skills sessions with players and assisted with practice planning and individual player video sessions.
Before coming to Adrian, Phillips served as assistant coach and later interim head coach of the NAHL’s Odessa Jackalopes. In addition, Phillips has worked with Naurato Hockey and was a player development coach for Total Package Hockey.
Prior to coaching, Phillips played four seasons for the UMass before playing a five-year professional career in the ECHL for a variety of teams. Phillips was invited to NHL development camps for the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and the Minnesota Wild before playing in the AHL for a season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Saint Michael’s has announced the hire of Spencer Fascetta as the women’s hockey program’s full-time assistant coach.
Fascetta arrives at Saint Michael’s from Vermont State Castleton, where he served the past two years as a women’s hockey graduate assistant coach under Saint Michael’s alumnus Tim McAuliffe. Fascetta was responsible for recruiting, scouting, special teams, practice planning, video analysis, and skill development in his role with the Spartans.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Coach (Meghan) Sweezey and the entire Saint Michael’s College athletic department for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this program,” said Fascetta in a statement. “I felt at home the minute I stepped onto campus, and I don’t think there is a better fit for me personally or professionally as I continue to grow as a coach. This is a fantastic group of young people who I believe have a ton of growth potential, and I’m so excited to get started.”
“We are very excited to welcome Spencer on as our lead assistant coach,” added Sweezey. “Spencer brings a skillset to our team that complements my own and that will be a crucial part of our team’s development and success both on the ice and in the realm of recruiting. His demonstrated passion, hard work, and dedication to the sport mirrors our program’s values, and he well-represents what it means to be a Purple Knight.”
Prior to his time in Vermont, Fascetta was the Princeton women’s hockey director of video operations in 2021-22. Fascetta previously worked at New Hampshire, where he was a full-time intern and volunteer statistician for the women’s program between the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
Fascetta also carries a wealth of experience in analytics circles. He was a PWHL draft consultant in 2024 for the PWHL New York franchise and served as a data analyst for the NHL’s St. Louis Blues during the 2019-20 season. In 2021 and 2024, he was a keynote speaker at the Women’s Hockey Analytics Conference, an international online conference showcasing state-of-the-art research in women’s hockey analytics from around the world. Fascetta was also part of the Hockey Graphs mentorship program.
Fascetta is the former head writer and editor for “Pride Diehards,” the official media outlet of the Premier Hockey Federation’s Boston Pride. He was a Premier Hockey instructor and coach in Manchester, N.H., for two years (2016-18) with youth and high school-aged players while simultaneously working as a member of the ECHL Manchester Monarchs’ game presentation staff.
Fascetta earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management and applied mathematics in 2019 from Endicott, where his thesis focused on determining the most efficient means of generating offense in Division I women’s hockey. In 2024, Fascetta completed a master of science degree in athletic leadership from VTSU Castleton. As a graduate student, he researched transitional impacts in Division III men’s and women’s hockey.
Clausen is leaving the program to pursue another opportunity, according to WKTV.com.
During his time at Utica, Clausen went 347-214-37 and earned four conference coach of the year awards (two ECAC West, two UCHC). Utica teams qualified for conference tournament play in 22 of Clausen’s 23 years.
In addition, Clausen also served as the co-head coach of the Utica golf programs.
Friedman comes to WestConn from Boston University, where he has been director of hockey operations since 2021, helping that squad win the Hockey East title in 2023 and reach the NCAA Division I Frozen Four in each of the last two seasons. He has a wealth of hockey experience, including head coaching stints with the Twin City Thunder of the United States Premier Hockey league (USPHL) and Kents Hill Prep School in Maine that followed an eight-year professional career in the NHL.
Friedman begins at WestConn in late August and will serve as head coach of the Wolves’ ACHA hockey program while recruiting student-athletes and preparing for the inaugural varsity campaign next fall.
“I am looking forward to joining the WestConn community and contributing to the successful athletics program,” said Friedman in a statement. “I am thankful to athletic director Lori Mazza and the entire hiring committee for the opportunity to build and lead the Wolves’ men’s hockey program. My goal is to develop our student athletes to be the best they can be, on and off the ice.”
“After a very intense national search that yielded high-quality applicants, we are so excited to have Doug Friedman represent WestConn in our inaugural year of playing ice hockey,” added Mazza. “His vision of the culture for the program was exciting and we can’t wait to see how this process unfolds over the next few years. His experience and success at all levels makes him the perfect candidate to launch our NCAA program and we look forward to being a competitive member of the LEC.”
At Boston University, Friedman assisted head coach Jay Pandolfo in all aspects of the hockey program, including coaching on ice at practice and on the bench during games, overseeing recruitment of student-athletes and team academics, coordinating community service and fundraising activities, and managing the budget.
Prior to BU, Friedman was program director and head coach of the Thunder from 2018 to 2020, leading that team to the postseason in its inaugural season and placing several junior hockey players on NCAA teams. He was head men’s hockey coach, director of athletics, and head men’s golf coach at Kents Hill from 2014 to 2018 and increased that hockey team’s season win total each year.
Friedman was a highly decorated four-year player for the Terriers and served as captain in his final season in 1993-94 after making the squad as a non-recruited walk-on freshman. He helped the Terriers win two Hockey East crowns and two Beanpots and advance to three NCAA Frozen Fours and two appearances in the NCAA national title game while earning the New England collegiate defensive player of the year award as a senior.
Selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1993 NHL Draft (11th round, 222nd overall), Friedman played seven seasons of professional hockey, skating for the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators of the NHL in addition to stints with five AHL teams (Cornwall Aces, Hershey Bears, Hamilton Bulldogs, Kentucky Thoroughblades, and Worcester Ice Cats) and in the IHL with the Milwaukee Admirals. Friedman was an alternate captain in each season of his professional career and won the 1997 Calder Cup in that role with Hershey.
Friedman coached youth hockey while working in the business works for 10 years, before taking on a full-time role as coaching director with the Portland Jr. Pirates where he coached junior hockey teams and ran the junior program from 2011 to 2014. He has been a USA Hockey National Development Festival coach and New England Development Festival coach and owns both a USA Hockey level 4 coaching certification and a USA Hockey level 3 officials certification. Friedman was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
Legendary Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey head coach Mike Sertich, who not only served as the head coach of the Bulldogs for 18 years, but was a defenseman from 1965 to 1969, passed away on Aug. 8 in Duluth, Minn.
He was 77.
Sertich, who was at the helm of the UMD program from 1982 to 2000, guided UMD to all three of its WCHA regular-season titles (1984, 1985, 1993), both of its league playoff championships (1984, 1985) and its first four NCAA postseason berths (1983, 1984, 1985, 1993).
A native of Virginia, Minn., Sertich amassed an overall career record of 350-328-44. He was the recipient of the 1984 Spencer Penrose Award (national coach of the year) after his Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA title game against Bowling Green in Lake Placid, N.Y., and fell to the Falcons 5-4 after a four-overtime thriller. Sertich returned UMD to the 1985 NCAA Frozen Four the following year and set a club mark for victories in the process (36-9-3 overall) and is one of just two four-time winners of the WCHA coach of the year award (1983, 1984, 1985, 1993) and the only individual to attain that honor three seasons in a row.
Under Sertich, UMD produced three Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (Tom Kurvers in 1984, Bill Watson in 1985 and Chris Marinucci in 1994), 11 NCAA All-Americans, five WCHA player of the year honorees, 10 Olympians and 21 future NHL performers during his 18-year tenure.
Sertich assumed the Michigan Tech head coaching reins from 2000 to 2003 before becoming a volunteer coach at St. Scholastica in 2010, a role he held for three seasons. He was also an assistant coach with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in 2015-16 and volunteered with Hermantown youth hockey programs.
As a player for the Bulldogs, Sertich lettered three years (1966-69) and was voted the club’s most improved player as a senior. A defenseman, Sertich skated in 64 games over his UMD career, where he scored two goals and added seven assists for nine points. Sertich often joked about the “scoring prowess” he possessed while at played at UMD, though the one goal he rang up in WCHA play did come at the expense of a goaltender named Tony Esposito of Michigan Tech – and later – the netminder of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
Academically, Sertich earned undergraduate degrees in both history and physical education from UMD in 1969, and then obtained his master’s of education from Bemidji State in 1972.
A 2005 inductee into UMD’s Hall of Fame, Sertich received the 2004-2005 WCHA’s distinguished service award and then the 2005 AHCA Snooks Founders Award. He was also the 2021 Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey recipient, celebrated not only for his championships, but for his sportsmanship and integrity.
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022, Sertich continued to inspire Bulldog and hockey fans alike. He was presented with the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum’s Spirit of Life Award at AMSOIL Arena in Oct. 2023.
Sertich is survived by his daughter Lori (Derek Fredrickson), two sons John (Heidi) and Scott (Tammy), grandchildren Danny, Shjon, Lauren, Elise, Sophia, and brother Steve Sertich.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the UMD Coach Mike Sertich Men’s Hockey Scholarship. Donations can be made online or mailed to the UMD Advancement Office.
The WCHA has announced that Michelle McAteer is the conference’s new commissioner.
McAteer, who replaces Tracy Dill, joins the WCHA from Augsburg, where she served as the women’s hockey head coach for the past 14 seasons.
“I am thrilled and honored to be the next commissioner of the WCHA,” said McAteer in a statement. “I want to thank the search committee, coaches, administrators and representatives from the eight member institutions for this incredible opportunity. As someone who has played and coached in the league, it is humbling to now lead this group. I am excited to advocate for the players and league members and help build on the tremendous foundation that is already in place.”
At Augsburg, McAteer coached the women’s hockey program to eight consecutive MIAC playoff appearances and recruited and coached multiple All-Americans. She accomplished all of this while also building a healthy team culture that valued holistic success such as promoting mental health awareness, academic success, and career planning.
Aside from leading the women’s hockey program, McAteer also assisted with Augsburg’s athletic department administrative duties including serving as the assistant NCAA compliance director and as a SAAC advisor. McAteer has also served on multiple committees including the NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Championship Committee, NCAA Division I, and Il Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee
“We are excited to have Michelle join us as the new commissioner of the WCHA,” said Minnesota State director of athletics Kevin Buisman, who also serves as the chair of the WCHA board of directors. “She brings a unique perspective as a former WCHA student-athlete and coach, who literally started with us on the ground floor and, over time, has witnessed its ascension to the most highly respected league in all of women’s college hockey. Michelle emerged from a talented pool of candidates with a skill set and prior experiences that provide a great deal of confidence about her ability to lead us to future successes in moving forward.”
Prior to her time at Augsburg, McAteer spent time in the WCHA as the assistant women’s hockey coach at Minnesota Duluth where she helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2010 national championship. McAteer also served as the graduate assistant coach with UMD from 2003 to 2005.
“We are certainly sad to see ‘Mac’ go, but we are equally happy for her, as she embarks on a new chapter in her life,” said Augsburg athletic director Jeff Swenson. “Coach McAteer is not only a remarkable coach, but also an extraordinary individual, whose character and dedication has left an indelible mark on the Augsburg community. Michelle is a woman of integrity and compassion, always putting the needs of her players first. Her commitment to excellence in the women’s hockey program has been phenomenal. She has instilled in her team a relentless work ethic and passion for the sport that inspires all who know her.
“Coach ‘Mac’ is a true Auggie at heart. Her love for Augsburg is evident in everything she’s done. She’s more than a coach; she’s a mentor, a friend and a pillar of strength for the Augsburg women’s hockey program and Augsburg athletics. We’re going to miss her.”
McAteer earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Minnesota Duluth and earned her master’s degree in speech communication from Wisconsin-Superior. She resides in Minneapolis, Minn., with her wife Gina.
Matt Gilroy spent the past two seasons behind the bench with the NTDP (photo: USA Hockey).
Matt Gilroy will join the Harvard men’s hockey program as an assistant coach.
Gilroy begins his collegiate coaching career after a successful stint as an assistant coach with the U.S. National Development Team Program.
“We are very excited about the addition of Matt to our program,” said Crimson head coach Ted Donato in a statement. “Adding someone with Matt’s character, coaching ability, and playing career is a great opportunity for our team. We believe he is a great fit and will help our players and program reach our goals.”
Gilroy played college hockey at Boston University where he was a three-time All-American on the blue line for the Terriers. In 2009, Gilroy became only the fifth player in history to win both the Hobey Baker Award and NCAA championship in the same season. Gilroy also became just the sixth defenseman to win the Hobey Baker at the time.
An undrafted free agent, Gilroy went on to play 225 games in the NHL after signing his first contract with the New York Rangers in 2009. In six seasons in the NHL, Gilroy played for the Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, and Florida Panthers before playing another five seasons in Europe. Gilroy also served as alternate captain for the United States in the 2018 Olympics.
Gilroy spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the U.S. NTDP, helping post an 86-28-3 record in two years. Joining USA Hockey in 2022-23, Gilroy began his coaching career with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings AAA youth hockey program while also serving as the head coach at RAD (Rapid Athlete Development) Hockey, a premier off-season development program for elite players in the western part of the country.
A lawsuit against the NCAA and some Division I men’s schools is asking to end the loss of U.S. college hockey eligibility for players who compete in major juniors.
