From left, Billy Purdue, John Coughlin, and John Bastoni.
Rivier has announced the addition of Billy Purdue and John Coughlin as assistant coaches and John Bastoni as goaltender coach.
Purdue played with the Raiders in the 2022-23 season after wrapping up a four-year career at Post. During his college career, he took time to assist the EHL’s Seahawks Hockey Club in the 2019-20 season before serving as an instructor with IPH Hockey Skills in 2021.
“I am really excited to join the Rivier men’s ice hockey coaching staff,” said Purdue in a news release. “I feel fortunate for the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level after spending four years playing, including my last at Riv. I am looking forward to the season.”
During his first year on the bench, Purdue will continue his pursuit of his MBA in Healthcare Administration at Rivier.
Coughlin brings a wealth of experience at the high school, junior, and collegiate levels with him as he rejoins the Rivier staff this season. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Framingham State in the 1990-91 season. Nearly a decade later, he served as the associate head coach of the Eastern Jr. Kodiaks out of Exexter, N.H. from 2009 to 2011. During the 2021-22 season, Purdue was an assistant during Rivier’s inaugural season. Last season, he served as the Malden Catholic High School girls varsity hockey coach while also scouting for the ACHA team at St. Cloud State.
“I am very excited to be back at Riv,” said Coughlin. “I love this team and look forward to working with the returning players, new players and coaching staff.”
Prior to his coaching career, Coughlin was a four-year letter winner at St. Lawrence, graduating in 1985.
Bastoni joins the Raiders staff after assisting at multiple programs over the past two seasons. In 2021-22, he served as the goaltender coach for both the Saint Mary’s (Lynn) High School and the University of New England teams before assisting Salem State in 2022-23.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Rivier coaching staff,” said Bastoni. “This is an up-and-coming program with talent all over the roster. I look forward to helping this team achieve new heights in the 2023-24 season and beyond.”
Meredith Roth has joined the staff of the Harvard women’s hockey team (photo: Phil Tor).
Harvard has announced that Meredith Roth will join the Crimson as associate head coach for the women’s hockey team.
Roth previously served in the same role at Holy Cross.
“We are thrilled to add Meredith to our staff and feel she is the perfect fit for our program,” said Crimson head coach Laura Bellamy in a statement. “Her relationship-centered approach will play a key role in developing our student-athletes as hockey players and guiding them as members of the Harvard community. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the highest levels of hockey, which will help us as we strive for a return to national prominence in college women’s ice hockey.”
“I’m extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Bellamy and the Harvard women’s hockey program,” added Roth. “I look forward to working with talented and bright student-athletes on a daily basis, serving them in pursuing their passions academically and athletically.”
Roth joins the Crimson staff after a four-year tenure at Holy Cross. Prior to her time in Worcester, Roth was the head coach at St. Norbert.
Previously, Roth coached at Providence in two stints from 2006 to 2010 and 2012 to 2015. In between her time with the Friars, Roth was on staff at Cornell. Roth’s first head coaching job came in 2004 when she was appointed the leader of the Shattuck St. Mary’s School U16 team.
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Roth has been heavily involved in USA Hockey, in particular its U-18 program. She was recently named as an assistant coach for the United States U18 Women’s National Team for its 2023-24 season and will coach the group at the 2024 IIHF World Championships in Switzerland. Roth was also with the group during its gold medal run in the 2020 IIHF World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia. She has been integral in the success of the U-18 program since coaching at her first camp in 2006.
Roth was a four-year member of the Providence women’s hockey team and was a two-time captain. She graduated from Providence in 2004 with a degree in social science before going back to school at Cortland, where she earned a master’s degree in sports management.
In addition to her formal education, Roth was also recently selected to attend a diversity and inclusion scouting mentorship program, hosted by the Boston Bruins, during the 2021-22 season. During the nine-month program, she worked on developing skills in management, scouting, talent identification and decision-making at the NHL level. Throughout the course of the program, she worked closely with contacts from the Bruins front office and regularly attended AHL and NHL games as a scout.
Tessa Janecke had a stellar second season for the Penn State women’s hockey team (photo: Penn State Athletics).
The CHA has announced its 2023-24 preseason coaches poll and preseason player honors.
2023-24 CHA Preseason Coaches Poll (First-place votes)
1. Penn State (5)- 30
2. Mercyhurst (1)- 25
3. Robert Morris- 23
4. Syracuse- 15
5. Lindenwood- 14
6. RIT- 13
CHA Coaches Preseason Player of the Year(Votes) Coaches could not vote for their own players
Tessa Janecke, So., F, Penn State (5)
CHA Coaches Preseason Co-Rookies of the Year(Votes) Coaches could not vote for their own players
Henlee Mahoney, Fr., F, Mercyhurst (2); Karolina Hengelmüller, Fr., D, Penn State (2)
Coaches Preseason All-CHA Team(Votes) Coaches could not vote for their own players Forwards
Tessa Janecke, So., Penn State (5)
Sara Boucher, Sr., F, Mercyhurst (4)
Morgan Neitzke, Jr., F, Lindenwood (4) Defensemen
Sydney Pedersen, Jr., Mercyhurst (4)
Lyndie Lobdell, Sr., Penn State (4) Goaltender
Ena Nystrøm, Gr., Mercyhurst (5)
Danielle Serdachny helped Colgate to the 2022 and 2023 ECAC Hockey championship (photo: Justin Wolford).
ECAC Hockey has announced the women’s preseason poll and all-league team for the 2023-24 season.
Three-time defending ECAC tournament champion Colgate has been unanimously selected (coaches could not vote for their own team) to lead the way in the 2023-24 regular season. The Raiders’ remarkable performance in 2022-23, finishing second in the league with an 18-3-1 record and securing a third consecutive league title, has earned them the distinction of being the preseason favorites for this year’s campaign.
2023 ECAC HOCKEY WOMEN’S PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
F Danielle Serdachny, Colgate
F Elle Hartje, Yale
F Sarah Fillier, Princeton
D Haley Winn, Clarkson
D Sydney Bard, Colgate
D Rory Guilday, Cornell
G Pia Dukaric, Yale
Dartmouth has announced the hiring of Jason Carter as an assistant coach for the women’s hockey team.
Carter joins the Big Green following a three-year stint as the head coach at Northland. In his time with the Jills, he led the program to its first-ever playoff victory during the 2022-23 season and earned 2023 WIAC coach of the year honors.
“We are excited to have Jason join our staff here at Dartmouth,” Big Green head coach Liz Keady Norton said in a statement. “His recruiting experience, energy and commitment to growth make him an excellent addition to our program.”
“Thank you to Coach Keady Norton for giving me this opportunity to join her coaching staff,” Carter added. “It’s truly an honor to work with great people at such a prestigious institution. I am very excited to get started this year, and I already feel welcomed into the Dartmouth hockey family.”
Carter’s responsibilities at Northland included oversight of all aspects of the women’s hockey program. This included day-to-day operations, recruiting, practice and game planning, creating workout plans and on-ice skill development. He also monitored and supported the academic success of the women’s hockey student-athletes.
Prior to his time with Northland, Carter spent three seasons as an assistant women’s hockey coach at Saint Mary’s.
Carter has coached at numerous USA Hockey national camps, including the 2023 USA Hockey-BioSteel Girls 15 Player Development Camp this past July.
While earning his undergraduate degree at St. Thomas, Carter began his coaching career as an assistant coach of the boys hockey program at Shakopee (Minn.) High School. He transitioned to an assistant coach role of Shakopee’s girls program in 2014, where he worked as an assistant until accepting his role with Saint Mary’s.
Carter graduated from St. Thomas with a Bachelor of Arts in physical education in 2013. He then earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Saint Mary’s in May of 2018.
Rensselaer has added Karlis Zirnis as an assistant coach for the men’s hockey team.
“We are excited to welcome Karlis to our coaching staff,” said RPI head coach Dave Smith. “He has excellent experience coming from the skill development perspective, as well as stops at Alaska and Alabama Huntsville. His ties with the Latvian National Team are also very important in recruiting. We feel we are adding an experienced coach who can make our program better. It’s outstanding that RPI has stepped up with the changing of the NCAA legislation to allow us to have the full complement of coaches.
“Our players and staff are excited to get going.”
Zirnis comes to the Engineers with a wealth of coaching experience, as he has been a coach for the Latvian National Team since 2012. He was also head coach of the 18U AAA Nashville Jr. Predators, and director of personnel for the NAHL’s Amarillo Wranglers. In addition, Zirnis was a player development coach and mentor at Total Package Hockey Academy. He was in all three places since 2021. During that time, he twice served as a broadcast analyst for the IIHF World Championships on the Latvian National Television Network in both 2021 and 2023.
Prior to his experience since 2021, Zirnis spent one season as associate head coach at Alabama Huntsville and three seasons at Alaska as an assistant coach.
Zirnis starred at Alabama Huntsville from 1999 to 2003, finishing in the Chargers’ top 20 all-time in scoring. He also appeared as a player on the Latvian national team on multiple levels as a player, suiting up for the U18 (1995), U20 (1996-97), and the top-level squad (2001-02).
Other stops as a coach came with the NAHL’s Shreveport Mudbugs from 2016 to 2018, NA3HL’s Nashville Jr. Predators from 2014 to 2016, Total Package Hockey from 2009 to 2016, and Thunder AAA from 2009 to 2016. As a player, he also suited up for the then-CHL’s Colorado Eagles from 2003 to 2005, where he won a regular-season and playoff championship, the CHL’s Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs from 2006 to 2008 and won back-to-back regular-season titles, and the SPHL’s Huntsville Havoc from 2008 to 2009, serving as team captain.
Munn Ice Arena is the home rink for Michigan State hockey (photo: Michigan State Athletics).
The ice surface at Michigan State’s Clarence L. “Biggie” Munn Ice Arena will be dedicated in honor of legendary hockey coach Ron Mason.
The dedication of Ron Mason Rink will be held prior to the opening game of the season Oct. 7 when the Spartans take on Lake Superior State.
Mason guided the Spartans for 23 seasons (1979-2002) and won 924 games over a 36-season head-coaching career at Lake Superior State (1966-73), Bowling Green (1973-79) and Michigan State (1979-2002), with 635 of those wins coming behind the bench of the Spartans. He retired from coaching as the all-time wins leader and still holds the No. 2 spot all-time.
Ron Mason presents the Mason Cup to Anders Lee after Notre Dame wins the final CCHA championship in 2013 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit (photo: Rachel Lewis).
“Ron Mason is one of the iconic coaches in the history of Michigan State athletics,” said MSU VP and director of athletics Alan Haller in a news release. “Naming the rink in his honor provides a reminder of what he meant to Spartan hockey, MSU athletics and our entire community as Munn Ice Arena was a gathering place for Spartan fans and one of the toughest tickets around. Capacity crowds have returned to Munn, connecting the present and future with our storied past. We look forward to this dedication with Ron’s family and friends to celebrate his legacy in a permanent way.”
“The legacy of Ron Mason is felt throughout our arena every day,” added MSU coach Adam Nightingale. “He set high standards and had some of the most legendary teams and athletes in the sport under his guidance. This rink is where his teams entertained hundreds of thousands of fans during a decades-long sellout streak and he developed players into NHL prospects every day. It is a fitting tribute to a coaching legend for all he meant not only to us here at Michigan State, but also the game of college hockey.”
Mason is one of a handful of coaches to win national championships at two different schools, as he led LSSU to the NAIA national championship in 1972 and MSU to the NCAA national title in 1986.
Mason guided 22 of his teams to the NCAA tournament, tied for second-best all-time. He was one of the architects of the CCHA in 1972 and went on to capture 10 CCHA regular-season championships and 13 CCHA postseason crowns.
The American Hockey Coaches Association national coach of the year in 1992, Mason was the CCHA coach of the year seven times. Among the thousands of players Mason mentored were a pair of Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (cousins Kip and Ryan Miller), 35 All-Americans and more than 50 future NHL players.
Mason, who served on both the NCAA Ice Hockey Committee and NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee during his tenure as head coach, was MSU’s director of athletics from 2002 to 2007 after his retirement from coaching. Mason is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Michigan State, Lake Superior State and St. Lawrence University sports halls of fame.
Denver claimed the 2023 Penrose Cup as NCHC regular-season champions (photo: Denver Athletics).
The NCHC on Tuesday unveiled its 2023-24 preseason media poll, with Denver being selected to win the Penrose Cup for a third straight year.
This marks the second straight season the Pioneers were picked atop the poll.
Denver totaled 199 points in this year’s poll, while picking up 11 of a possible 28 first-place votes. North Dakota came in second in the poll with 175 points, despite garnering one more first-place vote than DU (12).
A total of 28 ballots were submitted by local media members from each school, as well as select national media. Points were awarded on a descending scale with a first-place vote worth eight points, a second-place vote worth seven points, and so on.
2023 NCHC Preseason Media Poll
1. Denver – 199 points (11 first-place votes)
2. North Dakota – 175 (12)
3. St. Cloud State – 155 (2)
4. Western Michigan – 126 (2)
5. Minnesota Duluth – 123 (1)
6. Omaha – 113
7. Colorado College – 89
8. Miami – 28
Caroline Harvey celebrates a goal during her freshman season a year ago for the Badgers (photo: Meg Kelly).
Defending national champion Wisconsin and defending league champion Ohio State are the picks among league head coaches to win the WCHA’s 2023-24 regular-season title in the annual coaches poll.
Each team received four first-place votes and totaled 46 points in preseason polling among the WCHA’s eight coaches.
2023-24 WCHA Coaches Poll (Coaches could not vote for their own team. First-place votes are in parentheses)
1. Wisconsin (4) 46 points
1. Ohio State (4) 46
3. Minnesota 35
4. Minnesota Duluth 33
5. St. Cloud State 27
6. Minnesota State 17
6. St. Thomas 17
8. Bemidji State 7
In addition, individual players were recognized.
Preseason WCHA Player of the Year
Caroline Harvey, So., D, Wisconsin (7 votes)
Preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year
Joy Dunne, F, Ohio State (5 votes)
Hockey East announced Tuesday that Eric Haugen has been named the recipient of the 2023 Joe Concannon Award.
Haugen accepted his award as part of the league’s media day, held at TD Garden.
The prestigious honor, named in 2001 in memory of beloved Boston Globe sportswriter Joe Concannon, is presented to an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding body of work in covering and/or promoting the interests of Hockey East.
A Minnesota native who graduated from Princeton, Haugen currently serves as senior director, multi-platform programming at NESN. His duties include day-to-day oversight of scheduling for all NESN-affiliated networks, rights acquisition across NESN platforms, and relationship management with NESN’s college and minor pro partners. He also contributes to the planning for NESN’s Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins shoulder programming and oversees coverage of the network’s non-pro live events.
Since joining NESN in 2010, Haugen has expanded the network’s relationship with Hockey East through innovations like flex scheduling, the creation of new telecast windows beyond the league’s traditional Friday night presence, and the integration of Hockey East content into NESN’s Bruins coverage.
Before joining NESN, Haugen spent four years in programming at the NHL league office and did a two-year stint at NFL Films/NFL Network. He began his career at ESPN, where he rose quickly through the ranks before spending two years as a producer on “SportsCenter” and “Baseball Tonight.”
Jackson Blake compiled 16 goals and 42 points last season for North Dakota (photo: Mark Kuhlmann).
Four teams are represented on the 2023-24 NCHC preseason all-conference team selected by media members.
Denver and North Dakota each placed two players on the six-man team, while St. Cloud State and Colorado College each have one student-athlete on the squad.
2023-24 NCHC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM (out of 27 ballots)
F – Jackson Blake, North Dakota – 25 votes
F – Massimo Rizzo, Denver – 24 votes
F – Riese Gaber, North Dakota – 17 votes
D – Jack Peart, St. Cloud State – 23 votes
D – Sean Behrens, Denver – 19 votes
G – Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College – 23 votes
Media members voted for three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender on their ballot with each vote worth one point. The top three vote-getters at forward, top two defensemen and highest vote-getting goaltender made up the preseason all-conference team. A total of 27 ballots were submitted by media members covering each team, as well as select national college hockey media.
From left, Brian Burke, Katie King Crowley, Brian Murphy.
College hockey alumni Brian Burke (Providence), Katie King Crowley (Brown, Boston College) and Brian Murphy (Hockey East) will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as members of the class of 2023.
They are joined by Dustin Brown and Jamie Langenbrunner.
“It’s an amazing class and a group that truly reflects extraordinary,” said Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey, in a statement. “Their accomplishments are varied and far-reaching, and the positive impact they’ve had on the game — and will continue to have — will no doubt benefit generations to come.”
Burke was born in Providence but grew up in Minnesota and attended Edina High School where he was a standout on the hockey team. He returned to the East Coast and played college hockey for Providence where he served as captain his senior season. Burke then played one full season in the AHL with the Maine Mariners, helping the team to a Calder Cup championship, before hanging up his skates and attending Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1981.
He went on work as an NHL player agent before joining the Vancouver Canucks front office in 1987 for a five-year stint as director of hockey operations. Burke briefly served as general manager of the Hartford Whalers before joining the NHL office as executive vice president and director of hockey operations, where he worked for six seasons.
Burke’s next stop was as general manager for the Vancouver Canucks, notably acquiring Hockey Hall of Fame players Daniel and Henrik Sedin during his tenure. He then moved on to serve as executive vice president of hockey operations and general manager of the Anaheim Ducks, where he oversaw the franchise winning its first-ever Stanley Cup championship in 2007.
Burke was tabbed as president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010 before being hired three years later by the Calgary Flames as president of hockey operations, a role he also held for parts of three seasons (2020-23) with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Today, he serves as the first-ever executive director of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association.
While his work in the NHL has been at the forefront, Burke has supported U.S. efforts on the international stage and was a driver in USA Hockey establishing the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group in 2007 to assist with the selection of players and staff for top international events. Burke was an original member of the group and served with other U.S. general managers for nearly a decade.
As general manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, Burke was the lead architect in building a team that earned the silver medal. He also served as director of player personnel for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and had management roles for U.S. Men’s National Teams for the 2009 and 2010 IIHF Men’s World Championships and 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Burke has also worked in broadcasting during his career, including as an analyst for both Rogers and Sportsnet.
A strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, Burke established the You Can Play project that targets homophobia and promoting safety and inclusion in sports, in honor of his late son, Brendan.
A three-time Olympic medalist, King Crowley, from Salem, N.H., was one of the most dynamic scorers in the world during her nine-year (1997-2006) playing career with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Today, she continues to be an important contributor to the growth and development of the game, including through her role as the head coach of the Boston College women’s ice hockey team.
King Crowley, with eight points (four goals, four assists) in six games, helped the U.S. capture the very first gold medal awarded in women’s hockey at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. She went on to also earn an Olympic silver medal in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and helped Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2006 Games in Torino, Italy. King Crowley has 14 total Olympic goals, which put her tied for first in the U.S. record books, and her 23 Olympic points (14 goals, nine assists) are fourth best.
King Crowley also donned the stars and stripes at six IIHF Women’s World Championships where she helped the U.S. to its first-ever gold medal in 2005 and silver-medal finishes in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2004.
King Crowley competed in 223 career games with the U.S. Women’s National Team and ranks third all-time with 278 points (153 goals, 125 assists).
She attended Brown where she was a standout athlete in both hockey and softball. She is a three-time Ivy League player of the year in hockey (1995, 1996, 1997) and was also named ECAC player of the year in 1997. She is the Bears’ all-time leader in points with 206 (123 goals, 83 assists) in 100 career games. King Crowley was also the Ivy League player of the year (1996) and Ivy League pitcher of the year (1997) in softball.
Following her retirement as a player in 2006, King Cowley joined the Boston College women’s team as an assistant coach before assuming the head coaching position in 2007. In 16 seasons behind the Eagles’ bench, King Crowley has guided BC to six NCAA Frozen Fours (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), 11 NCAA tournaments (2009, 2011-2019, 2021), five Hockey East regular-season titles (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18), three Hockey East tournament championships (2011, 2016, 2017) and six Beanpot crowns (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
Additionally, King Crowley served as an assistant coach for two U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Teams at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, helping Team USA to gold in 2009 and silver in 2010.
Murphy, a Dover, N.H., native, is one of two Americans and just eight individuals all time to officiate over 2,000 NHL regular-season games. During his 32-year career (1988-2020), Murphy officiated nine Stanley Cup Finals and 304 playoff games, as well as other high-profile NHL events like the 1999 NHL All-Star Game in Tampa, Fla., and the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston.
Murphy also boasts an accomplished international officiating resume, including working the 2004 and 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.
Murphy served as the president of the NHL Officials Association from 2008 to 2015 and was also on the organization’s executive board from 1994 to 1999.
Murphy made his NHL debut in 1988 in a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals and was promoted to a full-time NHL linesman for the 1990 season. As an official during the NHL’s transition period to the two-referee system, Murphy is one of a few officials to work as both a referee and a linesman.
Having played hockey throughout high school, Murphy began officiating as a student while attending New Hampshire in 1983 and worked his way up from youth and adult games to New Hampshire high school games. Murphy made the switch to linesman when he began officiating Hockey East games during the 1986-87 NCAA season and went on to officiate the 1988 Beanpot, Hockey East and NCAA Frozen Four championship games.
Murphy, who for three decades has been an instructor at USA Hockey officiating development camps, worked the 1986 and 1987 U.S Olympic Festivals where he caught the eye of NHL officiating scouts.
Murphy currently serves as the supervisor of men’s officials for Hockey East.
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction celebration, which will feature the formal enshrinement of the class of 2023 and also include the presentation of the NHL’s Lester Patrick Trophy, will be held Dec. 6 in Boston. Additional details will be provided later this month.
St. Cloud State men’s and women’s hockey head coaches Brett Larson and Brian Idalski have jointly announced the addition of Lenny Hofmann to their coaching staffs where he will serve as the director of operations and video coordinator for both teams.
Hofmann joins St. Cloud State after 14 seasons at numerous stops across collegiate and junior hockey, including the past three seasons with Alaska as an assistant coach.
“We are very excited to add Lenny to our coaching staffs for both the men’s and women’s team,” said Larson in a statement. “In addition to his elite resume and skillset for the position, his passion for hockey and his pursuit to help student- athletes succeed at the collegiate level will make him a wonderful addition for St. Cloud State hockey. We are honored to welcome Lenny to the Husky family.”
“We’re extremely excited to add Lenny to the hockey staff,” added Idalski. “His knowledge of the game, passion for the sport and experience in a variety of roles adds immense value to our programs. I’m super excited to have him on board.”
Last season at Alaska, Hoffmann he helped the Nanooks win 22 games in 2022-23, its most victories in a single season since 2001-02. Prior to his time in Fairbanks, Hofmann spent 10 seasons in the USHL as an assistant coach with the Tri-City Storm (2010-13) and as the director of scouting with the Green Bay Gamblers (2014-19). He also spent the 2013-14 season with the USHL as its manager of player development, where he coordinated all USHL combines and directed central scouting and scouting reports.
Following his graduation from Saint Mary’s with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations in 2004, Hofmann started his coaching career with his alma mater where he assisted in video and pre-game preparations as well as recruiting and academic advising. After three seasons with the Cardinals, Hofmann moved over to St. Scholastica, where he spent two seasons (2008-10) as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Hofmann played four seasons for Saint Mary’s, recording 97 points (36 goals, 61 assists) in 98 games. He earned All-MIAC honors in his senior season, where he had 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points in 2003-04.
Mercyhurst has hired Emily Ach as an assistant coach with the Lakers women’s hockey team.
Ach comes to Erie after having spent the past couple of years as a graduate assistant at St. Cloud State. While there, she also spent time on the national stage, working for USA Hockey as a director of hockey operations for the under-22 team. Prior to that, she worked as an administrative assistant, coach, and girls development director for Dark Horse Athletics with MAP Hockey.
“I am extremely excited to start this new journey at Mercyhurst University,” Ach said in a news release. “I can’t thank Coach (Mike) Sisti enough for giving me the opportunity to coach with and learn from an incredible staff with years of experience. The women’s hockey program has a strong tradition of success that stems from community and culture, and I am grateful that I get the opportunity to contribute to such tradition and progress the winning standard. I am looking forward to the season ahead with the staff, players, and fans.”
Ach earned her bachelor’s degree in middle elementary education, and mathematics from Augsburg, before attending St. Cloud State where she played while working towards her master’s degree in sports management.
“It is awesome to add Emily to our staff,” Sisti said. “She has plenty of experience and a great passion for the game. Emily has a very impressive work ethic, and she should be able to hit the ground running with our program. We are happy to welcome her to Mercyhurst University and I am looking forward to working with her this season.”
Brockport and Geneseo men’s hockey programs are set to join the UCHC for the 2024-25 season, setting the men’s hockey membership at eight teams for that season.
“We are honored to add Geneseo and Brockport, two teams that have a rich history of competing at a high level and doing things the right way under great leadership” said UCHC commissioner Chuck Mitrano in a statement. “They enhance our competitive profile nationally and fit perfectly geographically. The future is very bright for the UCHC.”
Brockport sponsors 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports with a total roster of 650 student-athletes and is celebrating its 50th hockey season at the varsity level in 2023-24.
“We are thrilled and honored by the acceptance of our hockey program into the United Collegiate Hockey Conference,” said Brockport athletic director Erick Hart. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to excellence. Joining this prestigious conference will not only elevate the level of competition we face but also provide our student-athletes with incredible opportunities to showcase their talents on a larger stage. We look forward to making our mark in the UCHC and continuing to uphold the proud traditions of SUNY Brockport hockey.”
The Golden Eagles play at Wegmans Ice Arena on campus, which seats 2,000 fans.
“We’re honored and excited that SUNY Brockport hockey has been accepted into the United Collegiate Hockey Conference,” said Brockport coach Brian Dickinson. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players, coaching staff, and the entire Brockport community. We look forward to competing at the highest level and representing our school with pride and passion on the ice. The future is bright, and we can’t wait to make our mark in the UCHC.”
Geneseo competes in 21 varsity sports and has finished in the top 25 in the Division III Learfield Sports/NACDA Directors Cup standings each of the last six completed years of competition.
The Geneseo’s men’s hockey program has become a perennial Division III championship contender. Overall, the Ice Knights have made nine NCAA tournament appearances, including six since the 2013-14 season, highlighted by a trip to the national championship game in 2022. Geneseo has also won five of the last seven SUNYAC championships and have won eight conference titles in program history.
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to join the UCHC,” said Geneseo athletic director Dani Drews. “Geneseo’s hockey program is such a source of pride for our entire community. We are excited for the Ice Knights to represent the UCHC and continue their quest for an NCAA championship.”
The Ice Knights play at the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena, located in the Merritt Athletic Center on campus, which holds 1,600 fans.
“Division III hockey is rapidly evolving, and our new journey begins in the UCHC,” said Geneseo coach Chris Schultz. “We are looking forward to competing in a newly aligned conference that focuses on the student-athlete experience and a competitive sportsmanship that will take the conference to new heights. I would like to personally thank President Battles, vice president for student and campus life, Michael Taberski, director of athletics, Dani Drews, and our new commissioner, Chuck Mitrano, for their guidance in this new endeavor. We are confident that the Geneseo hockey tradition will continue to be a beacon at the national level.”
Both Brockport and Geneseo will begin multi-sport play in the Empire 8 conference in 2024-25.
UCHC men’s programs will consist of Brockport, Chatham, Geneseo, Manhattanville, Nazareth, Neumann, Utica and Wilkes for the 2024-25 season.
Dave Cencer has held numerous roles at Ferris State (photo: Provided by Dave Cencer).
Longtime Ferris State staff member Dave Cencer has been named an assistant coach for the Bulldogs.
Cencer, who has served as the program’s coordinator of athletic performance, will work with the Bulldogs’ goaltenders.
“We’re excited to move Dave into this role and he’s highly deserving to be labeled as an assistant coach,” said FSU head coach Bob Daniels in a statement. “He’s been extremely important to our program for many years and will play an even greater role moving forward both in terms of on-ice coaching and recruiting.”
Beginning his 18th year as a member of the FSU coaching staff in 2023-24, Cencer has led the program’s off-ice efforts as the strength and conditioning coach during his Bulldog tenure along with serving as the program’s video coordinator. In his time with Ferris State hockey, Cencer has implemented the latest in sports science technology, using First Beat Technologies to monitor heart rate, energy expenditure and recovery.
Cencer has coordinated all on-ice and off-ice strength training and conditioning for the Bulldogs. He holds a master’s degree in exercise science along with certifications from the NSCA (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) and USA Weightlifting.
In 2016, Cencer was named to the Michigan Advisory Board of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has also been a presenter for the NSCA at both state and national conferences.
In addition to his experience at Ferris State, Cencer coached the 2009-10 season with the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks organization.
Cencer, also a competitive cyclist, earned a bachelor’s degree from Franciscan University.
Ryan Massa has been a volunteer assistant for DU since 2021 (photo: Harrison Barden/Clarkson Creative Photography).
Denver has announced that Ryan Massa has been named an assistant coach for the Pioneers.
Massa first joined Denver’s staff on Aug. 1, 2021 as a volunteer assistant where he worked with the team’s goaltenders, assisted in on-ice skill development and provided scouting reports for the student-athletes. He also assisted in managing the bench during games.
“Ryan has fit into our Pioneer family since joining us as a volunteer assistant two years ago, and I’m thrilled to elevate him within our staff,” said DU coach David Carle in a statement. “His previous work with our goaltenders and assisting in skills with our other players have been a huge benefit for our team, and having his presence every day will continue to elevate our program in our push for another national championship.”
“My family and I are grateful and enthusiastic for the opportunity to stay within the Pioneer family, and I am looking forward to pursuing a historic 10th national championship with this program,” Massa added. “I love getting to work every day with our staff and players, and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Prior to joining DU, Massa spent four years training goaltenders at various levels in the state of Colorado. He also serves as the director of goaltending for Total Package Hockey.
Massa graduated from Omaha with a degree in finance and investment banking in 2015 while also playing four years for the Mavericks. He backstopped UNO to the program’s only NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 2014-15 while producing a 14-8-6 record with a 1.96 GAA and .939 save percentage.
After his time at Omaha, Massa played two seasons with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears from 2015 to 2017 before co-founding Elite Edge Athlete in the Denver area in 2018.
The Middle Atlantic Conference has announced that MAC men’s and women’s hockey will become an NCAA automatic qualifier sport beginning with the 2024-25 season.
The MAC has sponsored men’s and women’s hockey as a championship sport since 2017-18, but the MAC was not eligible for an NCAA championship automatic berth with fewer than six schools sponsoring the sports.
“This is the next logical step in the growth of ice hockey in the Middle Atlantic region,” said MAC executive director Megan Morrison in a statement. “The UCHC has been a good home for MAC institutions sponsoring ice hockey and we hope to continue that partnership through mutual scheduling arrangements to support the growth of the sport even further.”
In 2024-25, with the addition of Misericordia men’s hockey and Hood women’s hockey, under NCAA rules, the MAC will be immediately eligible for automatic berths in the NCAA Division III national tournaments.
With six institutions sponsoring men’s and women’s hockey in 2024-25, the MAC will develop a regular-season conference schedule, institute a championship and award an NCAA automatic qualifier. MAC schools sponsoring hockey will separate from the UCHC.
Men’s hockey will include Alvernia, Arcadia, King’s, Lebanon Valley, Misericordia, and Stevenson while Alvernia, Arcadia, Hood, King’s, Lebanon Valley, and Stevenson will compete in women’s hockey.
