Former Fredonia standout Steve Rizer named assistant coach at WNE

Western New England University coach Greg Heffernan announced the addition of Steve Rizer to the Golden Bears coaching staff, the university said in a release.

The Long Island, N.Y., native  was an All-American as a junior and senior during his career at Fredonia State.

Rizer also was selected to the All-SUNYAC team twice.

Last year he helped the Blue Devils reach the SUNYAC final and was named to the all-tournament team.

Rizer was recruited to play at Fredonia by  Heffernan,  who was then the school’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Rizer, who had a brief stint with the Mississippi River Kings in the Central Hockey League, earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration-Marketing in 2011.

“Steve will bring so much to our program,” Heffernan said. “He was regarded as one of the best defensemen in the nation during his playing career and our guys are really going to benefit from working with him every day.”

While at FSU, he was an active member of the team’s “Pink the Rink” cancer fund-raising program that was started by Heffernan.