Aurora has announced the appointment of Mandy Montgomery as women’s ice hockey coach.
MONTGOMERY (photo: Aurora athletics)
Montgomery comes to Aurora experience as both a coach and student-athlete at the Division I and III levels, most recently as an assistant coach at Elmira College and before that an assistant coach at SUNY Canton.
With Montgomery on the bench at Elmira, the program went 84-12-4, winning four conference titles, making three NCAA Tournament appearances while coaching eight All-Americans, 10 All-Conference student-athletes and 30+ Academic All-Americans. Montgomery’s extensive hockey background also includes two years as an assistant at Division I institutions.
In 2014-15, Montgomery joined the coaching staff at her alma mater, Sacred Heart University, where she worked primarily with the team’s goaltenders and defense. In 2016-17, she worked at Colgate University.
“Throughout the interview process, Mandy’s successful pedigree as a coach and student-athlete stood out as a great fit for our program,” said Jim Hamad, vice president for athletics. “AU Women’s Hockey is poised for a new level of success on and off the ice under Mandy’s leadership.”
Montgomery takes the reigns of the AU women’s ice hockey team which finished last season with an 16-10-2 overall record and went 11-4-1 in the NCHA.
“I am excited to lead a dedicated group of student-athletes who share this competitive mindset on the ice and in the classroom,” Montgomery said. “I also have to give credit to Grant Kimball and Jackie Kooistra for building the foundation of this program from the ground up.”
Montgomery has coached at several USA Hockey development camps and possesses a Level 3 certification from USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program and training in concussion management and strength and conditioning.
As a student-athlete on the ice, Montgomery spent the first two years of her collegiate career as a member of the inaugural St. Norbert College women’s ice hockey teams in 2010-11 and 2011-12. As a sophomore goaltender with the Green Knights, she recorded shutout victories in two of her five starts.
Montgomery then transferred to Division I Sacred Heart and played her final two seasons with the Pioneers. She was second on the team in minutes (652:42), saves (442) and victories (4) as a junior, helping the Pioneers achieve an 18-win season.
Montgomery graduated summa cum laude from Sacred Heart in 2014 with a degree in English and received her master’s in general education from Elmira College in 2020.
Hiram College has announced the addition of D-III men’s ice hockey starting in the 2025-26 season. Hiram will also add women’s lacrosse and women’s bowling.
CURTO (photo: Hiram Athletics)
Jeffrey Curto, Ph.D., assistant professor of sport management, will head the first varsity men’s ice hockey team in Hiram history.
“This is a historic period for Hiram athletics and its new total of 26 varsity sports,” director of athletics Scott Pohlman said in a statement. “Our academic and athletic administration have been working hard to make Hiram the ideal destination for the Division III student-athlete.”
Hiram will be the only Division III men’s ice hockey team in the state of Ohio.
“I’m honored that Hiram College and Scott Pohlman selected me as the first head coach for the new men’s hockey program at Hiram College,” said Curto. “Becoming the only NCAA Division III hockey program in the state of Ohio gives players from Ohio a chance to play at a high level, stay in the state and gain a tremendous education.”
Prior to coaching at Hiram, Curto was the associate head coach of the Eastern Kentucky University Division III ACHA hockey team in Richmond, Kentucky in 2016 and previously coached at the high school and U16 levels. He holds a Ph.D. in sport management from Troy University.
Hiram men’s ice hockey will host games at The Pond – Ice Rink & Sports Complex in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Curto will begin serving as head coach in 2024-25 before the Terriers officially take the ice the following academic year.
Located in Hiram, Ohio, 35 miles southeast of Cleveland, Hiram College has an enrollment of 731 and was founded in 1850.
Cutter Gauthier played the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons for Boston College (photo: John Quackenbos).
USA Hockey has announced that Cutter Gauthier has been named the 2024 Bob Johnson Award recipient.
Named in honor of U.S. coaching legend Bob Johnson, the award annually recognizes excellence in international hockey competition.
Gauthier, an alternate captain for the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team, helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden this past January. The forward tallied a team and tournament-leading 12 points, enroute to earning the Directorate Award as the top forward in the tournament.
The Scottsdale, Ariz., native led all players in the championship with 10 assists. He also scored two goals, including the game-winner late in the third period of Teams USA’s semifinal victory over Finland.
Gauthier was named to the tournament’s Media All-Star team and was also tabbed as one of Team USA’s three best players of the tournament.
A two-year player at Boston College (2022-24), Gauthier received the Bob Johnson Award at the USA Hockey President’s Awards Dinner tonight in Denver.
Assumption has announced that Joe Grossman has been hired as the new women’s hockey head coach.
“I am incredibly excited to welcome Coach Grossman to our Assumption athletics family,” said Assumption director of athletics Eric Gobiel in a statement. “Joe brings a wealth of coaching and leadership experience from multiple NCAA Division I programs and has a clear vision for what it takes to succeed at this level. He is a student-centric coach, and I am confident he will use his experience to elevate our program in the coming years.”
Grossman comes to Assumption after spending last season as the women’s hockey assistant coach at Stonehill.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to join Assumption University as head coach for the women’s hockey team,” Grossman said. “I look forward to building a strong, competitive program that embodies the spirit and dedication of our student-athletes. Together, we will foster a culture of excellence on and off the ice while working towards our goal of a NEWHA championship. I can’t thank Eric and the entire staff enough for their warm welcome and clear vision for the future. Go Greyhounds.”
Prior to Stonehill, Grossman served as an assistant coach for Harvard for six seasons. Previously, Grossman worked with the American Hockey Academy, Nichols College, and several other youth, high school, and junior programs.
During his playing days, Grossman was part of the 2007 Ivy League championship team at Dartmouth.
Greg Fargo helped shape the Colgate women’s hockey team into a perennial contender (photo: Olivia Hokanson).
Greg Fargo, the winningest head coach in Colgate women’s hockey program history, announced that he is resigning from his position at the end of June to take the head coaching role for Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) New York.
Fargo transformed Colgate women’s hockey into a perennial national power, most recently guiding the Raiders to the NCAA Frozen Four for the second time in program history – both under his tenure – a regional championship, and fourth straight ECAC Hockey title.
“Leaving Colgate is bittersweet,” Fargo said in a statement. “The people – especially our players and staff – have made the past 12 years incredibly rewarding. The Colgate community has been a significant part of my family’s life, and we’ve built relationships and memories that will last a lifetime. It has been an honor to serve as the head coach of this program, and I am deeply grateful to every player and coach, past and present, who contributed to realizing our vision.
“I know the Colgate women’s ice hockey community takes pride in the program we have built together. I am immensely grateful for the support from current and former players, their families, my colleagues, the administration at Colgate, and the Hamilton community.”
During his 12-year tenure, Fargo led the Raiders to seven 20-win seasons, five NCAA tournament berths, four ECAC Hockey championships, three regional finals, and two Frozen Fours including a national championship appearance in 2017-18. He guided the development of six professional women’s hockey draftees, five Olympians, two ECAC rookies of the year, a two-time Patty Kazmaier finalist, and nearly 30 all-conference honorees.
“I know that I speak for so many in the Colgate community in thanking Greg for an incredible 12 years coaching at Colgate,” said Colgate VP and director of athletics Yariv Amir. “Through his tenure he has transformed our women’s hockey program into a model for both Colgate and Division I. While it’s sad to see his run as head coach end, we are excited for him to embark on this new chapter of his career, growing and building the sport of women’s hockey at the professional level.”
Fargo leaves Colgate with a 334-170-39 (.651) career record, including 255-147-34 at Colgate, the highest winning percentage (.624) in program history. His 334 career wins rank 20th all-time in Division I and his .651 win percentage was 10th-best among active Division I women’s hockey head coaches.
Fargo was a recipient of the 2022 Jerome Balmuth Award for successful and transformative teaching at Colgate. He was named the 2018 AHCA national coach of the year after leading the Raiders to the national championship game for the first time in program history.
Fargo joins the professional ranks, where he will reunite in New York with former players Jessie Eldridge and Olivia Zafuto. The newly-formed PWHL, now in its second season, consists of six franchises, three each from the United States and Canada.
“As I move on to this new chapter with PWHL New York, I carry forward the lessons and experiences that have shaped me,” Fargo said. “I am excited to continue growing as a coach and to pursue new challenges in the premier league in women’s hockey.”
A national search for the next Colgate women’s hockey head coach will begin immediately. Assistant coach Stefan Decosse will serve as the primary contact during the transition.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday approved an adjustment to the rules for checking from behind and contact to the head to provide game officials additional options when adjudicating these penalties in men’s and women’s ice hockey for the 2024-25 season.
The new rule provides guidance and additional levels of penalty options for on-ice officials.
It strengthens rules regarding clear violations of contact to the head to include a major penalty (five minutes) and at least a game misconduct or disqualification. The past two years, a standalone major penalty was permitted to be enforced in some instances. Along with this adjustment, a minor penalty option is available to game officials. This is intended only for actions that are inadvertent or when the player making contact is using otherwise legal tactics.
Officials will have all options available for hitting-from-behind infractions (minor, major and major/game misconduct or disqualification).
Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee members discussed checking from behind thoroughly last month and focused on the growing trend of players turning to create contact, often just before it occurs. With contact to the head, the committee focused on the players delivering contact, particularly cases where otherwise legal contact resulted in a major penalty.
Game officials will be given more latitude to consider an opponent’s actions causing contact to the head or checking from behind.
High-sticking the puck
The panel approved a rule change making pucks played at shoulder height legal and not whistled for a high-stick violation. Previously, any puck played with a stick above 4 feet was considered a high-sticking violation.
This change simplifies the rule to shoulder height as a way of taking away the need for on-ice officials to judge whether the puck is 4 feet off the ice. This standard will also be used when goals are scored.
Shootouts
To standardize competition, panel members approved mandating the use of a shootout after the five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period. NCAA championships selection committees have indicated that a shootout will not be part of any selection criteria.
Other rules changes
— When using video replay, officials will have the ability to review a major penalty and downgrade it to a minor penalty or no penalty. Officials can add to a major penalty during the review (game misconduct or disqualification).
— As part of the supplementary discipline process, a conference can appeal a disqualification penalty to the secretary-rules editor and national coordinator of officials. No other penalties can be appealed or reduced.
— “Deliberately directed” was removed from the hand-pass rule to more closely align it with the National Hockey League rule.
— In postseason games that use a video replay official, it is optional to clear game-winning goals in overtime. If a review is needed, the on-ice officials will make the final determination.
— A rule proposal dealing with continuous play was also approved. When referees signal a stoppage of play because they have lost sight of the puck but, in the immediate and continuous action, the puck enters the goal, officials will be allowed to award a goal. Previously, blowing the whistle took away this option.
— A rule dealing with the scoring of a goal during a delayed penalty was removed. Previously, if a goal was scored during a delayed penalty call, the penalty was enforced, and the nonoffending team received a power play. Removing this rule will result in the penalty being nullified.
— In women’s ice hockey, the panel approved additional language identifying unintentional collisions and plays where the pursuit of a loose puck creates contact.
Laila Edwards and Cutter Gauthier have been honored with USA Hockey awards (Edwards photo: Tom Lynn/Gauthier photo: Brody Hannon).
USA Hockey will honor 12 individuals at its President’s Awards Dinner on June 7 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center as part of its four-day annual meeting that begins on June 5.
Player of the year honorees include Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year Laila Edwards and Jim Johannson College Player of the Year Cutter Gauthier.
Edwards etched her name in the hockey history books this season becoming the youngest American skater to be named MVP at an IIHF Women’s World Championship. The Cleveland native earned the honor after posting a tournament-leading six-goal performance at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, helping to anchor the U.S. to its 23rd-straight medal in the event.
Edwards, who became the first black woman to skate for the U.S. Women’s National Team at an international event, recorded eight points, the third highest point total at the tournament. She notched her first career goal during the team’s preliminary round game against Czechia and also posted her first career hat trick during a 5-0 semifinal victory against Finland.
She shined in the gold medal game, recording a team-leading two points, including the first U.S. goal midway through the opening period. In addition to earning tournament MVP honors, she was also voted to the tournament’s Media All-Star Team.
As a sophomore at Wisconsin during the 2023-24 season, Edwards recorded 56 points (21 goals, 35 assists), skating in all 41 of the Badgers’ games.
The forward earned Third Team All-WCHA honors, recording four points (two goals, two assists) in the WCHA Final Faceoff championship game and a goal and assist in the national semifinal game against Colgate, propelling Wisconsin to an NCAA Frozen Four championship game appearance.
Edwards also represented Team USA during the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, making her U.S. Women’s National Team debut in a 5-2 victory over Canada at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles in Game 2 of the series.
A sophomore forward, Gauthier was a standout at Boston College during the 2023-24 college hockey season. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native helped lead the Eagles to both the Hockey East regular-season and tournament championship, and propelled BC to its first national championship game appearance since 2012.
Gauthier led the nation in scoring with 38 goals, including a chart-topping 10 game-winners, and ranked second nationally with 65 points. His 13 power-play goals ranked second nationally, as he tallied an impressive 1.59 points per game.
Gauthier, who signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks following the college season in April, was named an AHCA Division I First Team All-American as well as earning All-Hockey East First Team honors.
Gauthier’s goal-scoring ability and dominance made him a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick finalist and a Hockey East Player of the Year finalist. He also received the Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.
On the international stage, Gauthier helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. The alternate captain tallied the game-winning goal late in the third period in the United States’ 3-2 semifinal victory against Finland. He registered a tournament-leading 12 points and earned the Directorate Award for Best Forward, as well as a nod on the Media All-Star Team. His 10 assists were the third-most by an American in a single World Junior Championship.
Hampton Slukynsky (photo: Fargo Force).
In addition, Fargo Force (USHL) goalie Hampton Slukynsky, an incoming Northern Michigan freshman, was named Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year and Fargo teammate Mac Swanson, an incoming North Dakota freshman, was tabbed the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year.
Slukynsky backstopped the Force to a historic season in 2023-24. The netminder helped his team to a record-breaking 50-10-2 regular season, setting a new mark for most single-season team wins in USHL history, before leading Fargo to its second Clark Cup title.
The netminder finished the USHL regular season with a 28-3-0 record in 33 games played. His 28 wins and five shutouts each led the league. He also paced all USHL goaltenders by a considerable margin with a 1.86 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He was named USHL Goaltender of the Year and earned First Team All-USHL honors.
The Warroad, Minn., native was a postseason workhorse for Fargo, as he started all 12 games during the team’s Clark Cup playoffs run, posting 9-3-0 record. His 1.69 goals-against average in the playoffs tied for the league lead, and his .931 save percentage ranked fourth.
On the international stage, Slukynsky helped the 2023 U.S. Junior Select Team to a third-place finish at the 2023 World Junior A Challenge in Truro, N.S., in December. He started five games for Team USA, compiling a 4-0-1-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record. He posted a 2.99 goals-against average, which ranked second-best in the tournament, and a .872 save percentage.
Mac Swanson (photo: Fargo Force).
Swanson led all USHL skaters with 51 assists and ranked third in the league with 77 points in 55 games played. Swanson’s stellar performance earned him USHL Player of the Year honors, and he was also named USHL Forward of the Year and a USHL First Team All-American.
The Anchorage, Alaska, native’s success continued into the postseason, where he paced all skaters in goals (5), assists (12), and points (17) and was named the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player after leading Fargo to a Clark Cup championship.
On the international stage, Swanson appeared on the 2023 U.S. Junior Select Team that finished third at the 2023 World Junior A Challenge in Truro, N.S., in December. He led all skaters at the tournament with nine assists and tied for a Team USA lead with 11 points in six games. He also was selected to participate at the 2024 Chipotle All-American Game in January.
Jim Clare
Other awards include Army West Point alum Jim Clare being named the Walter Yaciuk Award winner, former NCAA on-ice official Mark Sampson winning the Chet Stewart Award, former New England College and Middlebury coach and New Hampshire player Bill Beaney honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award, and former Harvard women’s player Amy Lowe taking home the Wm. Thayer Tutt Award.
Clare was involved in youth hockey and coaching education both in Illinois and at the national level for over 25 years.
A native of Weymouth, Mass., Clare played youth hockey in the Boston area before going on to play NCAA Division I hockey at West Point. He spent seven years as a captain in the Army before retiring in 1994.
Clare moved to Illinois and shortly after began his involvement with Amateur Hockey Association Illinois in 1998 when his oldest son started playing youth hockey.
Clare coached every level from 6U to 14U for Sabre Hockey Association in Naperville, Ill., as his three sons progressed through the program. He also coached the Sabres’ girls 19U team for five years. From 2003-16, Clare served on the Sabres’ board of directors, including a 10-year stint as the club’s president from 2006-16.
In 2010, Clare joined the AHAI board of directors, where he served as vice president of membership. During his time there, Clare was part of nearly every AHAI committee over the years, including Try Hockey for Free, the suspension/review committee, and the A Step Ahead concussion prevention committee, among others.
Clare’s dedication to inclusion and growing the game was evident throughout his career. He also organized coaching clinics specifically for coaches in the disabled hockey section and played a role in the growth of the AHAI special hockey program.
On the national level, he was a USA Hockey coaching education program instructor for nearly a decade and for three years from 2016 to 2019, ran in-person coaching clinics in Illinois. When clinics went virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic, Clare ran online seminars up until his final season in 2023.
On Sept. 23, 2023, Clare passed away at age 58 after a courageous battle with cancer. He left a legacy and profound impact on American hockey through his education of thousands of players and coaches that will be felt for many years to come.
Mark Sampson
Sampson’s impact on officiating in New England has been felt for nearly five decades. A leader in the state of Massachusetts, Sampson has been active in the hockey community as a player, coach, official, supervisor, instructor and mentor, leaving his mark on the sport at nearly every level.
An official himself since 1973, Sampson officiated for 44 seasons, including everything from youth games to juniors to college hockey and beyond.
The Longmeadow, Mass., native patrolled the ice at all levels, wearing the stripes at the USA Hockey National Championships in 1993, 1994, 1997, 2003, and 2010 while serving as the supervisor of officials at the 2018 USA Hockey Girls National Championship. He also officiated NCAA Division I and III men’s hockey and NCAA Division III women’s hockey.
Sampson served as the district supervisor for the sixth district of Massachusetts Hockey for 29 years where he worked with local officials on development opportunities within the state and dedicated much of his time to recruiting and mentoring new officials in the area. He also spent a decade as the assigner for the Interstate Junior Hockey League.
For his efforts, Sampson was honored with the Massachusetts Hockey Milt Kaufman Award in 2001, earned the Al Pinciak Award in the 2005-2006 season and was recognized with the Golden Stripes Award in 2010.
A staunch advocate for development, Sampson has been a key instructor at USA Hockey officiating seminars and led all on-ice instruction as part of USA Hockey’s officials certification process.
Sampson served as the head of the officiating evaluation program for the state of Massachusetts and continues to foster a development pipeline for officials at all levels.
Bill Beaney
Beaney’s profound impact on college hockey has cemented the legendary coach in the lore of hockey greats. He spent over 30 years behind the bench, including 28 years at Middlebury College and seven seasons at New England College. An influential coach, Beaney not only made his mark on the ice, but helped shape the modern hockey landscape across the country.
During his tenure at Middlebury, Beaney led the Panthers to eight national championship titles, including five-straight from 1995 to 1999. The team also won eight NESCAC titles between 2000 and 2010, with the program doubling up on both a conference championship and national championship in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Thirty-nine players received All-America honors under Beaney’s tutelage, as the Lake Placid, N.Y., native helped amass 516 wins at Middlebury.
Beaney began his coaching career following graduation from the University of New Hampshire in 1973. He headed up the program at Bellows Free Academy in Vermont, leading the school to three-straight state titles before jumping to the college ranks with New England College in 1978.
At the collegiate level, both at Middlebury and New England College, Beaney recorded a 602-260-59 record, an impressive .696 win percentage, and retired in 2015 as the winningest coach in NCAA Division III men’s hockey. He also led the Middlebury men’s golf team and served as an adjunct professor until his retirement in 2023.
Inducted into both the Lake Placid Hall of Fame in 2009 and Vermont Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, Beaney is a four-time Edward Jeremiah Award recipient, given to the top men’s hockey coach in Division III.
One of the pioneers of small-area games, Beaney’s coaching philosophy has transcended the sport and helped change the way the game is taught in the United States. His history with USA Hockey spans over 40 years, as Beaney was active in developing curriculum for coaching clinics and has presented his philosophies internationally over the years.
Internationally, Beaney was an assistant coach for the 1994 U.S. National Junior Team and was named USA Hockey Coach of the Year in 1999.
Beaney attended New Hampshire and skated four seasons for its men’s hockey team, serving as the captain his senior year during the 1972-73 season.
Amy Lowe
Lowe’s philosophy on success is simple, it’s never about the wins or losses, but about growing the game and encouraging as many hockey players possible to lace up the skates. Her selfless dedication to enhancing hockey at the grassroots level in both the Massachusetts area, and across the country has left an indelible mark on the sport.
A native of Stoneham, Mass., Lowe has spent the better part of two decades laying the foundation of youth hockey in her hometown program of Nashoba Youth Hockey. She served 20 years as a board member of Nashoba Youth Hockey and was also the director of initiation programs for the association from 2006 to 2023.
She helped establish the association’s first girls’ hockey program in 2005 and became the director of girls’ hockey during the 2007-08 season, a role she held until 2023. Lowe dedicated her time to growing the girls game over the years and ensuring the rink is a welcoming place for all who come to play.
In 2015, Lowe forged a partnership between Nashoba Youth Hockey and the Boston Bruins Academy to advance development programs in the organization. She spearheaded growth relationships with the Bruins to help expand Nashoba’s Learn to Play and Learn to Skate programs and was awarded the Mike Cheever “Grow Hockey” grant for Nashoba Youth Hockey in 2018.
Lowe comes from a hockey family and started playing hockey as a child after her mother helped start the Stoneham Girls Hockey program, giving both Lowe and her older sister a team to play for. As a teen, Lowe began coaching and officiating, working with local youth and girls leagues.
Lowe attended Harvard University where she played four seasons for the Crimson NCAA Division I women’s hockey team. Lowe graduated with a degree in English and later became a teacher at New Hampton School in New Hampshire where she also served as head coach of their girls hockey team and continued playing hockey in adult leagues during her free time.
Former Buffalo Sabres first-round pick Daniel Paille spent five seasons with Canisius (photo: Canisius Athletics).
Canisius has announced that assistant coach Daniel Paille has left the program to “pursue another coaching opportunity.”
Paille, a former first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres and Stanley Cup champion with the Boston Bruins, was named an assistant coach in August 2021 and prior to his promotion, spent two seasons (2019-21) as a volunteer assistant coach with the team, assisting in the day-to-day operations of the program.
During his time at Canisius, Paille aided in the development of the team’s forward group while also overseeing the team’s penalty kill unit. He has mentored three players who have earned a total of five All-AHA selections. Paille has been instrumental in the Griffs making pair of appearances in the title game of the AHA tournament, highlighted by the program claiming its second crown in 2022-23.
Paille was selected 20th overall by the Sabres in the 2002 NHL Draft. He spent 11 seasons in the NHL, amassing 85 goals and 87 assists in 582 regular-season contests split between the Sabres, Bruins and New York Rangers. He chipped in 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 75 postseason games, helping the Bruins capture the Stanley Cup in 2011 and make a finals appearance in 2013.
Maura Crowell has spent time coaching at Minnesota Duluth and Harvard (USCHO.com file photo).
Dartmouth has announced the hiring of Maura Crowell as the head coach of the women’s hockey program.
Crowell replaces Liz Keady Norton, who resigned after three seasons to return to Milton Academy.
“A week ago, we launched a national search to find the best coach in the country to lead our program, and from the first conversation with Maura, it was clear that we found her,” Dartmouth director of athletics and recreation Mike Harrity said in a statement. “Maura’s track record of success at the highest level speaks for itself, and I have no doubt that she will elevate our program to a championship level and help our students strive for excellence on and off the ice. We are excited to welcome Maura, Shelby, and their daughter Blake to the Dartmouth team.”
Crowell spent the last nine seasons as the head coach at Minnesota Duluth, returning the Bulldogs to national prominence with a 174-115-25 record, including three consecutive 20-plus win seasons. In her time at the helm in Duluth, Crowell has an overall NCAA tournament record of 6-5 and five NCAA tournament berths (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2017) to go with two NCAA Frozen Four appearances (2022, 2021).
“This is a great opportunity to lead at one of the best academic institutions in the world. Dartmouth women’s ice hockey has a rich history and I look forward to working with the student-athletes and staff to return the program to national prominence,” Crowell said. “Hanover is a beautiful New England town and my family is excited to become a part of the Dartmouth community. Thank you to athletics director Mike Harrity for trusting me with the program.”
In the 2016-17 season, Crowell was named the USCHO.com Division I women’s coach of the year, as well as the CCM/AHCA Division I women’s ice hockey coach of the year and was named a CCM/AHCA Division I women’s ice hockey coach of the year finalist in both 2022 and 2021. Crowell was also crowned the 2016-17 WCHA coach of the year after she guided UMD to its biggest turnaround in program history with 25-7-5 overall record and the Bulldogs first NCAA quarterfinal game on home since 2010.
Crowell has overseen two Patty Kazmaier Award top-3 finalists (Gabbie Hughes and Lara Stalder), as well as a Patty Kazmaier top-10 finalist (Élizabeth Giguère).
Crowell has guided two U.S. Under-18 squads to World Championship medals, a gold medal in 2020 and a silver medal in 2019 and has two gold medals as an assistant coach in 2016 and associate head coach in 2018.
Prior to her arrival in Duluth, Crowell spent five seasons at Harvard, including serving as Harvard’s associate head coach in 2014-15 after filling an interim head coaching role in 2013-14. She was a Crimson assistant coach from 2010 to 2013. Crowell built an impressive resume over five years (2005-10) at the UMass Boston helm with an overall record of 73-53-4 — making her UMass Boston’s all-time winningest coach. Crowell’s collegiate coaching resume also includes a two-season stint (2003-05) as an assistant coach at Connecticut College.
A Mansfield, Mass. native, Crowell enjoyed a rewarding four-year playing career at Colgate and helped the Raiders to three straight ECAC playoff appearances and a spot in the 2000 ECAC championship game. She earned ECAC all-academic accolades as a senior alternate team captain in 2001-02.
Peter Elander helped Ohio State to 70 wins over the past two seasons (photo: Ohio State Athletics).
Ohio State women’s hockey associate head coach Peter Elander has announced his retirement from collegiate coaching.
Elander, who served three seasons behind the bench for the Buckeyes, closes a decade-long NCAA coaching career.
“After these last two successful seasons with an unbelievable group of players, a great staff and very supportive athletics department, it’s time for me to take a step back and give myself time to do other things in life,” Elander said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with family and friends while still being involved in the beautiful game of ice hockey but in a smaller role.”
In what he’s calling “semi-retirement,” Elander will continue to be involved in the sport through consulting and guest coaching roles.
“My time at Ohio State has been amazing,” he said. “This team, with so many talented players who at the same time are dedicated and humble, was a true pleasure to work with. Winning 70 of 80 games these last two years with the final being the national championship game is a very nice ending to a 10-year NCAA career.”
In addition to the aforementioned national championship, Elander helped the team win the program’s first two WCHA regular-season titles, make two consecutive national title game appearances and set a number of program records. Under his guidance, the Buckeyes finished top five in the country in goals, assists, points, scoring margin and goals per game the last two seasons. Along the way, he helped develop Patty Kazmaier top-10 finalists, All-Americans and future professional and national team members.
“First off, I want to say thank you to Peter for being this program’s No. 1 supporter for the last seven years,” Ohio State head coach Nadine Muzerall said. “Whether he was behind the bench or watching as a fan, he was always in our corner and helping us grow. I am a better coach, and we are a better program, because of him.”
Elander’s first stint at Ohio State was during the 2017-18 campaign. That season, which is considered a turning point for the program, he helped the Buckeyes to their first NCAA tournament and Frozen Four appearance in program history. The campaign saw the team win a then-program record 24 games for the team’s second 20-plus win season.
“When I had the opportunity to bring Peter back on staff, it was a no-brainer,” Muzerall said. “Not only is his passion for and knowledge of the game unmatched, but his ability to connect with everyone around him makes him a truly special coach. We all look forward to coming to the office and rink every day knowing that we’ll be met with his great sense of humor. While he will be sorely missed, we wish him all the best and can’t wait to see where his travels take him.”
Prior to his Ohio State career, Elander spent seven seasons as the associate head coach for North Dakota’s women’s program. In his NCAA coaching career, he was a key part in expanding the collegiate footprint in Europe.
“I wish the team the best of luck in the future,” Elander said. “The Ohio State women’s ice hockey program will be a powerhouse in the NCAA for a long time under Nadine’s leadership, and I’m happy I could be a small piece of building it to where it is now.”
Nadine Muzerall guided Ohio State to the 2024 women’s hockey national championship (photo: Ohio State Athletics).
Nadine Muzerall, the winningest head coach in Ohio State women’s hockey history, has signed a contract extension through the 2028-29 season.
In her first eight seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes, Muzerall has developed the program into one of the country’s elite programs in women’s college hockey.
Since she took over the program at the beginning of the 2016-17 season, Ohio State has won two national championships, two WCHA Final Faceoff championships and two WCHA regular-season championships. The team has appeared in the national title game the last three years, advanced to the Frozen Four the last four seasons and made five straight NCAA tournaments.
“We are thrilled to extend Nadine’s contract and have her continue to lead our women’s hockey program,” Janine Oman, Ohio State senior deputy director of athletics and SWA, said in a statement. “She has set a new standard for women’s hockey at Ohio State and in a short time shaped this program into a perennial national title contender. Not only has she developed great hockey players, but also excellent students and leaders off the ice. We are excited to see what’s to come for this program and its student-athletes under her continued leadership.”
This past season, the Buckeyes set a program record with 35 wins on their way to the 2024 national title. Prior to Muzerall’s arrival in Columbus, Ohio State had just one 20-game season. Now, the team has earned 20-plus win seasons in six of the last seven campaigns and 30+ wins the last three seasons. Muzerall is 195-73-19 at the helm of the Buckeyes.
“It’s truly an honor to get to lead this program and I want to thank Janine Oman and Gene Smith for trusting me with that responsibility,” Muzerall said. “I am proud of what we’ve built here over the last eight seasons but know that there is still much for us to achieve as a program. I look forward to continuing to develop our program into one of the nation’s elite.”
Muzerall is a five-time WCHA coach of the year award recipient and five-time AHCA coach of the year finalist.
In her tenure at Ohio State, Muzerall has guided players to nine All-America honors and 33 all-WCHA awards. Under Muzerall’s tutelage, Sophie Jaques became the program’s first Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner in 2023 after earning top three honors the year before. Jenn Gardiner and Emma Maltais joined Jaques as top-10 finalists for the award. Muzerall’s players have combined for seven conference player of the year and position player of the year honors.
Not only are the Buckeyes successful on the ice, but in the classroom as well. For the last four academic years, the women’s hockey program has won the Varsity O Cup for the highest large roster team grade point average at Ohio State. This past 2023-24 season, Ohio State’s team GPA was 3.778. Muzerall has had 31 players combine for 58 AHCA all-American scholar awards and 42 players combine for 87 WCHA scholar-athlete honors.
Boston College freshman Will Smith led the nation in scoring in 2023-24 (photo: Meg Kelly).
The NHL’s San Jose Sharks announced Tuesday that the club has signed Boston College freshman forward Will Smith to a standard entry-level contract.
“Will is a dynamic and exciting young center and we are thrilled to have him join the organization after an impressive season with Boston College,” said Sharks GM Mike Grier in a statement. “We felt that this is the next best step for his development to becoming a full-time NHL player, and we are looking forward to seeing him compete at the highest level of hockey.”
Smith led the nation with 71 points and 46 assists and finished tied for sixth in the country with 25 goals in 41 games. He was integral to Boston College in the Hockey East tournament, scoring 10 points across three games – nine of which came in the final two games. Smith registered a five-point, four-goal game in the Hockey East final to capture the conference championship. He became the first player to score four goals in the title game, and the first freshman to score at least three in the championship deciding contest. Smith later helped lead BC to the NCAA championship game against Denver, scoring four points (two goals, two assists) in four tournament games.
By the end of the season, Smith set a new BC program record for points and assists by a freshman and scored the fifth-most goals among first-years. His 45 assists rank tied for third all-time in a season for the college and his 71 points is the 10th best in the program’s history. He was the first skater for Boston College to reach 70 points since Johnny Gaudreau (80) did so in the 2013-14 year.
Smith earned a variety of accolades in his first collegiate campaign, highlighted by being named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist, earning a spot on the Frozen Four all-tournament team and taking Hockey East all-tournament MVP honors. Smith also was named an AHCA first team East All-American and earned a spot on the Hockey East first all-star team following the regular season.
Internationally, he represented Team USA at the 2024 World Championship and also appeared at the 2024 World Junior Championship with the Americans, where he helped lead the team to a gold medal. He posted nine points (four goals, five assists) in the tournament, finishing with a pair of assists in the championship game against host Sweden. Smith found the score sheet in each of the final six games of the tournament and completed the competition tied for fourth on the team in scoring.
Smith, a native of Lexington, Mass., was selected by San Jose in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Saint Anselm announced Friday the appointment of Sam Ftorek as the new head coach of the women’s hockey program.
Ftorek becomes the fourth head coach in program history, which dates back to 2004-05. He takes over for Jen Kindret, who was not retained after three seasons with the Hawks.
“It is an honor to be named head coach of the women’s hockey program at Saint Anselm,” said Ftorek in a statement. “I want to thank [vice president for athletics] Daron Montgomery for the opportunity to return to the institution and community that had such an impact on me. It has long been a goal of mine to one day return to the Hilltop and I am thrilled to lead this special group of student-athletes. I look forward to building on the tradition of excellence, that was started by Dave Flint, and help shape the future of Hawks women’s hockey.”
Ftorek brings a wealth of coaching and playing experience to the Hilltop, having most recently served as the head girls hockey coach at the Kent School in Connecticut, leading the program to a Founder’s League championship in the winter of 2024.
Prior to Kent, he spent five seasons at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H., as the girls hockey coach and director of residential life.
“We are excited to welcome Sam, Misty, and the rest of the Ftorek family back to the Hilltop,” said Montgomery. “Sam’s passion for Saint Anselm College, combined with his vast playing and coaching experience, uniquely positions him to have an immediate impact on the student-athlete experience. We are confident Coach Ftorek will continue to build on the history of success of our women’s ice hockey program.”
Prior to coaching at the prep level, Ftorek recorded an 18-year professional playing career, playing over 1,000 games in both the United States and Europe. Fifteen of his 18 seasons were spent in the ECHL, where he set the league’s all-time games played record while playing with the Kalamazoo Wings in 2014-15.
In 2015, Ftorek announced his retirement from professional hockey and was named as an assistant coach with the Wings. In 2016, after one season as an assistant coach in Kalamazoo, he was named the first head coach of the SPHL’s Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, amassing a 22-41-11 overall record in 74 games on the bench.
In his last two years coaching professionally, his team led the league in the number of players promoted to the next level and games played at the next level by those players.
When Ftorek retired, he was tied for seventh in ECHL history with 367 career assists, 15th with 556 career points and 30th with 189 career goals. He earned a spot on the all-ECHL first team and was runner-up for the league’s defenseman of the year award in 2013-14, when he posted 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 70 games with the Wings.
In December 2017, following his election into the ECHL Hall of Fame, Ftorek returned to the ice for the Norfolk Admirals under the direction of his father Robbie, playing 22 games and amassing 19 points before calling it a career at the end of the ’17-’18 season.
Ftorek, the son of former NHLer and Boston Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek, was a four-year letter winner with the Saint Anselm men’s hockey program from 1994 to 1998. He was also a three-year golf and a two-year lacrosse letter winner while on the Hilltop.
Across a four-year career at Saint Anselm, Ftorek fired home 20 goals and added 37 assists for 57 career points in 87 games. From his defensive position, he posted 25 points in both his junior and senior seasons, firing over 100 shots in each campaign. He picked up ECAC Division II second team all-league honors during a senior season where he notched nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points.
Ftorek was a key cog in the success of the 1996-97 men’s hockey team on the Hilltop, helping the Hawks to an impressive 13-2-0 record to begin the year. The Hawks finished the year participating in the ECAC Division II tournament for the first time in four seasons. Ftorek concluded his career with an Eastern College Division senior all-star game appearance in 1998.
Born in Phoenix, Ariz., but longtime summer resident of Wolfeboro, N.H., Ftorek and his wife Misty have three children, Ariana, Savo, and Mason.
Bowling Green has announced that new head coach Dennis Williams has retained the entire assistant coaching staff.
Curtis Carr, Stavros Paskaris, Dylan Schoen and Buddy Powers will all be part of Williams’ first staff in his return to BGSU.
Carr, Paskaris and Schoen are all assistant coaches, while Powers is the director of player development.
“We are really excited to be keeping our staff in place moving forward,” said Williams in a statement. “Curt, Stavros and Dylan have done a tremendous job during the transition and have demonstrated great loyalty to BGSU hockey. All three have garnered the upmost respect from our players and alumni. Their commitment to seeing our players succeed not only on the ice but in the classroom has been evident since day one. I look forward to working with all three as we begin to build for the 2024-2025 season.”
Troy Thibodeau spent three seasons behind the Dartmouth bench (photo: John and Matt Risley).
Troy Thibodeau has been named associate head coach at Miami.
Thibodeau comes to the RedHawks after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Dartmouth.
“I am beyond excited to join the Miami University hockey program. I would first like to thank David Sayler and Brad Okel for having the confidence in me, along with Anthony Noreen making the decision to add me to this already great coaching staff,” said Thibodeau in a news release. “I am humbled by the opportunity and can’t wait to get started. The chance to add to the storied tradition of Miami hockey and work to make it a premier program in college hockey is incredibly motivating. I can’t wait to meet the fans and the proud alumni. My wife Bridget and son Boden are thrilled to join the Oxford community.”
Thibodeau’s responsibilities at Dartmouth included working with the forwards and the team’s power play. He also helped recruit players from around the world, including natives of the United States, Canada, Finland, Russia and Norway.
Before joining the Big Green, Thibodeau served as an assistant under Noreen with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm for three seasons (2018-21).
“I’d like to welcome Troy Thibodeau to the Miami hockey family,” Noreen said. “Troy has a proven track record of making every program he has joined better, as proven with his most recent stop at Dartmouth. He has worked with some of the best coaches in college hockey and brings with him a tremendous work ethic, high character and a passion for developing student-athletes. I look forward to Troy, Bridget and Boden joining us in Oxford and working towards something special.”
Thibodeau was previously the director of hockey operations at UMass Lowell from 2016 to 2018, where he was responsible for video breakdown, travel and meal coordination and acted as the program’s student-athlete academic liaison.
Thibodeau spent the 2015-16 season as Merrimack’s video coordinator after working for Wentworth Institute of Technology as an assistant coach in 2014-15. Thibodeau also spent time as a strength and conditioning volunteer intern at Florida and Denver in 2014. He has been a summer on-ice skating and skills instructor for nearly a decade, including working with Dynamic Skating and ProForm Development.
Thibodeau is a 2014 graduate of Southern Maine, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. A multi-sport student-athlete, he played hockey and baseball for the Huskies, including serving as an alternate captain on the 2012-13 hockey team. He was recognized on the ECAC East all-academic team in 2011-12.
“Since getting to know Troy, I have been consistently impressed with his work ethic, passion for the game, and candor with players and staff alike,” said Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams. “He was a tremendous asset at our previous development camp and I know he will rely upon his wide range of previous experience in his new role as associate head coach. As both an alumnus and fervent supporter of the Miami University hockey team, I could not be more excited to see Troy join the staff.”
The Little East Conference has announced that the Norwich women’s hockey program will join the league as affiliate member for the LEC’s inaugural season in 2025-26.
The addition of the Cadets increases the LEC’s future women’s hockey membership to eight schools.
“On behalf of the Little East Conference presidents and athletic directors, I am pleased to welcome Norwich University women’s ice hockey as an affiliate member for our inaugural season,” said LEC commissioner Pamela Samuelson in a statement. “Their addition will allow for the continuation of established New England Hockey Conference rivalries without interruption and enhances the profile of what we expect will be a highly competitive sport for the LEC.”
“We are excited to expand our relationship with the Little East Conference by adding our women’s ice hockey program for the LEC’s inaugural season,” added Norwich director of athletics Ed Hockenbury. “We are very happy to have found a home for both our men’s and women’s programs for years to come. The creation of Little East women’s ice hockey is an exciting development for Division III and is a natural fit for Norwich. It provides us an ideal geographic location, continues some of our long-standing traditional rivalries, and generates some compelling new matchups in a league that will be highly competitive. We are very proud of our history of success in women’s hockey and look forward to contributing to the LEC getting off to a great start. I would like to thank Pam Samuelson, as well as the LEC chancellors, presidents and athletic directors for welcoming us to the Little East.”
Samuelson announced in February the LEC would begin sponsoring women’s hockey in 2025-26 with a combination of primary and affiliate programs, comprised of current women’s hockey playing members UMass Boston, Plymouth State, Southern Maine and Vermont State Castleton, in addition to a new varsity program at Keene State and New England College as an affiliate member. Western Connecticut State has since announced the addition of women’s hockey that will begin competing in the LEC in 2026-27.
The addition of men’s and women’s hockey in 2025-26 will increase the LEC’s championship sponsorship to 23 sports, making the Little East the second-largest Division III conference in New England by championship offerings.
Mark Wells was part of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team (photo: USA Hockey).
Bowling Green Athletics Hall of Famer Mark Wells has passed away.
He was 67.
Wells, a native of St. Clair Shores, Mich., attended Bowling Green from 1975 to 1979, where he was a star forward on the hockey team. He officially received a scholarship after his freshman season.
He joined the 1980 Olympic team after the 1979 college season ended and, along with BGSU teammate Ken Morrow, won gold medals with the “Miracle on Ice” team at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid.
Wells was selected 176th overall in the 1977 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He joined Montreal’s top farm team, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, after the Olympics. He was released by Montreal after the 1980 season and then signed a free agent contract with the New York Rangers. Wells spent the following two seasons in the minor leagues with the New Haven Nighthawks, Flint Generals, Fort Wayne Komets, and Oklahoma City Stars, retiring in 1982 without playing a single game in the NHL.
Following his retirement from hockey, Wells worked as a restaurant manager in Rochester Hills, Mich. The city officials in his hometown of St. Clair Shores, Mich., renamed the St. Clair Shores Civic Arena’s Olympia Room the Mark Wells Ice Rink in 2014.
Wells, a two-time first-team All-CCHA honoree, was inducted into the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.
UNLV has announced the Skatin’ Rebels’ ACHA Division I team will play two NCAA Division I games against Denver and Colorado College in Colorado.
The Skatin’ Rebels, coming off an appearance in the ACHA Division I national championship game, will play Denver Dec. 28 at Magness Arena and Colorado College Dec. 29 at Ed Robson Arena.
“We want to have a schedule that is going to prepare us for the national tournament,” UNLV coach Anthony Vignieri-Greener said in a news release. “Adding games like this will only help the program get one step closer to its ultimate goal of making the jump to NCAA.
“The road is tough, but if you go into these hostile environments, it only helps your team. You want to play at the highest level in front of a packed house, which both schools have unbelievable atmospheres.”
This will be the Rebels’ second appearance against Denver. The first battle between these two teams occurred on Oct. 1, 2022, in UNLV’s first NCAA Division I game, a 10-0 setback.
“I’m looking forward to playing (Denver) again. Playing them two years ago was eye-opening,” Greener said. “As a staff, we must prepare our team better. We must take away time and space in the neutral (zone). We have to do a better job of taking care of the puck and not getting into a track meet with the best team in college hockey.
“Overall, it’s an unbelievable opportunity and we don’t take these games for granted.”
Mark Taylor has taken Hobart to back-to-back men’s D-III national titles (photo: Hobart Athletics).
Hobart men’s hockey coach Mark Taylor will be inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024 on July 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy, N.Y.
The reception will start at 4 p.m. EST.
The rest of the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2024 includes Mike Eruzione and Ken Morrow from the gold medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, Bill Beaney, Courtney Burke, Scott Montagna, Frank Colabufo, Lindsay Lasala, Don Kirnan, Dennis Potvin, Sam Rosen, Steve Warr, Ed Westfall and Howard Dolgon.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Coach Taylor,” Hobart associate VP and director of athletics and recreation Brian Miller said in a statement. “To be inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame with 1980 Olympic heroes like Ken Morrow and Mike Eruzione, along with NHL legend Denis Potvin, among others, is the type of recognition he has earned as his long-standing success with Hobart hockey receives more recognition.”
The two-time defending Edward Jeremiah Award winner as CCM/AHCA national coach of the year, Taylor is now in his 24th year in charge of Hobart. He has guided the Statesmen to back-to-back national championships, five straight 20-win seasons and 20 consecutive winning seasons. The Statesmen have been selected to nine straight NCAA tournaments and 13 overall.
His career record stands at 404-176-55, making Taylor seventh among active D-III coaches in wins.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday approved an adjustment to the rules for checking from behind and contact to the head to provide game officials additional options when adjudicating these penalties in men’s and women’s ice hockey for the 2024-25 season.
The Little East Conference has announced that the Norwich women’s hockey program will join the league as affiliate member for the LEC’s inaugural season in 2025-26.
UNLV has announced the Skatin’ Rebels’ ACHA Division I team will play two NCAA Division I games against Denver and Colorado College in Colorado.
