Arizona State sophomore defenseman Jacob Semik originally committed to Michigan before winding up with the Sun Devils (photo: Sun Devil Athletics).
The Big Ten announced Tuesday that the 2020-21 hockey season will begin as soon as Nov. 13, 2020, and will feature 24-game conference schedules, plus an additional four games per school against Arizona State hosted at Big Ten venues.
The 2020-21 schedule will conclude March 18-20, 2021, with the Big Ten tournament.
“The 2020-21 hockey season builds on the rich traditions of Big Ten hockey and brings new competitive opportunities to the conference with the Arizona State University scheduling agreement,” said Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren in a statement. “As our teams return to competition, we will continue to keep the health and safety of our student-athletes at the forefront of our decisions.”
The 2021 Big Ten tournament will return to the one-weekend, single-elimination format used during the first four years of the conference and will feature all seven conference teams – Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. The tournament will be held March 18-20 and will consist of six games (three games on Thursday; two games on Friday; and the championship game on Saturday).
Arizona State will not be eligible for the conference tournament.
“The 2020-21 schedule and the modified Big Ten tournament format have been structured in a way that maximizes flexibility for the season,” said Red Berenson, special advisor to the commissioner, hockey operations. “The opportunity to return to competition in mid-November and the scheduling agreement with Arizona State is an exciting time for Big Ten hockey.”
Big Ten hockey teams will follow the same medical protocols that were developed by the Big Ten Return to Competition Task Force and announced on Sept. 16, 2020, including daily antigen testing, enhanced cardiac screening and an enhanced data-driven approach when making decisions about practice/competition. Arizona State has agreed to adhere to the same testing protocols as the conference.
“We are obviously thrilled to partner with the Big Ten on this scheduling arrangement coming out of such a difficult and challenging last six months,” said Sun Devils coach Greg Powers. “We are looking forward to the challenge presented in front of us and making all Sun Devils proud. We can’t thank the Big Ten’s coaches and administrators enough for including us as an independent so our student-athletes can share a meaningful season with theirs.”
The full 2020-21 Big Ten schedule, including times and television designations, as well as further details regarding the 2021 Big Ten tournament, will be announced at a later date.
Rivier University announced today it will add men’s and women’s hockey in the fall of 2021.
Located in Nashua, N.H., the Raiders will play at Conway Arena in town.
The university will launch a national search for head coaches this month.
“With the launch of men’s and women’s ice hockey programs, the university continues to demonstrate its deep commitment to college athletics and student success,” said Sister Paula Marie Buley, IHM, Rivier’s president, in a statement. “Recruitment of athletes for these teams will add to recent momentum generated through the expansion of our athletics and academic facilities, launch of in-demand academic majors, and addition of early admission incentives.”
The school intends to apply for membership in the ACHA and will transition to NCAA Division III status in 2022.
“We’re looking for hockey coaches who share our deep belief in the value of Division III athletics, which prioritizes student-athletes as students first who develop skills for learning and leadership,” Rivier director of athletics Joanne Merrill said. “Rivier athletes receive an exceptional education enhanced by Division III competition in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, teamwork, and opportunities through the University’s Employment Promise Program.”
While expanding the university’s athletics offerings, the launch of hockey will also add collegiate-level competition to the city of Nashua.
“The addition of hockey is great news for local high school players who want to compete at the university level without leaving the state of New Hampshire,” said Rivier board of trustees chair Brad Kreick, also a former Brown defenseman (1987-91). “Bringing college ice hockey to Nashua is a win for both the university and the city. We look forward to our inaugural teams taking the ice in 2021.”
Founded in 1933, Rivier University is a Catholic institution recognized for distinctive academic programs, offering many of the region’s leading programs at the undergraduate, professional studies, graduate, and doctoral levels with on-campus and online options.
The SUNYAC will begin its 2020-21 conference schedule at the beginning of February.
The conference announced the decision today, following approval by the SUNYAC athletic directors during their weekly conference meeting on Oct. 5.
The schedule will consist of eight divisional games and a four-team crossover playoff format that features the top two teams in each division.
“The schedules are designed to provide a meaningful student-athlete experience while at the same time prioritizing the health and safety of the student-athletes and staff,” SUNYAC commissioner Tom DiCamillo said in a news release. “We know full well that the pandemic environment is ever-changing. However, it is important to establish our intent to begin conference play in February which will allow our member-institutions to appropriately prepare for intercollegiate athletic competition.
“We will not operate in a vacuum, but the strength of the SUNYAC is its athletic leadership and knowledge that will be used to craft the best and safest experience possible for our student-athletes.”
In addition to health and safety, the divisional schedule reduces costs by cutting travel and the need for most hotel accommodations while preserving NCAA eligibility for student-athletes by playing less than 50 percent of the allowable contests.
Games will be played mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays with the SUNYAC semifinals set for Thursday, March 4, and the championship scheduled for Sunday, March 7.
The Western Division will consist of Brockport, Buffalo State, Cortland, Fredonia and Geneseo playing an eight-game, double round-robin schedule starting Sunday, Jan. 31.
The Eastern Division will feature just four teams – Morrisville, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam – that will play a triple round-robin schedule minus one game beginning Friday, Feb. 5.
Each team playing the other teams three times produces a nine-game schedule – one more game than the Western Division – therefore a decision was made based upon geographical distance to balance the schedule by eliminating one long trip – Oswego to Plattsburgh. As a result, Potsdam and Morrisville will play each other just two times as well.
Carter Turnbull is UConn’s top returning scorer as the junior tallied 12 goals and 24 points in 31 games last season (photo: Stephen Slade/UConn Athletics).
SNY announced last week the cancellation of the 2021 Connecticut Ice Festival due to risks associated with COVID-19.
The second year of the weekend-long hockey festival highlighted by the tournament featuring Connecticut’s four NCAA Division I men’s teams – Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Connecticut and Yale – was scheduled to take place at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., January 30-31, 2021.
“As disappointed as we are about the festival in 2021, we are thrilled that all of our key partners have committed to the future of Connecticut Ice and the opportunity to keep growing hockey in the state,” said SNY president Steve Raab in a statement. “Never did we think when we left Webster Bank Arena after the championship game this past January that we would be in the position we are today. With so many levels of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, we simply can’t produce the festival in the manner it deserves.
“We look forward to welcoming everybody back in 2022 and we will not stop working hard to build on the momentum developed during our first year.”
The inaugural Connecticut Ice Festival took place January 24-26, 2020. Sacred Heart was crowned champion.
SNY, the four universities, Webster Bank Arena, and the city of Bridgeport have all confirmed their support to continue the growth of Connecticut Ice by locking in dates for 2022 (January 29 and 30) and 2023 (January 28 and 29).
Mike Corbett spent seven seasons behind the bench at Alabama Huntsville (photo: Bradley K. Olson).
The Robert Morris men’s hockey team has added Mike Corbett to the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming 2020-21 season.
Corbett joins head coach Derek Schooley’s staff as an assistant coach after spending seven seasons behind the bench as the head coach at Alabama Huntsville before resigning in June.
“I called Mike immediately when this position opened, and I wanted to make sure that he knew we were interested in having him be a part of the Colonial program,” Schooley said in a statement. “We are ecstatic that he has decided to join us in Pittsburgh.”
Corbett took the helm of UAH at the onset of the 2013-14 campaign, their first as a WCHA member. His seven years as head coach saw the Chargers improve both their overall and conference winning percentage almost every season during his tenure following three years as an independent where the Chargers won just a combined nine games.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to be joining the RMU coaching staff this season,” Corbett said. “Coach Schooley has done a very good job of building an RMU program that is in contention for a post season bid in Atlantic Hockey every season, and I look forward to working with Coach (Ryan) Durocher and Josh Johnson to continue that success. RMU has a strong tradition as well as a first-class athletic department, and together we want to continue that growth and put the program in position for success.”
Prior to Huntsville, Corbett spent 10 years as an assistant at Air Force, including serving as the team’s associate head coach in the 2012-13 season.
Before his coaching career, Corbett enjoyed a successful career as a player at the NCAA level as well, playing for Denver as a defenseman from 1992 to 1997 where he was an alternate captain for two seasons and a two-time WCHA All-Academic Team member.
The Colonials also announced the addition of Johnson to the staff as the team’s video coordinator. A 2020 graduate of Michigan, Johnson spent three years in a similar capacity as an analytics and video coordinator assistant for the Wolverines hockey team.
“Anytime you can add a coach to your staff that has his experience, you jump at that opportunity,” Schooley said. “He has been in every role in college and junior hockey, and our players will benefit from his experience both as a player and coach in college hockey. I have known Mike for more than 20 years and we are excited to get started on this journey together.”
Bobby Miller was a dynamic point producer in his time playing at New Hampshire (photo: UNH Athletics).
Former New Hampshire forward Bobby Miller passed away recently at the age of 64, according to a UNH news release.
Miller was a 1977 All-American and also represented Team USA in the 1976 Olympics. He went on to play six NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Kings.
“I speak on behalf of the entire UNH hockey family in mourning the loss of one of our program’s iconic players,” said current UNH coach Mike Souza in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all of Bobby’s loved ones.”
Miller posted 148 points over just 65 games at UNH on 51 goals and 97 assists. His 2.27 career points per game is second all-time in program history.
He tallied 21 goals and 38 assists for 59 points during his first season as a Wildcat in 1974-75 as he was named the ECAC Rookie of the Year.
He then spent the 1975-76 season representing his country playing in 63 games for Team USA with 33 goals and 61 assists for 94 points as he competed in the 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria.
He returned to UNH for the 1976-77 season and earned All-American honors as he set school records with 89 points and 59 assists. He also totaled 30 goals.
Miller continued to play for Team USA during his career, competing at the 1981 Canada Cup and the 1977, 1981, 1982 and 1985 World Championships.
The native of Billerica, Mass., was a 1994 inductee of the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame.
Daryl Sullivan, former RIT men’s hockey coach, passed away Sept. 27, 2020 from complications of esophageal cancer.
He was 78.
The native of Potsdam, N.Y., became the first full-time hockey coach in 1968-69, when the campus relocated from downtown Rochester, N.Y. to Henrietta, N.Y.
Graduating from RIT in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Sullivan previously transferred to RIT from Clarkson and played two years for the Tigers. He then assisted part-time coach Jim Heffer for three seasons before becoming head coach.
A dozen years later, he became coordinator of intramurals and continued as an off-ice official at home men’s hockey contests.
His initial season as head coach, Sullivan guided the Tigers to a 17-9-1 record. In seven of his 12 seasons, his teams recorded double digit victories.
In 1972-73 the team became a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III. The league was comprised of East and West divisions.
“Daryl was a memorable and impactful figure here at RIT, and one who helped shape life on campus in many ways, first as a student-athlete, then as a coach and later as an administrator,” said RIT executive director of intercollegiate athletics Louis Spiotti in a statement. “In each and every phase of his career he made this place a better one with his leadership, his caring for students and his knowledge of sport and recreation. He epitomized and modeled the notion of sportsmanship, class and dignity.
“We will benefit from his contributions for many years to come. We extend our condolences to his family and many friends. He will be greatly missed.”
In 1992, Sullivan was inducted into the RIT Sports Hall of Fame.
During his coaching career, Sullivan’s teams won two Finger Lakes Collegiate Hockey League titles, and he is among the winningest coaches in RIT hockey history with 131 victories.
Under Sullivan, the Tigers captured the Monroe County Tournament in 1973-74, and RIT Tournament title in 1976-77.
In ECAC Division III playoff competition, the Tigers played in three championships. In 1979-80, Sullivan’s final season as head coach, RIT advanced to the championship contest, losing to Bentley 7-6 in overtime.
When he retired, he was associate director of Intramurals at RIT. Under Sullivan’s guidance, the program expanded to the point where more than 7,000 students were participating in team and individual activities. That number represented 50 percent of the student population.
During summers, he played and coached softball with a memorable traveling team for Pace Electronics. He was an avid reader and enjoyed contemplating, discussing and sharing shows, movies, and computer games. Sullivan was also a huge New York Yankees fan.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ann, and their three sons, Sean, Aaron and Brian, and two grandchildren, Abi and Ray. He is also survived by his sister, Sondra Castle, and nephews John and Christopher and their families.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of one’s choice.
The NCAA Division III Championships Committee on Tuesday proposed selection dates and bracket sizes for the 2021 NCAA winter championships, which include men’s and women’s hockey.
All recommendations will move forward through the governance process, where they must be supported by the NCAA Division III Management Council on Oct. 19-20.
“The Division III Championships Committee would like to thank the sport committees for providing their comments and suggestions about bracket composition,” said Kiki Jacobs, committee chair and director of athletics at Roger Williams, in a statement. “These are difficult decisions that have to be made right now.”
Two weeks ago, the committee voted to recommend that all winter and spring 2021 national championship brackets and field sizes (team and individual) not exceed 75 percent of their standard capacity.
During the meeting, it reaffirmed this decision.
According to NCAA.org, “committee members emphasized the driving principles of filling out the brackets in each sport, protecting conference automatic qualification access to championships and providing access to schools unaffiliated with automatic qualification when warranted. However, brackets could be reduced if national sponsorship of a sport decreases.”
For men’s hockey, the selection announcement date and automatic qualification deadline is March 14 with a nine-team bracket, down from 12.
For women’s hockey, same deadline, but a bracket size of eight teams instead of 10 is proposed.
Devin Cooley played three seasons for Denver, compiling 15 wins and a half-dozen shutouts (photo: DU Athletics).
Denver goalie Devin Cooley, who would have been a senior in 2020-21, has signed a two-year, entry-level deal with the NHL’s Nashville Predators.
Cooley, a native of Los Gatos, Calif., will forgo his final season with the Pioneers.
In three seasons at DU, Cooley went 15-9-4 with a 1.93 GAA, .927 save percentage and six shutouts.
Undrafted, Cooley had his most productive season in 2018-19 where he posted an 11-6-2 record with a 1.85 GAA and .934 save percentage, the second-highest single-season save percentage in program history.
Cooley was 4-3-2 with a 2.08 GAA and .908 save percentage in the 2019-20 season.
In the classroom, Cooley was selected three times for the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team.
Lenny Hoffman played at Saint Mary’s and has worked the last several years in the USHL (photo: Alaska Media Relations).
Alaska announced Monday the hiring of Lenny Hofmann as an assistant coach for the Nanooks.
Hofmann joins third-year head coach Eric Largen and third-year assistant Joe Howe, and replaces Karlis Zirnis, who left UAF over the summer for the associate head coach job at his alma mater, Alabama Huntsville.
“Lenny is first and foremost a wonderful guy,” Largen said in a statement. “He is intelligent, passionate and loyal and will be a huge asset to our players, staff and campus community. He has done a remarkable job of identifying talented and hard-working players in the past and will continue to push our group to develop as people and players on a day-to-day basis.”
After playing for Saint Mary’s for four seasons and graduating in 2004, Hofmann joined the Cardinals coaching staff and assisted in video and pre-game preparations as well as recruiting and academic advising.
After three seasons at his alma mater, he was named the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at St. Scholastica, a position he held for two years.
Hofmann spent three seasons as the assistant coach for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm before becoming the manager of USHL player development. He coordinated USHL combines and directed central scouting and scouting reports.
After one year in player development, Hofmann became the director of scouting for the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. From Sept. 2014 to Jan. 2019, he directed all aspects of hockey scouting, monitored player progress, managed USHL drafts and managed game reports.
Long Island has added assistant coaches Will Messa and Joe Gilhooly, along with director of hockey operations Nick Beaudoin, and volunteer goalie coach Bobby Goepfert for the 2020-21 season (photo: LIU Athletics).
Long Island has announced the hiring of the team’s inaugural coaching staff.
Head coach Brett Riley welcomes assistant coaches Will Messa and Joe Gilhooly, along with director of hockey operations Nick Beaudoin, and volunteer goalie coach Bobby Goepfert.
“I am thrilled with the addition of these four leaders to our staff,” Riley said in a statement. “Our team will be very fortunate to work with and learn under them. The passion, work ethic and knowledge they possess will be a competitive advantage for our program in its inaugural season. These four will lead by example and uphold the level of character we will strive to bring out of our team. I am beyond excited to work alongside them as we build this program from the ground up.”
Messa joins the Sharks after serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Union during the 2019-20 campaign. Prior to his time in Schenectady, N.Y., Messa spent the 2018-19 season as an intern assistant coach at Notre Dame.
Messa also spent a season as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater Northeastern in 2017-18. As a student-athlete, he played three seasons (2013-16) for the Huskies.
“Will brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our program,” Riley said. “He has learned from and played for some of today’s best coaches, but at the same time is eager to carve his own path in the game. Our young men will benefit from his attention to details and innovative approach to teaching the game. Will is an excellent communicator and understands how to connect with, motivate and mentor today’s student-athlete. I am excited to watch Will develop our squad.”
Gilhooly comes to Long Island after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Western New England. During his time with the Golden Bears, Gilhooly served as a New England area scout for the USHL’s Chicago Steel. Prior to his time at Western New England, Gilhooly played four seasons at Potsdam.
“Joe’s passion for the game, progressive approach to skill development and excitement to recruit elite leaders to our campus were just a few of the qualities that stood out throughout the interview process,” Riley said. “As a Brooklyn native, Joe understands the local recruiting landscape and has watched the metropolitan region prosper into a prominent hockey landscape. Our program is very fortunate to have Joe assist in our build.”
Beaudoin will be responsible for the oversight of video analysis, analytical evaluation and assisting with administrative tasks. Beaudoin comes to LIU after spending the past two seasons with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Roughriders serving as a New England area scout. Beaudoin is a 2020 graduate of Quinnipiac.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nick to Long Island University,” Riley said. “He is eager to learn and assist our young men in all aspects of building a competitive hockey program. Nick’s organizational skills, passion for the game and knowledge in video make him an integral part of our program’s build.”
Goepfert returns to Long Island as a volunteer goalie coach after spending the last two seasons in Cedar Rapids as an assistant coach. As a player in Cedar Rapids, Geopfert appeared in over 90 games over two seasons.
Following his second season (2001-02), he was named the USHL Player of the Year and the USHL Goaltender of the Year, and was drafted in the sixth round (171st overall) of the 2002 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Goepfert split his college playing career between Providence and St. Cloud State. At St. Cloud, he was named an NCAA Division I All American, and was a Hobey Baker finalist in 2006-07. He played professional hockey for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, ECHL’s Florida Everblades, and in Europe for Dusseldorfer.
“Bobby is one of the top players to come out of Long Island,” Riley said. “More importantly, he understands how to motivate and teach all aspects of the goaltending position. Bobby comes highly recommended from some of the games top hockey minds. We are very fortunate to have such an elite person and coach working with our goaltenders.”
Kevin Sneddon has NCAA coaching experience at Union and Vermont and skated at Harvard during his playing days (photo: Vermont Athletics).
The Elev802 custom ice skills training center, located in Essex, Vt., offers professional hockey skills training as well as elite strength and conditioning programs for young boys and girls.
Owners Torrey Mitchell and Peter Lenes, two former players at Vermont, are joined by president and director of operations Kevin Sneddon, who was announced as joining Elev802 Wednesday.
“I am very fortunate to team up with two outstanding men in an effort to spread hockey knowledge and skills to as many young players as possible,” said Sneddon in a statement. “I am excited that I am back involved in hockey and look forward to this next chapter.”
Sneddon has been involved in college hockey for more than three decades as a player at Harvard, as an assistant coach and head coach at Union, and most recently at Vermont, where he concluded his 17-year run with the Catamounts at the end of the 2019-20 season.
At Elev802, Sneddon will be focused on the business growth as the company looks to expand nationwide. In addition, he will provide consulting for coaches and players who want to tap into his experience and knowledge of college hockey.
“We are so fortunate to have Kevin step in and help operate our brand as president and director of operations,” Mitchell and Lenes said in a joint statement. “We need great hockey minds here as we look to expand our company across the nation, and Coach Sneddon’s experience and character is exactly what we are looking for at Elev802.”
Greg Haney comes to Potsdam after coaching two seasons with Lindenwood (photo: Lindenwood Athletics).
Potsdam has announced Greg Haney as the new head coach for the Bears women’s hockey team.
Haney replaces Jay Green, who restarted the program in 2007 and led the Bears for 13 seasons.
“I’m thrilled that Greg has decided to accept our offer to become the next head coach of our women’s ice hockey program,” said Potsdam interim director of athletics Mark Misiak in a statement. “Everyone I spoke with about Greg commented on his professionalism, work ethic and dedication to his craft. I’m positive he will be a great addition to our staff and a great role model for our student-athletes.”
Haney comes from the women’s Division I program at Lindenwood, where he served as an assistant for the last two seasons.
Prior to Lindenwood, Haney was the assistant coach at Oswego and also spent the 2014-15 season as an assistant on the men’s staff at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he helped guide the Pointers to the national championship game. He also coached two seasons with the men’s program at Western New England from 2012 to 2014.
Haney played three seasons at Cortland (2007-10) before an injury cut his career short.
Haney holds a bachelor’s in communications studies from Cortland and is currently working on a master’s in education from Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Trey Matthews has established a name for himself in the broadcasting world at Adrian College.
If you could write the perfect story about a hockey broadcaster, it would probably center around someone on a journey of self-discovery.
It would have a main character who found a passion and calling within the game, a protagonist inspired by the game’s speed and intensity.
It would turn into a love at first sight and stumble through a requisite learning curve until, finally, a melding of broadcaster to game occurred.
It would incorporate other layers capable of inspiring readers and observers, and it would touch every supporting cast member. The personality development would tingle a range of emotions, and the voice would transcend the game while remaining a piece of the overall experience.
Trey Matthews knows how to write that story because he very organically made himself the protagonist. He didn’t grow up in hockey rinks, and he didn’t skate on frozen ponds.
Still, he developed a love for a foreign game by simply watching it and learning the culture of the world’s fastest sport at Adrian College, a Division III school with a number of club hockey programs.
He’s now an entrenched part of the Bulldogs’ sports culture as the play-by-play voice of the ACHA Division I women’s club program.
More than that, he’s a trailblazer and an icon for the college hockey game as one of the only Black broadcasters in the hockey world. The link, a source of pride that hockey hopes can one day be the norm, connects him to the National Hockey League, where he developed a relationship with Everett Fitzhugh, the play-by-play voice of the expansion Seattle Kraken.
“Trey’s just so dedicated to his craft,” said Gabriel Schray, a multimedia specialist at Adrian College. “I can’t get over it with him. A lot of students talk about how badly they want to broadcast, but Trey has the dedication and grit. He doesn’t have a gimmick or a trick. He’s blessed with talent verbally, and he puts in time to watch the team. He goes to practice and takes notes. He thinks about what he wants to talk about and how he wants to say it. That’s something not a lot of professional announcers do. That tells me how there’s a future (in broadcasting) for him.”
It’s a monster accomplishment for a student-athlete who didn’t exactly have the traditional hockey background. He grew up in Detroit and moved to Philadelphia but didn’t latch onto either city’s culture within the sport. He was a baseball player, and he wanted to continue his career at the next level after a successful high school career as a player capable of playing anywhere on the diamond. Hockey was nowhere on his radar, even when he chose to enroll at Adrian.
“It meant a lot for someone like me because there wasn’t an easy path to play baseball at the next level,” Matthews said. “I needed to find ways to show that I belonged on a baseball field. In the country, we talk about back roads. I had to take the back roads to get from one place to another, so it meant a lot to me (to become involved with the team).”
Adrian College is one of those places where sports feeds student life. The Division III school is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association but sponsors both men’s and women’s hockey within the NCHA as part of its larger, seven-strong number of hockey teams. There are three men’s club programs, one in each division of the ACHA, with a Division I and Division II club program available for women.
“(The sports) are one of the biggest draws to Adrian College,” club baseball head coach Brent Greenwood said. “It adds some things that people scratch their heads, and club baseball was (one of those sports) because there wasn’t a team or a league. We needed to hit the ground running as a program.
“Whoever I was reaching out to was just interested in playing. That led me to Trey. He’s a good student who wanted to play baseball. We wanted kids like him because he came to play baseball but found his calling doing something different – like broadcasting.”
That volume of programs foster a deep culture and appreciation among the Adrian College student base, but it further creates opportunities for students to get involved along the ancillary edges. One of those outlets is the school’s television station – ACTV – which houses a full production unit for students. Those interested in broadcasting sports are encouraged to apply, and Matthews threw his name into the pot of potential broadcasters after meeting with Schray, the station director.
“ACTV was something that was really cool for me as an undergraduate,” Schray said. “It’s different from how other schools run things because ACTV has always been student-focused. It’s student-controlled as much as possible. We had hired a whole new staff, and Trey was one of those guys (who applied). We talked about his interest, and he was super into it. He recorded himself pretending to call some sports, and he applied. I felt he really cared about it.”
“I would love to take credit for it, but my mom is the one that was urging me to get into broadcasting,” Matthews added. “She thought she saw a career in it, and she was urging me to add communications as a major. I was friends with one of the student directors from ACTV, and he recommended me to his boss. I was just a standard Adrian College student, though last year I did add communications as a major.”
Matthews’ first assignment was to cover hockey as a color commentary analyst, a role he embraced. He didn’t know much about the game but felt confident in his ability to analyze his perspectives. He didn’t need to study the flow of play or describe anything beyond the deep-rooted analysis, and it would ease him into a sport he hadn’t really watched.
That all changed, though, the day before the game. His broadcast partner bowed out of the role and thrust Matthews into the featured, play-by-play role. In his first-ever broadcast, Matthews called a game he didn’t know, with players he couldn’t recognize, with rules he didn’t understand, and with a lightning-fast, split-second speed and flow.
“The first time he called a game, (sports information director) Patrick Stewart called me and complained,” Schray recalled. “Trey was so green that he didn’t know what he was doing. So we sat down and went over terminology. It took about three games to figure it out. We watched the HBO Sports special from Mike Emrick calling the ECHL and Bowling Green and how he eventually made it to NBC Sports.”
“That broadcast was an absolute disaster,” Matthews emphasized. “It was so bad that we received complaints, and I was told not to go on the air until I had a conversation about what I did wrong. I just knew that I liked the game. It was so much fun and energetic. It’s unpredictable, and so much can happen in one game. (That first game) made me determined to do hockey because it was so much fun.”
Undeterred, Matthews met with Schray to cover specifics, and he realized quickly he needed to learn this new game. So he did what any college male would do in that situation – and played video games. He bought EA Sports’ NHL franchise video game and played it until he could recite rules and recognize the game play.
“You realize that he really puts everything he has into whatever he’s doing,” Greenwood said. “No matter what you tell him, he’s going to put everything into it. That’s led to his success because he just dove in, researched, and watched hockey.”
The gradual improvement eventually shattered Matthews’ own expectations, and he built the trust with Schray to begin calling games more and more frequently. What started as a freshman year experiment became a passion, and by last season, his sophomore year, he was named the official play-by-play broadcaster for the Bulldogs’ Division I women’s club team.
That’s when Matthews started to realize that he sort of stuck out in the game of hockey. He realized there weren’t that many African American players, but he saw even less Black broadcasters. He started looking around and confirmed what he thought until he found another name: Everett Fitzhugh, then the play-by-play broadcaster for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.
“It crossed my mind after the season ended that I was an African-American in a predominantly white sport,” Matthews said. “I knew there was a shortage of play-by-play announcers of color. There are a lot of analysts like me, but there aren’t a whole lot of play-by-play announcers. It made me ask if there were any Black hockey announcers, and I found Everett Fitzhugh.
“My dad suggested for me to reach out and see what would happen if I shared my story,” he continued. “I hadn’t been in the industry for so long, but I felt I had a story to tell. That summer, I tweeted out my story about being a Black play-by-play announcer from Detroit. I tagged Everett in it, and he responded. We exchanged emails and phone numbers, and it opened a door for so many opportunities.”
Diversity in hockey has always been a complex, difficult conversation, but it came into focus during the ongoing racial reckoning in American society. In the NHL, it hit an initial zenith in early August when the Seattle Kraken, an expansion franchise set to start play in the 2021-22 season, named Fitzhugh as their team broadcaster.
A Detroit native himself, it’s the first time in NHL history that a franchise will feature a Black play-by-play announcer.
“To hear that other people are chasing their dreams to and trying to become hockey media members, writers, broadcasters – even fans – that is something so special,” Fitzhugh told USA Today Sports in August, “because I was that Black kid growing up in Detroit who didn’t have those influences.”
“Anyone who wants to look up to me, the same way I looked up to Everett, if we can do it, they can do it,” Matthews said. “I don’t want anyone to feel like they have to be in a box with a stereotype. Nobody can say someone should do something or like certain things. Like whatever you want and do whatever you want. Break down those walls. Don’t let someone trap you in a box saying that you can only do certain things. If you take a risk, and you enjoy it, go for it.”
The relationship between the two is a sign that hockey is finally starting to crack an uncomfortable glass ceiling. Matthews is achieving heights at Adrian College because he worked at broadcasting and is making himself a worthy on-air talent. He understands the competitive nature of the position and how selective broadcasting is as an industry.
He is appreciative of the moment, of his mentorship from Fitzhugh, and of his position as a potential groundbreaker in the game of hockey.
“That’s who Trey is,” Greenwood said. “He isn’t going to care about stereotypes or bad thoughts about him. He’s going to put his mind into something and grind out. He’s going to push forward, no matter what’s going on. He locked into hockey and went overboard. Now that he has the terminology, that he knows the game, that he’s still learning, he’s going to do an extraordinary amount.”
“I want kids to think that they can do it if I can,” Matthews said. “When I got the job at ACTV, I thought I would do basketball because that’s a sport that I knew. I took a risk and expanded my horizons after watching a game. I thought a game was fun, and it would fit my style of broadcasting. I’d rather call hockey (now) than a basketball game. Having called both, I made the right decision.”
“We’re thrilled to have Jason joining the staff,” said Northland athletic director Seamus Gregory in a statement. “Throughout the interview process we continued to come back to Jason. His knowledge of recruiting both regionally and beyond continued to show throughout the process, and we’re very excited to have him take charge of our women’s hockey program. He has strong values and understands the mission of Northland College. We’re very excited for the future of Jills hockey.”
Carter graduated from St. Thomas in 2013 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in physical education.
During his tenure at St. Mary’s, Carter was heavily involved in recruiting, practice, and game planning.
Last season, Carter helped the Cardinals advance to the MIAC semifinals when they upset the defending MIAC champion St. Thomas in the quarterfinals. The win was the first time in 13 years that the Cardinals advanced in the playoffs.
During his time at St. Mary’s, Carter earned his master’s degree in educational leadership.
“I would like to thank President Solibakke and athletic director Seamus Gregory for putting their trust in me to lead the program,” Carter said. “I am honored to have this opportunity and am looking forward to getting started with Northland women’s hockey. I would also like to thank everyone who has helped me get here; my friends, family, former coaches, players, colleagues and administrators who have helped me along the way. I certainly wouldn’t be here today without their love and support.”
Mike Venezia guided Castleton to the NEHC tournament championship game in 2019 (photo: Castleton Athletics).
Castleton women’s coach Mike Venezia announced his resignation from the position last Friday following two seasons at the helm of the Spartans’ bench.
Venezia will be leaving Castleton for a role as an NCAA Division I assistant coach.
In his two years at Castleton, Venezia guided the Spartans to a 24-24-6 overall record and two trips to the NEHC postseason, including going to the title game in 2019.
This past season, Venezia was named NEHC Coach of the Year.
“I want to thank Deanna Tyson and the entire athletic department staff during my two years at Castleton,” said Venezia in a statement. “The Castleton University community has been nothing but supportive of the women’s ice hockey program, and all that we accomplished during my time as head coach.”
“I want to also thank Fred and Jennifer Bagley, and the entirety of the Blue Line Club for all they do for the University and the hockey programs at Castleton. Lastly, and most importantly, I want to thank the amazing group of current and alumni women’s hockey student-athletes that allowed me to work alongside them over the last two years. They made this job extremely enjoyable, and it was a pleasure to watch them grow as adults, role models and hockey players during my time at Castleton.”
“We wish Mike the best of luck in his new position, and thank him for all of his hard work during his time at Castleton,” added Tyson, Castleton’s associate dean for athletics and recreation. “He played a big role in keeping Castleton a consistent threat in a competitive conference the last two years.”
A search for a new head women’s ice hockey coach will begin immediately.
Brian Gibbons comes to Bethel after one year coaching in the ACHA ranks.
Bethel has announced the addition of Brian Gibbons as a new assistant coach for the men’s hockey team.
Gibbons joins the Royals staff after an one-year assistant coaching stint at Iowa State after a decorated playing career.
“We are very excited to have Brian join the Bethel hockey family,” said Bethel head coach Chris McKelvie in a news release. “His background, work ethic, passion for the game and personality will make him a great addition to Bethel hockey. We look forward to seeing him develop young men both on and off these ice with excellence.”
“I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Bethel family,” added Gibbons. “I have heard nothing but great things about the hockey program, the culture and the university. The hiring process has been nothing but a first-class experience and being able to work with Chris McKelvie and Travis Tollette is something that I am very much looking forward to. I am very encouraged with the personnel we have in our locker room and I know that we are going to do something special as a team this season.”
Gibbons began his collegiate playing career at Division III Utica before transferring to Utah State (ACHA) after two seasons. In his final season as captain, he was named ACHA Division II National Player of the Year after a 35-goal, 45-assist season.
After his college career, Gibbons played for four different pro teams in Germany over a five-year span. In three of those five seasons, he netted at least 20 goals and collected 80-plus points.
Emma Terres played four years for Bemidji State and is now back as an assistant coach (photo: BSU Photo Services).
Bemidji State has announced the hiring of Emma Terres as an assistant coach for the Beavers’ women’s hockey team.
Terres, a 2017-18 Beaver hockey captain, joins the coaching staff after spending the last two seasons playing hockey professionally in Germany.
“First and foremost, knowing Emma as a person, she has a good combination of leadership skills and communications skills,” Bemidji State head coach Jim Scanlan said in a statement. “She has the unique ability to connect with everyone. That is just her personality.
“She brings a lot of experience playing the game, not only with us, but also playing over seas the last couple years. I think she has a good mind for the game and that she can help our players as far as skill development. She will be a fresh set of eyes and ideas. I am just excited for her to start working with our players.”
“It’s truly an honor to be back at Bemidji State,” Terres added. “I have fallen in love with the community, the people, the program and everything Bemidji has to offer. I have always known I wanted to help others and educate, whether that was coaching or teaching. It’s hard to coach as much as you would like while you are playing, but I have tried to get myself out there as much as I could while in college and playing professionally. I have learned so much from other coaches and now I look forward to giving back to this game.”
Terres played in 146 games for the Beavers from 2014 to 2018, skating in 145 consecutively, and compiling 48 points on 21 goals and 27 assists.
She completed her minor in human performance and earned a coaching certificate from BSU in 2018 and completed her Bachelor of Science in individualized studies at BSU in 2020.
“She has a passion for Bemidji State,” said Scanlan. “As someone who has lived it and gone through it, she is going to be able to go out really do a good job selling our program because she has been a part of it.”
Kat Hannah takes over a JWU women’s team that finished 11-11-4 during the 2019-20 season (photo: JWU Athletics),
Johnson and Wales has named Katherine Hannah the new head coach of the Wildcats’ women’s hockey team.
Hannah comes to JWU (11-11-4 in 2019-20) after four seasons as the head coach at Lindenwood University in Belleville, Ill., going 86-33-9 over those four seasons.
“I’m incredibly thankful and humbled at the opportunity to be the team’s next head coach,” Hannah said in a statement. “The staff throughout the hiring process showed me what it means to be a Wildcat with a high level of professionalism and class and I’m really excited for this next challenge.”
The Lynx won at least 19 games under Hannah, including a program-best 23 wins in 2018. She guided the team to a pair of WWCHL tournament championships and four consecutive ACHA Division I national tournaments. She was also named ACHA Coach of the Year in 2016.
Hannah capped her tenure at Lindenwood on a high note by taking the Lynx to the ACHA national championship game last year, losing to top-ranked Liberty in the title contest.
“I am happy to welcome Kat to the JWU community,” JWU director of athletics Dana Garfield said. “She is a proven leader and enthusiastic recruiter. Kat has had an accomplished career as both a coach and player and understands what it takes to build and grow a competitive program. I was impressed with her understanding and appreciation of the needs of student-athletes and her passion for teaching the game of hockey. We are looking so forward to her joining our team.”
In addition to her coaching success, Hannah was a four-time First Team All-American at Lindenwood, in addition to being named the ACHA Division I Player of the Year in 2006 and 2008 as she helped the Lynx win ACHA national championships those years.
Hannah graduated from Lindenwood in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She received her master’s in criminal justice administration from Lindenwood in 2008.
“Overall I’m thrilled to learn alongside this team, this staff and get back to competing on a daily basis,” Hannah said. “Being a part of a team is like nothing else and I cannot wait to get this ball rolling. Thank you to the JWU staff and community for this opportunity.”
Plymouth State has announced the hiring of Josh Funk as its new head coach for the women’s hockey team.
Funk, who becomes the fifth coach in program history, comes to Plymouth after spending last season as an assistant with the women’s program at Robert Morris.
He takes over for Mykul Haun, the program’s all-time wins leader, who led the team the last four seasons, finishing with an 8-17-2 (5-9-2 NEHC) mark during the 2019-20 season.
“I am very happy to welcome Josh Funk as the new head coach of our women’s ice hockey program,” said Plymouth State director of athletics Kim Bownes in a statement. “Josh made quite an impression on our student-athletes and we are all looking forward to his positive leadership and his ability to take the program to the next level.”
Funk has found success at various levels of hockey throughout his career, which also includes a stop at St. Catherine in 2016-17 as an assistant coach with the women’s team.
“I want to thank athletic director Kim Bownes and the rest of the search committee for this incredible opportunity to join the Panthers,” said Funk. “The team has a strong foundation and I know the players are just as anxious as I am to get started. I am excited to take what I have learned and developed over the years and bring it to the Panthers’ program and achieve that next level.”
Funk got his start in coaching as a student assistant for the Gustavus Adolphus men’s hockey program as a senior as the Gusties advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. He graduated from Gustavus in 2012.
