St. Olaf announced this week the addition of Ben Russell as an assistant coach for the men’s hockey team.
Russell comes to St. Olaf following four seasons as the assistant director of hockey operations at Cornell.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Ben join our hockey program,” St. Olaf head coach Eddie Effinger said in a statement. “His tireless work ethic and passion for the game will prove invaluable to our staff and will serve as a great example for our student-athletes. In addition, Ben’s work at Cornell has prepared him to effectively coach our student-athletes at St. Olaf.
“I have no doubt Ben will prove to be a tremendous asset for our athletic department and our campus. We are very excited to welcome Ben to St. Olaf.”
Russell has also served as an assistant camp director for the Cornell Hockey Elite Prospect Camp and as a video coordinator for USA Hockey.
He graduated from Cornell in 2020 with a bachelor of science in industrial labor relations and a minor in business.
The rally will be held at the Sullivan Arena (parking area) and the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex from 5-7 p.m.
“This is not a fundraising activity, but an opportunity to come out and show your support for UAA Seawolf Hockey,” the post reads. “This program is a critical element of hockey in Alaska…Join us at the rally to hear how you can help. We need folks to reach out to the UA Board of Regents and will provide contact info at the events.”
For more information, contact Steve Stuber at 907-953-4880 or [email protected].
David Lassonde is flanked by goaltenders, from left, Dustin Wolf (WHL’s Everett Silvertips), Spencer Knight (Boston College) and Isaiah Saville (Omaha) at the 2020 World Junior Championship (photo: USA Hockey).
Dan Muse and Adam Nightingale have been named the 14th and 15th head coaches in USA Hockey National Team Development Program history.
Muse and Nightingale will begin their duties immediately and fill the vacancies left by former NTDP head coaches Seth Appert (Rochester Americans) and John Wroblewski (Ontario Reign), who both recently accepted head coaching positions in the AHL.
Muse brings 15 years of coaching experience to the NTDP and was an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators for the past three seasons.
During his playing days, Muse skated for Stonehill from 2001 to 2005, compiling five goals and 11 points in 61 games.
Nightingale has spent the last three years with the Detroit Red Wings, serving most recently as an assistant coach for the 2019-20 campaign.
“We are very excited to bring in two coaches of this caliber,” said Scott Monaghan, senior director of operations for the NTDP. “Both Dan and Adam have great experience and success as head coaches working with the developmental age levels and have progressed to working at the highest level on NHL benches. We are fortunate to have these two leading the development of our young men at the NTDP.”
Prior to joining the Predators in 2017, Muse served as head coach of the USHL’s Chicago Steel for two seasons, where he led the team to a Clark Cup championship in 2017. Previously, he was part of NCAA Division I coaching staffs at Yale (2009-2015), where he helped the Bulldogs to the 2013 NCCA title, and Sacred Heart (2008-09). He was also was an assistant coach at Williams (2007-08) after beginning his coaching career as an assistant at Milton Academy in 2005.
“I am humbled to have the opportunity to coach at the National Team Development Program,” said Muse. “The opportunity to combine development, at the individual and team levels, along with representing this country is a huge honor. I am very grateful to everyone at USA Hockey that was involved in this process. I am extremely excited to begin working together with these players and with this staff.”
During his first two years in Detroit, Nightingale worked as a video coach and held the same role for the Buffalo Sabres during the 2016-17 season.
“I am extremely thankful to Scott Monaghan, the NTDP staff and USA Hockey for this unique opportunity,” said Nightingale. “I’ve been fortunate to have been coached and mentored by some great people and look forward to getting a chance to do the same with our nation’s top players.”
Before joining the Sabres staff, Nightingale served as head coach for Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U team in Minnesota for two seasons (2014-16), leading the team to a national championship in 2016.
Nightingale’s experience also includes four seasons (2010-14) as director of hockey operations for his alma mater, Michigan State, and two years (2008-10) as head coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Midget AA squad.
Nightingale’s playing career spanned two seasons each at Lake Superior State University (2000-02) and Michigan State (2003-05), where he totaled 37 points (18 goals, 19 assists) in a combined 118 games and served as alternate captain for two seasons.
In addition, David Lassonde has been named USA Hockey’s director of goaltending.
“We are thrilled to have David join our staff,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey, in a news release. “He brings significant expertise through his varied experiences and we look forward to the positive impact he’ll make in our overall efforts to advance goaltending in our country.”
Over his 32-year NCAA Division I coaching career that has included stops at Dartmouth, Denver, New Hampshire, Miami and Wisconsin, Lassonde’s resume includes 20 trips to the NCAA tournament with five appearances in the Frozen Four, three conference tournament titles and six regular-season championships.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, the entire Alaska hockey team is either in quarantine or in isolation after at least one player tested positive for COVID-19 after attending an off-campus party, UAF administrators said Saturday.
In total, six hockey players and an athlete from another UAF team have tested positive for the virus after the party, which was reportedly held on Aug. 22.
Another 21 hockey players plus six other athletes and hockey coach Erik Largen are quarantined until at least Sept. 5 because of their exposure to those with COVID-19, the school said.
Multiple athletes from multiple sports attended the party, UAF chancellor Dan White said during a media briefing.
“It was poor judgment,” Nanooks athletic director Keith Champagne said Saturday.
The school doesn’t know if the entire hockey team was at the party, but Champagne noted in his comments that all of the players are in quarantine because they have been in close contact with each other.
No coaches were at the party, administrators said, but Largen is quarantined because he’s been in close contact with the hockey players.
A total of 15 UAF students are currently isolated with COVID-19 and another 37 are currently quarantined because they have been exposed to the virus, the school admitted.
Carson Gicewicz played three seasons at St. Lawrence, missing ’19-20 with an injury (photo: St. Lawrence Athletics).
Massachusetts has added forward Carson Gicewicz as a graduate transfer from St. Lawrence for the 2020-21 season.
Gicewicz played three seasons with the Saints, serving as a team captain for two years, and missing 2019-20 due to injury.
“Carson is the definition of a power forward,” said UMass coach Greg Carvel in a statement. “He has tremendous size and strength and will be an intimidating presence on the ice in Hockey East. He will play well to our identity on the ice and will lead the charge with his physical play. He will win faceoffs, score dirty goals and do all the little things it takes to win. He is a proven leader as Carson served as a captain with his previous team and will be an important part of leading our team at UMass this season.”
Gicewicz saw action in 101 games at St. Lawrence and totaled 54 points on 21 goals and 33 assists.
Hugo Blixt (left) and Brian Hawkinson will be transfers at Colorado College during the 2020-21 college hockey season (Blixt photo: Rich Gagnon; Hawkinson photo: Ricardo Trevino).
Colorado College announced Wednesday that defenseman Hugo Blixt and forward Brian Hawkinson will join the Tigers this year as transfer students.
Blixt played 47 games the past two seasons for Boston University. As a freshman in 2018-19, he appeared in 37 games, posting two assists and 27 blocked shots. During his sophomore campaign, he played in 10 games.
Hawkinson, a Centennial, Colo., native, played in 60 games during his two seasons at Miami. As a freshman, he finished second on the team in rookie scoring and tied for fifth overall with 16 points in 34 games with the RedHawks. Hawkinson dished out a pair of assists in 26 games last season as a sophomore.
“We are excited to add these two veteran players to our team,” Tigers coach Mike Haviland said in a statement. “They are smart and play the game with a high compete level. Both are high character people that have tremendous leadership qualities.”
Blixt and Hawkinson are eligible to play during the 2020-21 campaign and have two seasons of eligibility at Colorado College.
Johnny Tychonick (left) and Jack Randl are taking their talents to Omaha for the 2020-21 season (photos: North Dakota Athletics; Michigan Athletics).
Omaha will have two incoming transfers for the 2020-21 season.
Defenseman Jonny Tychonick, who is transferring to Omaha from North Dakota, will enter UNO as a junior with two years of eligibility.
Tychonick was Ottawa’s second-round pick (48th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Forward Jack Randl joins the Mavericks from the USHL’s Omaha Lancers (USHL) where he played last season after spending the 2018-19 season at Michigan. He will enter UNO as a sophomore.
Rochester Institute of Technology women’s hockey coach Celeste Brown on Monday named Justin Simpson assistant coach.
Simpson spent the last two seasons in the same role at Division III Colby and the previous five seasons with the Providence women’s program, four of those as director of hockey operations.
Simpson also served as video coach for the Hockey Canada and the Women’s National Development Team from 2015 to 2017.
“We are ecstatic to welcome Justin and his wife, Jessica, to the Tiger family. Justin is a great human, conducts himself as a professional in all facets of coaching and puts the student-athletes first,” Brown said in a statement.
“He has worked with some of the top coaches in our game and I know he will play a substantial role in our pursuit of excellence. His impact will be felt immediately and will help push our program to new heights.”
Colby made back-to-back NESCAC tournament appearances during Simpson’s tenure. Last winter, the Mules compiled a 15-6-5 record for the winningest season in 12 years, including a 9-3-4 NESCAC mark to clinch the tournament second seed for the first time in program history.
“I am extremely excited to get to campus and feel the energy with all the students back,” said Simpson. “I am looking forward to meeting, getting to know, and working with all of the women’s hockey players. I would also like to thank all of the coaches I have worked with during my career, as well as my family, especially my wife, Jessica, for all their support and guidance in helping me get to this point in my career.”
Alaska Anchorage head coach Matt Curley will lead the Seawolves in their final season after the state announced that men’s hockey is among four programs that will be eliminated on the Anchorage campus after the 2020-21 season (photo: UAA Athletics)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — It would be extremely difficult to find another head coach at any level of college hockey who has seen and dealt with as much as Alaska Anchorage Seawolves head coach Matt Curley has had to since he took over a struggling program in need of a change just two years ago.
For Curley, it is hard to feel like his program can catch a break. During his tenure, seven WCHA member schools announced their decision to break away from the league and reconstitute the CCHA. To make matters worse, during the 2019-20 season, the program tried to celebrate its 40th anniversary, even though its future became more and more precarious as Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy struggled to balance the state’s budget, leading to cuts to the state’s universities.
The job ahead of Curley was made even more difficult this past week with the school’s announcement that 2020-21 would be the final season the Seawolves will play. The school is shutting the program down. Nothing like an internal team challenge to go along with all the other issues Curley and his staff were hoping to work on this season, especially given that the announcement comes as students are just beginning to return to campus for the 2020-21 school year.
“It’s a bit of a whirlwind,” said Curley in a phone interview Thursday, “but you know, really, a lot of today, yesterday, today into tomorrow, is kind of (a) rerack and with all of our players that are here, traveling en route and try to get some face-to-face, 1-on-1 with them, explain to them what’s going on and making sure their understanding of everything.”
Figuring his players have already heard, Curley felt it was important to jump out in front of the announcement as best he could because he believes there never is a good time to get bad news.
“An old mentor of mine, Ryan Soderquist, who’s the head coach at Bentley, used to tell me that bad news doesn’t get better over time,” Curley said. “I think there’s a lot of validity to that in terms that the university has made a decision and it’s not going to get any easier to tell us, so why not just do it.
“It just happens to be at this time, which is what it is. We’ll adjust accordingly. We’ll make the best of the situation.”
Curley knew, even before he took over the Seawolves, that the program had a lot of work to do.
The year before Curley arrived in Anchorage, the Seawolves went 4-26-4. In his first season, things were difficult. The Seawolves scored just 40 goals and went 3-28-3 overall.
When his team stepped off the ice on Friday, March 6, after an 8-1 loss to open the WCHA Playoffs, Curley had one mission on his mind, getting a better effort out of his team the following night against the league’s top playoff qualifier, the Minnesota State Mavericks.
A scoreless first period in game two showed him that his team was responding. Then 10:58 into the second period, something that had been happening all year for the Seawolves came to fruition again, a freshman, namely Marcus Mitchell, found the back of the net for his second goal of the season. It was his first goal since Friday, Oct. 31, 2019, against Nebraska Omaha, but there was no better stage for his second goal to take place.
Mitchell did not stop there. With the Seawolves trailing 2-1 early in the third, he picked up a helper on a goal by senior Corey Renwick and suddenly the Seawolves had the Mavericks in a 2-2 deadlock. They went on to drop the game, 4-2, in the end.
For Curley’s Seawolves, this was the story of their 2019-20 season. With 10 freshmen on the roster, the team was going to need to lean on their youth, and they did.
“That freshmen class got a ton of opportunity and experience in that first year to do their thing and gain experience. To play at this level as freshmen, which is outstanding, and certainly they had their bumps and bruises along the way, but we were able to grow and develop a lot in the course of that year.
“Our upper class and our older guys served as models for that and how things can and should be done at this level. We took a lot of steps and are hoping to continue that step forward into this year and beyond.”
When the dust settled, some reasons to get excited about the future of the program became clear. The Seawolves rode their first-year players to the WCHA Playoffs, scored 29 more goals than they had the year before, and made significant strides in many facets of their game.
“It was a good year for us last year,” said Curley. “I know, on paper, the record is still a little ugly, but we were able to score almost 40 more goals. We made the playoffs for the first time in a number of years here. We led the league and All-Conference academic players, the freshman class led the nation, or was certainly the tops in the nation, in a lot of statistical categories. So, there’s a lot of positive momentum coming from that 40-year celebration that we had.”
Curley is proud of the efforts put in by seniors like Luc Brown, who led the team in scoring despite only playing 20 games, and Tomi Heikkavirta, both of whom helped lead the deep freshman class that included the likes of Rylee St. Onge, Nick Wicks, Alex Frye and Brayden Camrud.
Frye led the team in goals (9) while St. Onge (17) and Wicks (16) finished second and third in total points, respectively.
All that success from so many young players makes Curley both proud and frustrated as he knows the program is reaching its end point.
“For me, what’s really tough is for the our guys that we have brought in, telling them what our vision, our plan is, and them being a part of that future.
“I think last year’s, our [staff’s] first, recruiting class, is a great example of what I think we are capable of. It’s tough. I feel bad for those kids. I hope my message to them hasn’t been tarnished by this announcement in terms of what I believe in them as people and players.”
For a player like Camrud, whose career was already in the spotlight at a much earlier age than most players due to the Humboldt bus tragedy, it is tough to bounce back from more adversity. However, Curley feels that the youngster, and his classmates, have the ability to do just that, even though it will not necessarily be at the same program that they committed to in the first place.
“Braden is a perfect example,” said Curley. “He and many of his classmates, and our incoming guys for this season, are told that right? We all deliver that same message. I’m seeing value in those individuals as people and as well as players. I felt that they were the type of college hockey player we wanted to help advance our program on the ice and continue to represent in a strong fashion off the ice. Those guys have all done that great, including in the classroom, in the community.
”It’s certainly frustrating and disappointing for those kids that they’re not going to be able to continue to do that here, but I’m extremely hopeful and confident in their abilities to do that elsewhere to finish their collegiate career.”
Alaska Anchorage was not the first program to discuss dropping hockey in the face of what has been a global crisis. Alabama Huntsville announced on May 22 that they were dropping their program. A week later, donations from across the hockey world poured in, and the Chargers announced that the program would return.
While he is optimistic that the Seawolves could see a similar outpouring of support, he is also resigned to the fact that the program has struggled financially in recent years, and there has not been a push to help keep the program alive and vibrant.
“If those discussions have started, I have not been a part of them,” he said. “I know it’s still pretty fresh, and that may that be the case, but if it is, it’s not to my knowledge. With that being said, this is something that has been well publicized, our troubles in recent years. Certainly there’s been plenty of time prior to this to rally and to find solutions for the long-term viability of this place and this program.”
With the future of college hockey in doubt, given that the world is still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the second playoff loss to the Mavericks, which eliminated the Seawolves, might actually have been the final game for the program. For Curley, that is a sobering thought.
“[It’s] a little depressing to think about currently, and I certainly hope that’s not the case,” he said. “We had a great last game against one of the best teams in the country in Minnesota State last March to finish things off. Despite the outcome of that game, I was really proud of the way we finished up and [it was] something to hang our hats on heading into the offseason.
“I hate to think that that was the last opportunity for us to put on those jerseys and for myself and the staff to stand behind the bench. [It is] the way the world right now and you certainly never know what’s going to transpire. If there’s anything that the past few months have taught me is that there’s no guarantees. We’ve got to be able to adapt and adjust to whatever situation comes our way.”
Whether things improve at Alaska Anchorage or not, Curley believes in the players who have committed to playing hockey for the Seawolves. He wants the best for them, whether that is with the Seawolves for one more season, or with another program after this year.
“I just hope that we’re all given an opportunity, especially our kids, to have a chance to move forward after this upcoming year,” he said. “Because they certainly deserve that.”
Josh Maniscalco tallied 32 points from the Arizona State blue line during the 2019-20 season (photo: Sun Devil Athletics).
Arizona State defenseman and co-captain Josh Maniscalco, who completed his sophomore season in 2019-20, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Maniscalco will forgo his last two seasons of NCAA eligibility.
“In just two short years, Josh had a major hand in bringing Sun Devil hockey to national relevance,” said ASU coach Greg Powers in a statement. “He believed in our plan as a program and our plan for him as a player. We are forever in debt to him for that belief. Today is a great day for Josh and his family, as he gets one step closer to his dream of playing in the NHL.
“Josh has our unwavering support in every way. Pittsburgh is getting a spectacular player and special human being in Josh Maniscalco. Josh will forever be a Sun Devil for life.”
The Perkiomenville, Pa., native tied for sixth in points among all NCAA defensemen in 2019-20 with 11 goals and 32 points. His 11 tallies were second-most among all NCAA blueliners.
Maniscalco posted 52 points (15 goals, 37 assists in 71 games with the Sun Devils.
John Hughes (middle) helped Cornell to a 29-0 season and national championship in 1969-70 (photo: Cornell Athletics).
John Hughes, a tri-captain of the national champion 1970 Cornell men’s hockey team and member of the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame, passed away on Aug. 18.
He was 71. No cause of death is known.
Hughes was best known for being one of the leaders of the only hockey team to ever go undefeated and untied en route to an NCAA championship, with that improbable 29-0 run through the 1969-70 season punctuating a decorated collegiate career. Hughes was named to the NCAA tournament all-star team, and the first team for both the All-America East Region and All-Ivy teams that season, and he was also a co-recipient of team’s MVP award.
He was Inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981.
“John Hughes is an icon of Cornell hockey,” said Cornell coach Mike Schafer in a statement. “He set the standard for what it means to be a leader on and off the ice for future Cornell teams and players. He was a man of character and integrity and lived his life with passion and a great sense of humor. His unique laugh will be missed by all.”
In an era when freshmen were not eligible to compete on varsity teams, Hughes made the most of his three years as a center with the Big Red. He racked up 151 points on 68 goals and 83 assists, which is now tied for 11th in the program’s all-time scoring list and ninth in career goals scored.
He had points in 15 straight games during the 1969-70 season, including a hat trick in a January game at Yale and consecutive four-point efforts in lopsided victories over Dartmouth and Princeton in March. But even more memorable was his last goal – which came with 14 seconds left in the third period of a 3-2 win over Clarkson in the ECAC Hockey championship game in Boston.
Originally from Scarborough, Ont., Hughes moved to New York after graduating with a bachelor of science degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He obtained two more Cornell degrees – a master of business administration in 1971 and a juris doctor degree in 1974.
Hughes became a prominent tax and real estate attorney in New York.
Hughes is survived by his wife, Amy Pastarnack Hughes and their six children. Among them are Sarah Hughes – a 2002 Olympic gold medalist in figure skating at the age of 16 – and David Hughes, who played for the Cornell men’s hockey and football teams.
Vaughn Williams has been in athletic leadership roles across the country for the past 27 years.
Vaughn Williams, senior associate athletics director at Boston College, has been named the director of athletics at Bentley.
He will begin his new role in mid-September.
Williams, a University of Massachusetts graduate who brings 27 years of extensive athletic administration leadership with him, becomes only the third athletics director in the university’s history and follows Robert DeFelice, who has led Bentley athletics since 1991. DeFelice will remain at Bentley as baseball coach.
“Today begins a new era for Bentley University athletics,” said Bentley VP for student affairs J. Andrew Shepardson in a statement. “Bentley’s vision for athletics is to boldly pursue excellence in competition while building pride and tradition for our entire community, and Vaughn Williams is the leader to help us achieve that vision. I am excited to partner with Vaughn in the continued development of our student-athletes as leaders inside and outside the classroom.”
At Bentley, Williams will oversee a program that recently completed a new strategic plan, based on input from across the university, which sets out the mission, vision and values for Bentley Athletics for the next five years.
“I want to thank Vice President Shepardson for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead Bentley athletics into the future,” said Williams. “This is a tremendous opportunity in an unprecedented time to build on the university’s commitment to providing student-athletes with an experience that leads them to life-long success. I’m looking forward to serving Bentley student-athletes and helping them to be a force in everything they do, on and off the playing fields.”
Williams was at BC since 2017, following six years as the director of athletics at Kennesaw State. It was his second tour of duty with the Eagles, where he was the assistant athletic director for operations and facilities from 1998 to 2004.
In 2017, Williams was recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Football Championship Subdivision Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year award. He has served on the NCAA Division I Council, the NCAA Legislative Committee, the NCAA Football Rules Committee and the NIT Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, and is currently a member of the Hockey East Executive Committee.
Prior to Kennesaw State, Williams was an associate athletics director at Connecticut (2004-11), associate athletics director for business affairs/operations at Toledo (1996-98) and the director of finance at Utah (1994-96).
Williams received his Bachelor of Science degree in sports management in 1992 from UMass, where he played football, and his Master of Arts from BC’s Woods College of Advancing Studies in 2002.
Tanner Schachle will be a senior next season for UAA, and is also an Alaska native (Wasilla) who played his junior hockey in the state for the NAHL’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears (photo: Skip Hickey/UAA Athletics).
Alaska Anchorage announced Wednesday that the school will “reconfigure UAA athletics in order to preserve the program’s long-term viability.”
Part of the changes include the school dropping men’s hockey after the 2020-21 season.
Significant reductions in state funding have dramatically shifted the university’s fiscal situation, according to a news release.
The changes will go into effect for the 2021-22 season and are expected to save approximately $2.5 million per year. Women’s gymnastics and men’s and women’s skiing will also be eliminated.
“The decision to cut any UAA program, academic or athletic, is devastating,” said UAA chancellor Dr. Cathy Sandeen in a statement. “Since fiscal year 2014, state funding for UAA declined by $34 million, forcing leadership to make difficult decisions about which programs and services the university can sustain long term. That includes our sports programs. My heart goes out to our student-athletes and coaching staffs affected by this situation. This comes at a difficult time as they are already facing much uncertainty surrounding this year’s season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud of the incredible resilience they have shown.”
Alaska Anchorage, Alaska (Fairbanks) and Alabama Huntsville – three schools currently part of the WCHA – were already not going to be part of the revamped CCHA that is expected to start in 2021-22 made up of WCHA teams.
“This is not an outcome that any of us would choose if not confronted with the reality of our fiscal situation,” UAA director of athletics Greg Myford said. “Our student-athletes are continually recognized for the strength of their academic performance and the contributions they have made to this community through their many hours of volunteer work. Their tenacity is evident in athletic competition. They are winners. We are committed to doing all we can to help them make informed decisions about their best path forward.”
WCHA commissioner Bill Robertson released a statement following the announcement.
“As one of the longest-tenured programs in the current Western Collegiate Hockey Association, Alaska Anchorage has been a valued member of the league since joining the WCHA in 1993,” said Robertson. “We are deeply disappointed that the university will no longer compete in men’s ice hockey following the upcoming season but do understand their situation.
“I’m certain this was a difficult decision for UAA chancellor Dr. Cathy Sandeen and director of athletics Greg Myford and was arrived at following thoughtful and thorough review of the ramifications for the university and the student-athletes, coaches and staff it is affecting.
“Lastly, we want to extend our best wishes to Alaska Anchorage head coach Matt Curley, his assistant coaches, support staff and the Seawolf players affected by this decision and hope to see all of them with new schools for the 2021-22 season.”
Erik Largen will start his third season behind the Alaska bench with the 2020-21 season (photo: Paul McCarthy/UAF Athletics).
On Wednesday, Alaska Anchorage announced the elimination of four sports teams, including hockey, after the 2020-21 season.
The recommendation will go to the UA Board of Regents for approval during its meeting Sept. 10-11.
After that announcement, UAF chancellor Dan White issued a statement saying the Nanooks have no plans to follow suit.
“I want to reassure our Alaska Nanooks student-athletes, parents, coaches, and the UAF and Fairbanks community that UAF’s athletics programs are not part of this recommendation,” White said. “UAF has 10 Division I and II sports, the minimum number allowed by the NCAA, and has no plans to reduce them.
“In the coming months there will be many details to work out as we better understand how today’s announcement will affect our athletics teams in the future. I am confident that our Alaska Nanooks athletics program will continue to move forward in a positive direction and will remain an important part of our university and our community.
“I know the decision to recommend discontinuation of these athletics programs must have been very difficult for our colleagues at UAA. Multiple years of budget cuts have forced many difficult decisions to be made across the UA system, and none of these decisions are made lightly.
“I look forward to welcoming our student-athletes back to campus and to resuming competition when it is safe to do so. I am also looking forward to seeing our many fans and community supporters when the time is right. I thank you for your continued support.”
Shane Sellar collected 40 points in 94 games spanning three seasons at Dartmouth (photo: Gil Talbot/Dartmouth Athletics).
Forward Shane Sellar, who played from 2016 to 2019 at Dartmouth before missing the 2019-20 season with an injury, will play the 2020-21 season at Rensselaer as a graduate transfer.
Sellar was a student manager for Dartmouth last season after compiling four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 34 games in 2018-19.
Overall, Sellar scored 16 goals and added 24 assists for 40 points in 94 career games for the Big Green.
“I’d like to welcome Adam to the Bulldog Hockey family,” Adrian head coach Adam Krug said in a statement. “I think he brings a great playing background and some good coaching qualifications to the table after being thrown into the fire last year when a coaching change was made midyear (with the NAHL’s Odessa Jackalopes). Adam, being a defenseman by trade, should prove to be a valuable asset for our nine defensemen. I also think his years of professional hockey will help us continue to evolve our program and expand our network when it comes moving our players onto the next level. I am thrilled to add Adam to the mix at Adrian College.”
Phillips arrives in Adrian after serving the 2019-20 season as an assistant coach for the Jackalopes. After making his coaching debut there, he was elevated to interim head coach midseason and spent the second half of the year leading the Jacks.
A 2014 UMass grad, Phillips, who turns 30 today, logged 23 goals and 50 points for the Minutemen from 2010 to 2014, and later played five seasons in the ECHL.
Reilly Walsh collected 78 points over three seasons from the Harvard blue line (photo: Harvard Athletics).
Harvard defenseman Reilly Walsh has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils, forgoing his senior season with the Crimson.
Walsh was originally a third-round pick (81st overall) by New Jersey in the 2017 NHL Draft.
“We are excited to add Reilly to the Devils’ organization,” Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Since being drafted in 2017, our staff has watched him blossom into the leader he is today, both on and off the ice. Walsh is a fast, puck-moving defenseman who has developed his all-around game this past season. He was a dynamic playmaker for Harvard, with an offensive mind that allowed him to easily transition and jump up into the play if needed.
“He has the skill set our club is looking for and adds to our stable of defensive professional prospects joining the organization.”
During the 2019-20 season, the Andover, N.H., native compiled eight goals and 27 points in 30 games.
Walsh skated in 96 games in his three-year career with the Crimson, recording 78 points on 27 goals and 51 assists.
The NCHA announced this week that it will be moving men’s and women’s conference play to the 2021 calendar year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Conference athletic directors made the difficult decision in order to protect the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration, their families, and broader campus and local communities,” reads a statement. “The conference administrators’ decision is based on guidance from national, state, and local health officials, as well as NCAA recommendations and campus institutional policies.
“NCHA member institutions remain focused on providing meaningful experiences for their student-athletes in the fall of 2020 which could include opportunities for practice, small group training, skill development, strength and conditioning, and leadership programming.”
Teams playing nonconference games in the fall remains at the discretion of individual NCHA schools and will not be governed by the conference.
The conference schedule will be adjusted for a January start, based on state and local public health officials, NCAA and institutional guidance and any adjustment to national championship dates.
“The goal of the NCHA remains to provide a safe, healthy and positive student-athlete experience during the 2020-21 hockey season,” finishes the statement.
Cornell’s Yanni Kaldis battles Harvard’s Henry Bowlby for position in front of the Cornell net during the 2019-20 season (photo: Omar Phillips).
The Florida Panthers announced Wednesday that the club has agreed to terms with Harvard junior forward Henry Bowlby on a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2020-21 season.
In signing with the Panthers, Bowlby will forgo his senior year with the Crimson.
Bowlby appeared in 31 games for Harvard and recorded 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) during the 2019-20 season.
The native of Edina, Minn., registered 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) over three seasons and 84 games with Harvard from 2017 to 2020.
Sacred Heart has announced the hiring of Steve Bergin as a new assistant coach.
Bergin comes to SHU after playing and coaching professionally.
“We are thrilled to be adding Steve to our coaching staff,” said Sacred Heart head coach C.J. Marottolo in a statement. “He has rapidly climbed the ladder and is highly respected in both the college and professional coaching circles.
“Steve’s experience will definitely impact our team on every level as we strive to win an Atlantic Hockey championship. Our student-athletes all have dreams of playing professionally, and to have Steve be part of our staff will be a tremendous resource for athletes who want to embark on pro careers. He has a terrific work ethic, communication skills and knowledge of the game, and he knows what it takes to be successful.”
Bergin’s responsibilities will include recruiting, working with the team’s defensemen, running the penalty kill, assisting in practice and game planning and quarterbacking all video operations.
“I am beyond excited to join the SHU family and be a part of the coaching staff,” Bergin said. “They have done a great job building a strong program. In talking with C.J. throughout this process, it was evident early on that we share a lot of the same core values and have a lot of similar philosophies when it comes to coaching.”
Bergin previously coached the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays and was the ECHL Coach of the Year for the 2019-20 season.
A 32-year-old native of Groton, Mass., Bergin played for Connecticut from 2007 to 2011, collecting six goals and 22 points over 131 games and serving as team captain his senior year. He went on to play five years for the SPHL’s Pensacola Ice Flyers.
“I’m especially looking forward to meeting and working with the players,” Bergin said. “A big reason that I wanted to coach a college team was that I could have more of an impact at this level. Being able to develop a student-athlete as a person and a player for four years really appeals to me.
According to the 
