Keene State has announced the addition of men’s and women’s hockey to the list of its varsity program offerings.
Hockey will start with the 2024-25 season.
“I am thrilled to announce the launch of Keene State Owls D-III ice hockey,” Keene State president Dr. Melinda Treadwell said in a statement. “The decision supports strategic enrollment and potential academic program growth for our college. In the case of hockey, of equal strategic benefit is that this investment supports our community’s growing passion and the future success of Keene Ice. This is exactly how a public college can support itself and make a positive difference for the region it shares.”
The men’s and women’s hockey teams will compete during the 2024-25 season as independent programs. In 2025-26, the men’s program will transition to competition within the Little East Conference.
Castleton University, Plymouth State University, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Boston, and the University of Southern Maine are current LEC members that feature men’s ice hockey.
Keene State men’s hockey has a history of success as a club sport program competing in the ACHA. In 2023, the team captured the New England Collegiate Hockey Association Patriots Conference championship, defeating Boston College 6-0 in the semifinals and Northeastern 3-2 to reach the ACHA Northeast Regional tournament. In that regional, the Owls lost 3-2 in overtime to Vermont.
Plans are still under way to confirm a conference for the women’s program, according to Keene State athletic director Marty Testo.
Per NCAA regulations, six member institutions must sponsor a sport for the league to receive an automatic qualifying bid for the NCAA Division III championships. Keene State will become the fifth LEC member to sponsor hockey for women. Castleton, Plymouth State, UMass Boston, and Southern Maine also feature women’s hockey.
Keene State hockey teams will host games at Keene Ice on Marlboro Street in Keene, N.H.
The Little East Conference announced Monday that the league will begin sponsoring men’s hockey as a championship sport beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.
The addition of men’s hockey raises the LEC’s championship offerings to 22 sports.
The conference’s ability to sponsor men’s hockey follows Keene State’s addition of men’s and women’s hockey as varsity programs. LEC bylaws require sport sponsorship once six programs are offered by its primary membership, which allows the LEC to secure an immediate automatic berth in the NCAA Division III championship tournament.
“We are very excited to begin offering men’s ice hockey as a LEC championship and hope to soon be able to offer a women’s ice hockey championship as well,” said LEC commissioner Pamela S. Samuelson in a statement. “Being able to bring additional sports offered by our primary members into the LEC strengthens our conference as a whole, allowing us to provide more student-athletes the same highly competitive experiences as their peers in existing LEC sports.”
The inaugural season of LEC men’s hockey will be played between Keene State, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, Plymouth State, Southern Maine and Vermont State Castleton. The triple-round robin schedule will fill 15 games of each team’s 25-game regular-season slate.
The 2025-26 launch of LEC men’s hockey will allow existing programs to fulfill obligations to their current affiliate conferences. This marks the third expansion of sport offerings by the LEC in recent years, following the addition of men’s golf and men’s swimming and diving for the 2021-22 academic year.
Keene State will sponsor the fifth women’s hockey program among the LEC’s current primary membership, joining established programs at UMass Boston, Plymouth State, Southern Maine and VTSU Castleton. The process to add women’s hockey as an LEC championship sport will begin if a sixth program emerges from within or outside of the LEC’s primary membership.
Arizona State associate head coach Mike Field has left the Sun Devils for an assistant coach position with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips.
Field served with ASU for eight seasons. While there, Field managed the team’s defensemen as well as the team’s penalty kill.
Under his tutelage, the Sun Devils ranked third-best in Division I last season with an 86.7 percent success rate and finished in the country’s top 10 three times in the last five seasons.
Prior to Arizona State, Field also spent four years as an assistant coach at American International.
Brock Kautz spent four years in the Minnesota crease from 2015 to 2019 (photo: Minnesota Athletics).
Brock Kautz, currently an assistant coach with the NAHL’s St. Cloud Norsemen, will join the Bemidji State men’s hockey staff as an assistant coach.
Kaut spent the past season with the Norsemen, helping lead the team to a third-place finish in the NAHL Central Division and advancing to the playoffs and pulling off a first-round upset win over the Aberdeen Wings.
“I am very grateful to be joining the Bemidji State coaching staff,” Kautz said in a statement. “I am excited to be a part and carry on the great tradition that has been established at Bemidji State University.”
As a member of the BSU men’s hockey staff, Kautz will oversee the goalies and will assist in all aspects of coaching, player development, and recruiting.
“Brock’s played and coached at a high level,” Beavers head coach Tom Serratore said. “He understands the game and brings a strong skill set to our coaching staff. We’re excited to have him on board.”
Kautz got his start in coaching in 2020 serving as an assistant coach and goalie coach at Hudson High School in Wisconsin. Following his time there, he joined the NAHL’s Minnesota Magicians, serving there for nearly two years as the goalie coach.
Kautz graduated from Minnesota, earning a bachelor’s degree in sports management in 2019. He was a four-year goalie for the Gophers as he was part of two-straight Big Ten regular-season championships, was a four-year letter winner and three-time academic all-Big Ten selection.
Boston University and Cornell play in the 2021 edition of Red Hot Hockey from Madison Square Garden, a game Cornell won 6-4 (photo: Kyle Prudhomme).
The Kelley-Harkness Cup will be up for grabs this fall as Red Hot Hockey returns to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the ninth time on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Boston University and Cornell will play Thanksgiving weekend in one of college hockey’s premier events since debuting in 2007.
“This game at Madison Square Garden is the premier event for college hockey,” said Mike Schafer, who is entering his 29th year as Cornell’s head coach. “It is a great game involving two of the most storied programs in the country. It’s a great example of not only the importance of athletics as a connector back to the university, but also the value of athletics for the experience of undergraduates while at Cornell. The Lynah faithful are the best fans in college hockey, and they demonstrate that by showing up every year at Madison Square Garden.”
“This is a game that we certainly have circled on our calendar at the beginning of the year,” added second-year BU head coach Jay Pandolfo. “Madison Square Garden is a special place to play and I’m excited for our guys to have the opportunity to skate on such a big stage in such a historic rivalry. We had an amazing atmosphere for both of our meetings with Cornell last season and I’m looking forward to another incredible turnout when we head to MSG.”
After BU went undefeated in the first five Red Hot Hockey meetings (3-0-2), the Big Red has roared back with wins in each of the past three, including a 6-4 decision in 2021. BU won in 2007, 2011 and 2013 while the rivals skated to ties in 2009 and 2015. The Kelley-Harkness Cup, which honors legendary coaches Jack Kelley (BU) and Ned Harkness (Cornell), was first introduced 10 years ago.
Over half of the previous Red Hot Hockey games have been played in front of sold-out crowds at Madison Square Garden. The inaugural event, staged in front of 18,200 students, alumni, parents and fans, was a resounding success. Held on Nov. 24, 2007, it featured members of the 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey team Mike Eruzione, Jack O’Callahan and David Silk from Boston University, as well as NHL Hall of Famer and Cornell alum Joe Nieuwendyk.
Puck drop for this year’s contest is set for 8 p.m. Tickets for Red Hot Hockey are on sale now and can purchased at the Madison Square Garden box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.msg.com.
Fans will have the opportunity to buy tickets in either the Boston University or Cornell fan sections. Student tickets will be available at a discounted rate at the box office at Agganis Arena (Boston University) and at the Cornell athletic ticket office in Bartels Hall.
Colgate has announced the addition of Zach Badalamenti as the men’s hockey team’s newest assistant coach.
Badalamenti joins the Raiders after serving as an assistant with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints during the 2022-23 season.
“We are excited to have Zach join our staff,” said Colgate head coach Mike Harder in a statement. “He brings a wealth of scouting knowledge and experience from his time coaching in the USHL and shares Colgate’s commitment to developing student-athletes of the highest caliber.”
Badalamenti will be entering his eighth season overall in coaching after spending three seasons (2019-2022) as an assistant coach for Trinity and three seasons (2016-2019) with his alma mater, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, in the same capacity.
In his first season at Trinity, Badalamenti helped lead the Bantams to a NESCAC championship appearance. During the 2021-22 season, he helped guide the team to a NESCAC championship and NCAA tournament berth.
Badalamenti was a member of the Pointers coaching staff that made an NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 2016-17 and later won a national championship in 2018-19. In that season, he helped the Pointers to a program-best record of 29-0-2, marking their first-ever undefeated season.
Badalamenti played two seasons of college hockey for Stevens Point in 2014-15 and 2015-16 before suffering a career-ending neck injury that led to his transition into coaching.
In the classroom, Badalamenti earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from UW-Stevens Point and his master’s degree in Public Policy from Trinity.
Matthew Deschamps and Kevin Reiter, the newest additions to Michigan’s coaching staff (photos: Chicago Steel, USA Hockey).
Michigan has announced the hiring of Mathew Deschamps and Kevin Reiter as assistant coaches.
Additionally, Rob Rassey has been promoted to associate head coach and Evan Hall to director of hockey operations.
“Last season, we led the country in goals for,” Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato said in a statement. “And with the addition of Deschamps and Reiter, they are going to make the defensive side of our game that much better, and it will have a huge impact on Michigan hockey.”
Deschamps has spent the last three seasons with the USHL’s Chicago Steel, first as assistant coach and then associate head coach.
“Deschamps is one of the best defensive developers in the game of hockey,” Naurato said. “His attention to detail on the technical and tactical aspects with the puck, and more importantly without the puck is next level. He’ll run the penalty kill and the defensemen in-game and will help us take another step forwards in both areas.”
A 2005 graduate of Maine, Deschamps played four years for the Black Bears, appearing in 111 games on defense and serving as alternate captain as a senior. He assisted on the triple-overtime goal in the 2004 Hockey East championship and helped Maine to four straight NCAA tournament appearances, including two Frozen Four spots.
He played professionally for five seasons, split between the AHL and ECHL before taking his first coaching job in Salzburg, Austria with the EC Red Bull Salzburg (RBS) Hockey Club. He was head coach of the RBS U18 team and served the club in director and development coordinator roles from 2014 to 2016. He was hired as an assistant coach at St. Lawrence in 2016 and served in that role for three seasons.
Reiter comes to Ann Arbor from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he was the NTDP goaltending coach from 2013 to 2017 before being named director of player personnel in 2017. Reiter’s responsibilities with the NTDP included overseeing the Warren Strelow Goaltending Mentor Program, coaching the NTDP goalies, evaluating, recruiting and educating prospective national team players and families.
“Reiter has been the general manager and sole decision maker on picking the national development team for the last eight years,” Naurato said. “He knows what high-end talent looks like, how to identify it and how to work with those types of players. Reiter will be a huge asset in supporting Rob Rassey in recruiting and roster management.”
On the addition of a third assistant coach, Naurato stated: “We believe that Michigan, in general, is all about player development. Adding a full-time goalie coach, who will be there seven days a week will have a huge impact on our program. A great communicator and teacher, he’ll not only develop the goalies of the future for Michigan hockey but identify the right goalies we need to target during recruiting.”
Reiter has won seven gold medals with the USA, including four gold medals at the IIHF U18 Men’s Worlds (2014, 2015, 2017, 2023) and three gold medals at the World U17 Hockey Challenge (2014, 2017, 2023). He also won a silver medal at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games, a bronze medal at the World Junior Championship in 2016 and a bronze medal at the Men’s World Championships in 2021.
Before joining the NTDP, Reiter spent two seasons coaching professionally in Italy. He acted as the assistant and goaltending coach of the WSC Sterzing-SSI Vipiteno Broncos, as well as coached their junior teams. While in Italy, Reiter served as a goaltending consultant for the Italian Men’s National Team during the 2012 IIHF World Championships.
A 2004 graduate of Alaska Anchorage, Reiter played four years for the Seawolves while earning a degree in business management. He followed with a seven-year professional career, from 2004-11, in various leagues in North America and Europe. In 2008, he was named the IHL goalie of the year and won a Turner Cup championship with the Fort Wayne Komets. He earned a master’s in business administration at the University of Winchester (England) while playing two seasons in the Elite Hockey League.
Hockey East announced Tuesday that Dr. Derek Zuckerman has been named supervisor of women’s officials.
In his role, Zuckerman will oversee all aspects of the officiating program of the women’s league, including the recruitment and assignment of all game officials. He began his duties with Hockey East in July.
Zuckerman has enjoyed an illustrious career as an NCAA on-ice official over the past 20 years, including the honor of refereeing the women’s national championship four times (2009, 2010, 2016, 2021) to go along with six Frozen Four assignments. Over the past 17 seasons, he has worked both Hockey East and ECAC Hockey contests, earning postseason assignments in each of those seasons. He also served on the NCAA Rules Committee as the women’s referee representative in 2019.
He started as an ECAC Hockey Division III official in 1995 before joining ECAC Hockey’s men’s league for seven seasons from 1998 to 2005. He began refereeing ECAC Hockey’s women’s league in 2004 and rose to Hockey East women’s league in 2010. With the ECAC, he worked the women’s championship game five times (2006, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2020) and nine semifinal contests. He served as an official in the Hockey East women’s semifinals in 2011 and 2012.
Prior to his career as an NCAA official, Zuckerman was invited to join USA Hockey’s national training staff for officials in 1995, earning the inaugural Milt Kaufman Award, given to the outstanding USA Hockey officiating camp attendee. Since then, he has served in various roles within USA Hockey’s officiating program, including as an instructor for officials’ development and training camps.
In 2021, New York-native participated in USA Hockey’s Advanced Officiating Symposium in Providence, where he established relationships with a wide pool of officials from across the country. Additionally, Zuckerman has served as the assistant commissioner of both the Bay State and Hockomock Conferences, high school leagues in Massachusetts from 1996 to 1998.
Internationally, Zuckerman has worked in both the United Kingdom and Mexico in various roles, including serving as an instructor and official at the Mexican National Hockey Championship.
Outside of Hockey, Zuckerman serves as the associate VP for student life and dean of students at Roger Williams University. In this role, he oversees the offices of Residence Life, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, and Student Programs, Leadership, and Orientation. Prior to this appointment, he worked at Union as a class dean, helping students navigate their experience with shared responsibilities between student and academic affairs. Before that, Zuckerman served Holy Cross as the associate dean for student life. He has also worked at Iona, Quinnipiac and Bentley over his career in student affairs.
Zuckerman graduated from Le Moyne College in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations and human resource management. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Bentley in 1998 and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fordham University in 2010. He has been an adjunct professor of marketing and general business courses and has presented nationally on various topics including financial management, negotiation, safety, and learning outcomes.
Todd Woodcroft came to Vermont with a background in the NHL and in international competition (photo: thecoachessite.com).
Vermont announced Tuesday that Todd Woodcroft has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the men’s hockey team, effective immediately.
Assistant coach Steve Wiedler was named interim head coach for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
Vermont director of athletics Jeff Schulman provided the following statement:
“The University of Vermont Athletic Department has high expectations for the conduct of our coaches and all involved with our department. After reviewing the findings of an investigation conducted by UVM’s Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity that was completed this week, it is clear that Coach Woodcroft failed to meet those expectations. The specific conduct leading to the investigation involved inappropriate text messages with a UVM student on multiple occasions that failed to maintain professional boundaries. Earlier today, I met with the Men’s Hockey team to inform them of my decision and to introduce Steve Wiedler as interim head coach for the 2023-2024 season. The team and I have tremendous confidence in Coach Wiedler’s ability to successfully lead our program. He has played a major role in the recruitment and development of our current players and will step into this important role with the full support of our team and his Athletic Department colleagues.”
Woodcroft has also released a statement through his lawyer:
Statement from Woodcroft’s attorney, who indicates he will explore legal action based on UVM’s decision to fire his client pic.twitter.com/UdFNbQgv7q
Greg Haney spent the last three seasons behind the bench at Potsdam (photo: Potsdam Athletics).
Elmira has announced the hiring of Greg Haney as head women’s hockey coach, becoming the ninth head coach in program history after the departure of Jake Bobrowski earlier this spring.
Haney begins his time at Elmira after serving as the women’s hockey head coach for the past three seasons at Potsdam.
“We feel very fortunate to have Greg join our staff as the new head women’s ice hockey coach,” said Elmira director of athletics Rhonda Faunce in a statement. “Greg is an accomplished coach and recruiter that is capable of stepping into our current competitive level and brings a great deal of knowledge that will not only serve as a tool for his players, but for our staff as well.”
While with the Bears, Haney led the program to a 20-29-1 record, including a NEWHL playoff appearance in 2022 against Plattsburgh.
“I am very excited to be joining Elmira College and the women’s ice hockey program,” said Haney. “I would like to thank President Lindsay, Rhonda (Faunce), Erin (Gehen), and the rest of the college community for the opportunity and look forward to continuing to build upon a program with a rich and successful history in Division III ice hockey.”
Prior to his time at Potsdam, Haney served as a women’s assistant coach at Lindenwood from 2018 to 2020.
Before Lindenwood, Haney spent three seasons on the coaching staff at Oswego, where he helped lead the team to a 40-32-8 record during his time, along with the 2018 NEWHLF conference championship.
From 2012 to 2015, Haney spent time as an assistant coach on the men’s side at Western New England (2012-14) and Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2014-15).
Haney attended Cortland from 2007 to 2010, where he was a three-year letter winner with the men’s hockey program and earned his degree in Communications Studies.
Abbie Ives is a former Quinnipiac goalie now coaching with Sacred Heart (photo: Sacred Heart Athletics).
The Sacred Heart women’s hockey team has added Abbie Ives as an assistant coach.
Ives brings three years of professional and four years of collegiate playing experience with her to the bench.
“I’m extremely happy to welcome Abbie to our staff,” said SHU head coach Thomas O’Malley in a statement. “I know she will do an incredible job here at Sacred Heart University.”
“I’m really excited to join the staff at Sacred Heart and work to build on the success of the program,” added Ives. “I’d like to thank Coach O’Malley for the opportunity, and I’m eager to get to work.”
No stranger to Nutmeg State, Ives spent the last three seasons playing for the Connecticut Whale of the National Women’s Hockey League and the Premier Hockey Federation. Over 33 professional games in net, she posted a .903 save percentage and a 2.46 GAA to go with a 22-10-0 record and three shutouts. Ives backstopped the Whale to an appearance in the 2022 Isobel Cup Final.
Prior to her professional career, Ives spent four seasons tending the crease just up the Merritt Parkway at Quinnipiac. When she graduated, she ranked third all-time in program history with 14 shutouts. Across 102 career games with the Bobcats, Ives posted a .925 save percentage and a 1.79 GAA, on the way to a 46-41-13 record. She was named the team’s MVP as a senior.
Ives is a 2020 graduate of Quinnipiac, with a degree in English.
Rebecca Taylor spent her college playing days at Nichols (photo: Brian Foley).
Rebecca Taylor has been named an assistant coach with the Curry women’s hockey team.
Taylor recently finished her playing career at Nichols. She was a three-year captain for the Bison, playing in 89 games on the blue line and compiling four goals and seven assists for 11 points. She also competed on the Nichols women’s lacrosse team.
“We are thrilled to have Becca join our staff,” said Curry head coach Kelly Rider in a statement. “She is familiar with our conference, has experience in leadership positions, and has a passion for coaching.”
For her efforts at Nichols, Taylor received the Major Charles T. Hopkins Award for Study, Sports, and Spirit in 2023. The award is presented to a senior student-athlete who had a great success both in the classroom and in the arena of competition. Taylor had a cumulative grade-point average among the top in her class while also garnering recognition for outstanding athletic contributions to women’s hockey and women’s lacrosse. She also served as a peer tutor and worked for Skyhawks Sports Academy.
Taylor graduated from Nichols with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2022 before completing her master’s degree in counterterrorism in 2023.
Casey Mignone comes to Fairbanks from the NAHL coaching ranks (photo: chippewa.com).
Alaska has announced the addition of Casey Mignone to the Nanooks bench as an assistant coach.
Mignone becomes the third member of the Alaska bench behind head coach Erik Largen and associate head coach Chris Brown.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Mignone to the University of Alaska and Nanook Nation,” said Largen in a statement. “His wide range of experience as a coach will help prepare our young men for success. Casey has earned a strong reputation in the hockey community with his work ethic, recruiting prowess and ability to develop strong relationships with his players.”
Mignone joins the Nanooks from the NAHL’s Chippewa Steel where he has spent the previous two seasons as head coach and GM.
Prior to Chippewa, Mignone spent 2019-21 with the NAHL’s St. Cloud Blizzard/Norsemen as associate head coach. He’s also made stops at the NA3HL, serving as the head coach and GM of the Rochester Grizzlies, and NCAA D-III as an assistant coach at Johnson and Wales.
As a player, Mignone played at the NCAA D-III level, spending two years with Lebanon Valley from 2006 to 2008 before jumping to Westfield State from 2008-2010. At Lebanon Valley he played in 50 games, tallying 22 points in two seasons. His numbers shot up at Westfield State as in his first season, he played in 24 games and scored nine goals and tallied 13 assists for 22 points. In his final season, while wearing the ‘A,’ he posted 36 points in 26 games (17 goals, 19 assists).
Following his college playing days, he jumped to the FHL, SPHL and AIHL. In his final season, 2013-14, he won the FHL championship with the Dayton Demonz after posting 37 points in 30 games.
“I’m incredibly grateful and humbled to be named assistant coach at the University of Alaska Fairbanks,” said Mignone, “I want to thank everyone at the university, Coach Largen and Coach Brown for the opportunity. I want to thank my family for their unwavering support and thank all of the players, coaches and staff that have been a part of my journey thus far. The opportunity to join a program that is on the rise and work alongside Coach Largen and Coach Brown is a dream scenario for myself. I hope I am able to help build on the rich hockey tradition Alaska has built and help them obtain their goals.
Maine has announced the hiring of Eric Soltys as an assistant coach for the men’s hockey team.
Soltys, who served as an assistant coach with the Black Bears in 2004-05, rejoins the program after most recently serving as director of hockey and organizational general manager with the NAHL’s Maine Nordiques since the 2019-20 season.
Soltys comes to Maine with experience in and ties to the NHL after serving as a professional scout with the Detroit Red Wings (2021-22) and as an amateur scout with the Calgary Flames (2014-21).
He was the co-founder and head coach of the South Kent School/Selects Academy (2009-14), a program which produced 18 NHL draft picks and over 80 NCAA Division I scholarship athletes since its inception.
Soltys began his coaching career at Shattuck St. Mary’s School, Maine head coach Ben Barr’s alma mater, where he coached NHL veterans Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise, Patrick Eaves, and others.
“Jack has demonstrated a commitment to the program and to our players over the two years he has been with us and has served us well in this role over the past several months,” Middlebury director of athletics Erin Quinn said in a statement. “We are confident that the program and team will thrive under Jack’s leadership, and we look forward to working with him and the team for a successful 2023-24 campaign.”
Ceglarski said he appreciates the support and confidence from Quinn and the rest of Middlebury College to lead the men’s hockey program.
“I am honored and excited to take on this position and am looking forward to the future of Middlebury hockey,” Ceglarski said. “I look forward to working together with our staff, alumni and players to lead this program into its next chapter.”
Prior to his time at Middlebury, Ceglarski was an assistant coach at Notre Dame from 2019 to 2021. He also served as an assistant coach and co-recruiting coordinator for the 2018-19 season at the University of New England.
Ceglarski graduated from Geneseo in 2017 and was a four-year member of the Knights hockey program. He made two NCAA semifinal appearances during his career and had professional hockey playing stints with the Reading Royals (ECHL), Indy Fuel (ECHL) and the Huntsville Havoc (SPHL).
Miami has announced that Jonathon Elliott has been promoted to the role of assistant coach.
Elliott served as the RedHawks’ director of hockey operations during the 2022-23 season.
“Jonathon did a good job in an operations role with our program for the past year,” said Miami head coach Chris Bergeron in a statement. “We are excited to add his professional and personal skill set, along with his experience, to our coaching staff.”
Elliott came to Miami last August from Saint Mary’s, where he served as an assistant coach for the previous four seasons at his alma mater.
Elliott graduated from Saint Mary’s in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and played four years for the Cardinals from 2012 to 2016. He recorded 22 points in his college career on 10 goals and 12 assists.
After graduation, Elliott worked for a year with the Onyx Ice Arena in Rochester Hills, Mich., and then spent the 2017-18 season on staff with the NA3HL’s Texas Brahmas. Elliott’s time in Texas included a brief stint as the Brahmas’ interim head coach.
Elliott becomes the third full-time assistant coach on the RedHawks’ staff, joining Barry Schutte, who enters his fifth year, and Zack Cisek, going into his second season.
Steve Mastalerz played between the pipes at UMass from 2011 to 2015 (photo: UMass Athletics).
Massachusetts hockey alum Steve Mastalerz has returned to his alma mater to join the Minutemen staff as director of player of development.
Mastalerz, who was a goaltender for the Minutemen from 2011 to 2015, comes back to Amherst with nine years of experience coaching goaltenders on a professional, collegiate and youth level.
“We are very excited to add Steve Mastalerz to our staff as our third assistant per the new rules recently adopted by the NCAA,” said UMass coach Greg Carvel in a statement. “Not only is Steve an elite goaltending coach with extensive experience, but he is also an alum and former goaltender for the University of Massachusetts. This season, we will have two NHL goaltending prospects on our team, and we have another committed down the road. Steve will be a tremendous resource in our goaltenders’ development and their success on the ice. As a former UMass hockey player, I had built a friendship with Steve over the seven years I’ve been the head coach at UMass and I’m excited to work with him on a daily basis.”
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to be back at UMass with Coach Carvel and staff,” added Mastalerz. “Watching what this program has turned into and earned as a reputation is very exciting to be a part of. I look forward to continuing to develop the culture and overall success of the team. Being an alumnus of the University of Massachusetts and now be able to contribute to this great University is an honor.”
Most recently, Mastalerz was the vice president and head instructor for Mike Buckley’s Goaltending Development Services and served as the goaltending coach for the NAHL’s Northeast Generals, holding both positions since the fall of 2015.
Upon graduating from UMass, Mastalerz signed with the then-AHL Manchester Monarchs and was with the squad during their 2015 Calder Cup run. He remained with Manchester as their goaltending coach from 2016 to 2018.
In his career with the Minutemen, Mastalerz appeared in 77 career games and logged a 3.12 GAA and a .894 save percentage. He posted 20 wins and four shutouts, which currently ranks 10th in program history, while his career saves total (1,953) is sixth all-time in the UMass record book.
Mastalerz set UMass’ Division I single game saves record, which was then sixth-most in NCAA history, with 75 stops in the Minutemen’s five-overtime victory at Notre Dame on March 6, 2015 in the Hockey East tournament. He was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was twice named to the Hockey East all-academic team.
Mastalerz earned his Bachelor of Science in psychology from UMass in May 2015.
The Northern Michigan hockey team has announced the hiring of Jimmy Spratt as an assistant coach ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Spratt spent the 2022-23 season with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.
Previously, he spent three seasons with Miami and five seasons at Bowling Green, serving as the director of hockey operations with both teams.
Spratt is a former netminder at BGSU. playing from 2005 to 2009. Over his time as a Falcon, Spratt accumulated over 5,500 minutes of action between the pipes. Spratt totaled a 3.45 GAA and made 2,441 saves in 100 appearances with a 27-62-5 record.
He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the seventh round (213th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.
After graduating from BGSU in 2009 with a degree in sport management, Spratt spent four seasons in the ECHL. Spratt split time with several teams during his stint as a professional, making appearances with the Toledo Walleye (2009-11, 2012-13) Las Vegas Wranglers (2009-10), Victoria Salmon Kings (2009-10), Idaho Steelheads (2011-12) and the Utah Grizzlies (2011-12). Spratt also played in the AHL in 2011-12 for the Texas Stars, making 40 saves and recording a 2.02 GAA in two appearances.
Jamie Kivi spent 11 seasons behind the bench of the Marian women’s hockey team (photo: Marian Athletics).
After 11 seasons, Jamie Kivi has announced her resignation as the head coach of the Marian women’s hockey team.
“I can’t thank Jamie enough for her 11 years of hard work and dedication to Marian athletics and the Sabre women’s hockey program,” said Marian director of athletics Tony Draves in a statement. “I wish her nothing but the best in her next chapter.”
Kivi was named the second head coach of Marian in 2012 after the program was introduced in 2009. In her second season, Kivi led the Sabres to the NCHA tournament for the first time in program history, earning herself NCHA coach of the year recognition. Marian qualified for the NCHA tournament seven times under her leadership, including each of the last three seasons.
“It has been an honor to serve as the head women’s ice hockey coach at Marian,” said Kivi. “I want to thank Jason Murphy for taking a chance on me as a 24-year-old. Since then, I’ve had the privilege to work under Jason Bartelt and Tony Draves, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities they have given me. Most importantly, to my student-athletes, the alumni, Katie Lindsley, current and past members of my coaching staff, and all of my co-workers over the last 11 years, thank you. There are not enough words to express my love and appreciation for all of you. You have become a part of my family and the reason why Marian is such a special place.
“The future of Marian women’s ice hockey is bright, and I have no doubt the best is yet to come for the program.”
A national search will be conducted for the hiring of the next head women’s hockey coach.
Dylan Zink manned the UML blue line from 2013 to 2017 (photo: UMass Lowell Athletics).
UMass Lowell has announced the promotion of Dylan Zink to assistant coach ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Zink, a 2017 graduate of UMass Lowell and a four-year standout on the River Hawks hockey team, has spent the last three seasons as the director of hockey operations at his alma mater.
“Promoting Dylan was an easy decision,” said River Hawks head coach Norm Bazin in a statement. “As a former player, he has been outstanding in his time as our hockey operations director, acting as the conduit from our players to our staff. His attention to detail and his positive vibe are infectious around the hockey area. We feel he is ready to take the next step and start recruiting. He had an excellent playing career, and we look forward to having him follow that same path as a coach. Dylan will recruit and assist with all phases of player development, working closely with the defensemen and our power play.”
“I’m honored and grateful for the opportunity to take my next step with our university and to continue to give back to our program,” added Zink. “I am looking forward to working with and developing our great student-athletes and continuing my professional development under Coach Bazin and our great staff.”
Zink made the move to the hockey front office side after three years playing professionally. He made his professional debut in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He split the 2017-18 season between the Penguins and the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers before playing in Europe in 2018-19 and 2019-20 with Norway’s Sparta Sarpsborg and Karlskrona HK in Sweden. He returned stateside in 2019-20, splitting time with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays and Toledo Walleye.
An offensive defenseman, Zink played in 143 games during his tenure at UMass Lowell. He accumulated 87 points (31 goals, 56 assists) in a River Hawks uniform, completing a standout career with the team by earning AHCA Second-Team All-American honors his senior season.
The all-time leader in goals by a defenseman at UMass Lowell (31) and a two-time Hockey East champion (2014, 2017), Zink was named to the 2007-2017 all-decade team as part of the program’s celebration of 50 years of hockey.
Zink earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMass Lowell in 2017 before completing his MBA in 2023.
