ST. LOUIS — Friday Night at the Frozen Four at the Stifel Theatre included the presentations of the Hobey Baker Award, Hockey Humanitarian Award, Mike Richter Award and more.
Boston College leads way with four 2024-25 All-Americans
ST. LOUIS — Four Boston College players were selected as All-Americans for the 2024-25 season Friday, leading the country.
Forward Ryan Leonard and goalie Jacob Fowler were East first-team picks for the Eagles, and forward Gabe Perreault and defenseman Eamon Powell were on the East second team.
Michigan State had three players picked, including forward Isaac Howard and goalie Trey Augustine on the first team.
Six players were repeat members of the All-American teams: Denver defenseman Zeev Buium and forward Jack Devine, Holy Cross forward Liam McLinskey, Leonard, Perreault and Fowler.
Eight of the 24 players selected were from Hockey East, with six from the Big Ten, five from the NCHC, two each from Atlantic Hockey America and ECAC Hockey and one from the CCHA.
East first team
Goalie Jacob Fowler, so., Boston College
Defenseman Mac Gadowsky, so. Army West Point
Defenseman Cole Hutson, fr., Boston University
Forward Ryan Leonard, so., Boston College
Forward Ayrton Martino, sr., Clarkson
Forward Cole O’Hara, fr., UMass
West first team
Goalie Trey Augustine, so., Michigan State
Defenseman Zeev Buium, so., Denver
Defenseman Sam Rinzel, so., Minnesota
Forward Alex Bump, so., Western Michigan
Forward Jack Devine, sr., Denver
Forward Isaac Howard, jr., Michigan State
East second team
Goalie Albin Boija, so., Maine
Defenseman Eamon Powell, gr., Boston College
Defenseman Trey Taylor, jr., Clarkson
Forward Liam McLinskey, sr., Holy Cross
Forward Joey Muldowney, so., UConn
Forward Gabe Perreault, so., Boston College
West second team
Goalie Alex Tracy, so., Minnesota State
Defenseman Matt Basgall, jr., Michigan State
Defenseman Jake Livanavage, so., North Dakota
Forward Aiden Fink, so., Penn State
Forward Artem Shlaine, gr., Arizona State
Forward Jimmy Snuggerud, jr., Minnesota
Boston College’s Fowler wins Mike Richter Award as top goalie
ST. LOUIS — Boston College’s Jacob Fowler moved up from runner-up for the Mike Richter Award as a freshman to winner as a sophomore.
Fowler was named the recipient of the award honoring the top goalie in NCAA Division I men’s hockey on Friday.
He joined Thatcher Demko, the 2016 recipient, as winners from Boston College.
Fowler was in the top three nationally for save percentage (.940), goals-against average (1.63) and shutouts (seven).
Michigan State sophomore Trey Augustine, Maine sophomore Albin Boija and Minnesota State junior Alex Tracy were the other finalists for the award, picked by a selection committee.
Fowler was the only repeat finalist from 2024, when Wisconsin’s Kyle McClellan was the winner.
Watch: USCHO Live! at the Frozen Four – The State of the Game
On Friday, members of the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey committee as well as the Hockey Commissioners’ Association and representatives from the NHL addressed the media as part of the annual State of the Game press conference held at the Men’s Frozen Four.
The cast of USCHO’s Weekend Review – Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley – are joined by St. Lawrence coach Brent Brekke to break down what was said at such a critical time in college sports.
Check back on Saturday as we preview the national championship between Boston University and Western Michigan.
Listen:
Hutson brings home a second straight Tim Taylor Award for Boston University rookies
ST. LOUIS — Cole Hutson is keeping the Tim Taylor Award at Boston University.
Hutson, a Terriers defenseman, was named the national rookie of the year Friday and he’ll play for the NCAA championship on Saturday.
BU forward Macklin Celebrini won the honor in 2024 while also taking home the Hobey Baker Award.
Hutson also was the most outstanding player of the NCAA Toledo Regional and the MVP of the Beanpot, where he recorded five points in two games. He leads NCAA rookies and defensemen with 34 assists and 48 points.
Four other Terriers players have won the Tim Taylor Award besides Hutson and Celebrini: goalie Kieran Millan in 2009 and forwards Jack Eichel in 2015, Clayton Keller in 2017 and Joel Farabee in 2019.
The Tim Taylor Award is voted on by NCAA men’s hockey assistant coaches from the list of conference rookies of the year and is named for the former Yale and U.S. Olympic Team coach. North Dakota’s Sacha Boisvert was the 2025 runner-up.
Michigan’s Truscott recognized as 2025 winner of Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award
ST. LOUIS — Michigan’s Jacob Truscott was named the 2025 winner of the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award on Friday.
The award was established in honor of former Army West Point player Derek Hines, who was a “consummate team player and team builder.” Hines played at Army from 1999 to 2003 and was a four-year letter-winner as well as a co-captain his senior season. He was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 1, 2005 in Afghanistan.
“This award represents everthing that makes college hockey special,” Truscott said.
A two-year captain at Michigan, Truscott earned the 2024 Rachael Townsend Leadership Award from the Michigan athletic department. He has supporting local nonprofits. Zach Werenski, a former Michigan hockey player and member of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, purchased a suite at Yost Ice Arena, and Truscott helps to identify local nonprofit organizations to receive the tickets. After games, Jacob and teammates visit the suite to take pictures and sign autographs.
Some of the organizations impacted include the Ronald McDonald House, Mott Children’s Hospital, Ele’s Place, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Metro Detroit Sled Hockey program and the Ann Arbor YMCA.
“There’s no one more deserving of this honor than Jacob Truscott,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “He leads by example, on and off the ice, embodying everything it means to be a Michigan Man. Jacob is an inspiring leader, showing his team that our work at Michigan goes beyond individual contributions. He embodies how to make everyone feel included and part of the community. It’s a testament to the kind of person he is — one who leads by example, puts others before himself and leaves a lasting legacy far beyond the game.”
Truscott was the first Michigan player and fourth from the Big Ten to win the award since its inception. The other finalists in 2025 were Maine senior defenseman David Breazeale, Air Force senior forward Austin Schwartz, Dartmouth senior forward Steven Townley and Augustana senior defenseman Brady Eric Ziemer.
Watch: The USCHO team breaks down Thursday’s semifinal victories for Western Michigan and Boston University
ST. LOUIS — Western Michigan and Boston University will play for the national championship on Saturday after the two teams advanced on Thursday.
The USCHO Weekend Review team of Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley are joined by Arizona State coach Greg Powers to break down the two games from St. Louis.
Friday, USCHO will have coverage the the NCAA’s State of the Game press conference and will preview the title game on Saturday.
Listen:
Boston University holds off Penn State in Frozen Four, earns elusive spot in championship game
ST. LOUIS — For Boston University, the third time really is the charm.
Appearing in its third straight Frozen Four, BU advanced to the finals for the first time in those three attempts, knocking off Cinderella upstart Penn State 3-1 on Thursday at Enterprise Center.
Boston University will face Western Michigan, which upended defending champion Denver, 3-2 in double overtime in Thursday’s opening semifinal.
While Boston University didn’t need to post the dramatic second half of the season that Penn State did, ending the regular season on a 10-1-3 run, it still was forced to turn its season around. That happened with the January arrival of Mikhail Yegorov, who stabilized things in the BU net.
On Thursday, Yegorov was Boston University’s best player, finishing the game with 32 saves.
“We wanted to strengthen the goaltender position,” BU coach Jay Pandolfo said of Yegorov. “We felt he could come in and compete for the starting job. We gave him an opportunity and he never looked back.”
The opening 20 was a feeling-out period, with Boston University holding an 11-7 edge in shots. Neither team found the net, though Penn State’s Aiden Fink had the best look, firing a shot on a 2-on-1 that forced Yegorov to make a moving save with 2:20 left.
Boston University grabbed the game’s first lead, taking advantage of a careless mistake by Penn State goaltender Arsenii Sergeev. Matt Copponi threw the puck toward the net that Sergeev stopped. The rebound, though, wasn’t covered and when Sergeev moved, the loose puck was exposed and Jack Hughes buried it at 1:35 of the second for a 1-0 lead.
That lead doubled nine minutes later when BU came up ice with numbers. The Cole connection struck as Cole Hutson outwaited the defense and slid the puck to Cole Eiserman, who made no mistake, extending the lead to 2-0.
Penn State, however, wasn’t done. Early in the third, Yegorov made back-to-back saves for BU, the second from point-blank range, but a third shot from Nic DeGraves’ stick beat Yegorov high to give the Nittany Lions life with 17:45 left, trailing 2-1.
“It’s hard to end a team’s season,” said Pandolfo. “You knew they were going to push. They’re a team that funnels everything to the net and that’s how they ended up getting that first goal there.
“That gave them life and they started believing. They started putting the pucks through to our net and someone had to do the job and Big Mike [Yegorov] did the job there in the third.”
The Nittany Lions pressed, putting 18 shots on Yegorov in the third, but it was Jack Harvey’s empty-net goal with 59.6 seconds left that sealed Penn State’s fate.
For Penn State, the loss ended a remarkable ride through the season’s second half. Hampered by injuries early in the season, they’re a team that was sitting at 31st in the PairWise Rankings on Jan. 15 yet made a run to the school’s first Frozen Four, an accomplishment nothing short of remarkable.
“We were left for dead not long ago,” said Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky. “For these guys to come back and play in St. Louis is remarkable. Better than that is how they did it.
“They are such great representatives of our university. The way they stuck together in the toughest times was incredible.”
‘Left for dead’ earlier in season, Penn State appreciates run to Frozen Four
ST. LOUIS — Penn State wasn’t supposed to be here.
Or so people thought.
The Nittany Lions lost their first eight games in the Big Ten before picking up a point in a shootout loss vs. Notre Dame on Jan. 3, outdoors at Wrigley Field.
It probably wasn’t a surprise for the team picked to finish second from last to be sitting at the bottom of the standings.
“We were left for dead not long ago,” said Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky.
But his team still felt it had life.
After a win at Notre Dame on Jan. 5, Penn State began a turnaround for which the coach and players credit senior leadership.
“I learned a lesson from them this year,” said Gadowsky. “I mean, the way that they stuck together and stayed positive in the hardest times — when it would’ve been really easy not to — is just, is really, really impressive.”
“The senior class did an unbelievable job with the leadership this year, showing us the way,” said sophomore forward Aiden Fink, a Hobey Baker Award top 10 finalist and team-leading scorer.
The Nittany Lions went 9-3-3 over the rest of the conference season, finishing in fifth place. They went on to upset Michigan in a first-round sweep in the Big Ten playoffs before losing to Ohio State in overtime.
A successful nonconference schedule and favorable playoff results in other leagues got Penn State into the NCAA tournament as an at-large team.
The Nittany Lions dominated Maine and squeaked by UConn in overtime to advance to Thursday’s semifinal, where Penn State came up short in a 3-1 loss to Boston University.
The team had its chances against BU, including a couple of short-handed breakaways and some grade-A chances.
“We just didn’t finish. So sometimes you don’t have your A game and you finish,” said Gadowsky. “We certainly got momentum later, but when we had chances to — big chances when we weren’t playing our A game — we just didn’t finish.”
“It’s super tough with the outcome that happened, but just to be able to wear the Penn State crest for the past five years — it means everything to me,” said Jimmy Dowd, Jr., a grad student taking advantage of his fifth year.
Gadowsky turned his comments from finishing plays well to finishing well in life.
“I think there’s a lot of eyes on our game, but I hope there are a lot of eyes on what type of men these guys are,” Gadowsky said.
“They’re fantastic students,” said Gadowsky, who pointed out Dowd. “He could be the mayor of State College. He could. Everywhere I go, people look at me and they ask if I know Jimmy Dowd, and that’s a wonderful thing.
“And then [2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award winner] Dylan Lugris, what he did in the community is incredible. The community is going to be a much, much better place because of this senior class and the type of guys they were.”
Penn State checked a box, according to Gadowsky, by making it to the Frozen Four. And he agreed that the step forward will bring more attention to the team on the ice.
But more than that is the way the team responded, learned, and grew amid difficulty.
“It’s not just how we played in the success they had. I think it’s what kind of men they are,” said Gadowsky. “And I think that will be just as impactful.”
5 numbers to know from Boston University’s Frozen Four victory over Penn State
ST. LOUIS — Here are five numbers to know from Boston University’s 3-1 win over Penn State in Thursday’s Frozen Four semifinals at Enterprise Center.
80
The number of minutes the second semifinal was delayed due to the first semifinal going to double overtime. The Denver-Western Michigan game lasted four hours and two minutes, causing the Boston University-Penn State semifinal to start at 8:50 p.m. CT instead of its scheduled start time of 7:30.
50
Wins by BU in NCAA tournament history. The Terriers are 50-40 all-time in NCAA tournament play. Their 50 wins are fifth most, behind Minnesota (62), Michigan (59), North Dakota (53) and Boston College (52).
1
All-time meetings between the schools. This was the first ever. Penn State is in its 12th season of varsity play; Boston University is in its 103rd.
16,814
The announced attendance for Thursday’s combined session, the second lowest non-COVID number of the 21st Century for a semifinal, behind the 13,051 announced in Buffalo in 2019.
97
Points by BU’s Hutson brothers. Quinn Hutson (50 points) was held off the score sheet, while younger brother Cole (47) had the primary assist on the Terriers’ second goal.
Gallery: Photos from Boston University’s win over Penn State at the Frozen Four
ST. LOUIS — Here are photos from Boston University’s 3-1 win over Penn State in Thursday’s Frozen Four semifinals at Enterprise Center.
Michaels scores in second OT to send Western Michigan past Denver, into NCAA title game
ST. LOUIS — Western Michigan, appearing in its first ever Frozen Four, is one win away from a national championship. But it hardly came easy.
After jumping out to a two-goal lead through two periods, Western Michigan let it slip away and needed double overtime and an Owen Michaels goal 26 seconds into the second extra frame as the Broncos advanced on the backs of a 3-2 victory over Denver at Enterprise Center on Thursday.
Western Michigan will face the winner of Boston University and Penn State in Saturday night’s national title game.
The victory keeps alive a dream season for Western Michigan, which posted its program-record 33rd win of the season. The Broncos won the NCHC regular-season and postseason championships, the latter also coming against Denver.
“Obviously, Denver has a championship pedigree so we knew they weren’t going to go down easy in the third,” said Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler.
The game-winner came on what seemed like an innocent play. Even up through the neutral zone, Matteo Costantini made a drop pass intended for Alex Bump. When the puck went under Bump’s stick, Michaels found himself alone, sniping the shot glove side on goaltender Matt Davis.
“I kind of blacked out a bit,” said Michaels of the game winner. “A bit of a broken play and I just saw the puck squirt out to me. I had some open time and space. Just figured I’d put it on net and pretty happy it went in.”
Both teams had chances early on in regulation, including a hit crossbar for Western Michigan’s Zach Nehring a minute in. Otherwise, the best opportunities for each team came on the power play. Western Michigan’s came in the first period, the Broncos mustering five shots on that man advantage. And early in the second, Denver got its chance with the extra man, getting two shots.
The game’s third power play produced the first goal. After Denver’s Samu Salminen was sent off for holding at 5:32, it took less than a minute for the Broncos to connect.
Tim Washe won a faceoff back to Brian Kramer, who unleashed a wrist shot over Davis’ glove at 6:16 to give Western Michigan a 1-0 lead.
It was the first time Denver trailed in an NCAA tournament game since last year’s regional final against Cornell.
From there, the offensive intensity ratcheted for the Broncos. By the midway point in the game, Western Michigan held a 24-7 shot advantage over the Pioneers.
At 14:32, Western extended the lead. A Pioneers defender fell, turning over the puck directly to Michaels. He wasted little time firing a shot over the glove for the 2-0 advantage.
It was the 15th goal of the year for Michaels.
It easily could’ve been 3-0 headed to the third if not for Denver’s Davis. Late in the second, he stopped three consecutive short-handed attempts that began with Constantini’s breakaway. Able to stop 30 shots through two periods, Davis gave his team a chance.
“They’re a great hockey team,” said Denver coach David Carle. “We felt if we could keep our feet moving a little more, get the puck moving and get them into some more precarious situations, we’d be able to have some success.”
Denver didn’t lie down in the third, coming out aggressive with its forecheck. Eric Pohlkamp had one of the Pioneers’ best looks when he redirected a crossing pass from Aidan Thompson that forced netminder Hampton Slukynsky to make a quick stop.
With 13:09 remaining, Denver finally struck when a blocked shot turned into an open net. Thompson’s original bid was blocked by the Broncos only to return immediately to his stick blade with a gaping net awaiting.
Chances abounded for Denver from there, but all too often the puck simply rolled off a stick or the execution wasn’t clean enough.
That was until the final three minutes. Pohlkamp’s shot from the point hit Slukynsky up high and the rebound sat in the crease. As a pile of players crashed the net, Jared Wright got enough of the puck to tuck it past Slukynsky at 17:39.
The play was challenged for goaltender interference by Western Michigan but after a three-minute video review, the call was upheld.
Shots through regulation heavily favored Western Michigan, 36-17.
In the first overtime, Bump had a glaring chance to end things with 11:30 remaining but a rolling puck jumped over the crossbar with the empty net awaiting.
Seconds later at the other end, Wright and Rieger Lorenz couldn’t connect on a 2-on-0 down low, extending the overtime. With 2 minutes left, Davis made a nifty left pad save to thwart Costantini on a 2-on-1.
Western Michigan held a 10-5 shot advantage in the first overtime.
The Pioneers lost for the first time in their last seven NCAA tournament games. It was the first time in that span that they allowed more than a single goal.
“We had our bumps in the road but we always tried to be able to spin it, use it,” said Carle. “I’m certainly proud of our seniors who came in. We missed the NCAA tournament when they came in and followed it up with arguably the best four-year period of hockey in program history.”
Western Michigan is looking to become a first-time national champion, something that happened two years ago as well when Quinnipiac beat Minnesota in overtime to earn into first national crown.
“Over time, you have to keep doing it right, keep doing it right,” said Ferschweiler. “We talked about being ready to win the game when the time comes. I think Owen Michaels did a good job of that, for sure.”
For Western Michigan overtime scorer Michaels, the work has paid off
ST. LOUIS — As a freshman last season, Western Michigan’s Owen Michaels had a pair of goals and seven points in 38 games.
This season, Michaels has 16 goals and 34 points, including two tallies in the Broncos’ 3-2 double-overtime victory over defending national champion Denver on Thursday.
Michaels scored WMU’s second and third goals, and the latter was the game-winner that sent the Broncos to their first national championship game.
Just 26 seconds into the second overtime, Michaels picked up a loose puck in the slot and lifted a shot past Denver goaltender Matt Davis to end the Pioneers’ quest for a second straight national title.
“I blacked out a little bit (after I scored),” said Michaels. “It was a broken play. I saw the puck scoot out to me in the middle of the ice. I had some open time and space and figured I’d put it on net. I’m just happy it went in.”
Broncos coach Pat Ferschweiler said that Michaels’ progression from seven points as a rookie to being the team’s fourth-leading scorer as a sophomore was due to the work he did in the offseason, but that he saw that potential in Michaels last season.
“Owen’s play was better than his point totals last year,” he said. “So we saw offense in him. He did have a huge summer in the gym, so he’s stronger. That (work in the) gym just allows your skills to show, right? And we talked about that. But also getting him to really believe in himself as an offensive player, push him forward, play with Alex Bump, these are good things.”
“I definitely went into the summer trying to take that next step and had a big summer in the gym and on the ice,” said Michaels. “It helps playing for the best coaching staff in college hockey. I just love showing up at the rink every day.”
When asked if his coaches had any specific instructions on what to work on, Michaels said, “Just play Bronco hockey, put it on net and play north, play fast.”
As far as the game-winner, the biggest goal of his career, Michaels said that it was his first overtime goal in quite a while.
“The last one was probably back in youth hockey,” he said.
“This tops that.”
Gallery: Western Michigan downs Denver in Frozen Four double-OT thriller
ST. LOUIS — Here are photos from Western Michigan’s 3-2 double-overtime victory against Denver in Thursday’s Frozen Four semifinals at Enterprise Center.
5 numbers to know from Western Michigan’s Frozen Four victory against Denver
ST. LOUIS — Here are five numbers to know from Western Michigan’s 3-2 overtime victory against Denver on Thursday in the Frozen Four semifinals.
5
It had been five NCAA tournament games since Denver trailed. The last was against Cornell on March 30, 2024, when the Big Red scored first. Denver tallied the next two to advance from the Springfield Regional to the Frozen Four.
6
Denver’s NCAA tournament winning streak ended at six games. The Pioneers won eight straight in their back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005.
16
Owen Michaels’ bar down overtime game-winner was his 16th goal of the season. His 15th came in the second period of Thursday’s game to put Western Michigan ahead 2-0.
47
Denver was outshot by a total of 47 shots on goal in its three NCAA tournament games this postseason. The Pioneers defeated Providence 5-1, being outshot 31-20, and downed Boston College 3-1 after a 36-25 shots deficit. Western Michigan had 47 shots to Denver’s 22 in the national semifinal.
113
There have been 113 overtime games in the NCAA tournament and 19 multiple-OT games, including Thursday’s semifinal. The last two-OT game in a Frozen Four was Colorado College’s 4-3 win over Vermont in the 1996 semifinal in Cincinnati on deteriorating ice conditions after an ice attendant drilled into the refrigeration system while attempting to clean out the hole for the goal peg. Denver and Western Michigan contributed a two-overtime tournament game in 2011, with DU winning that one 3-2.
Watch: Owen Michaels’ double-OT goal sends Western Michigan to the final
ST. LOUIS — Alex Bump scored 22 seconds into double overtime to give Western Michigan the NCHC playoff championship against Denver on March 22. It took Owen Michaels four seconds longer on Thursday in the Frozen Four semifinals.
Michaels’ second goal of the game gave the Broncos a 3-2 win over the Pioneers and a spot in Saturday’s NCAA championship game.
THE BRONCOS ARE HEADED TO THE #MFrozenFour CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!
Owen Michaels with the OT winner!#MFrozenFour x 🎥 ESPN2 / @WMUHockey pic.twitter.com/tHErJIs4xI
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 11, 2025
Watch: The crew from USCHO’s Weekend Review preview Thursday’s national semifinal games from St. Louis
ST. LOUIS — Watch as the USCHO Weekend Review team – Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley – preview Thursday’s national semifinals between Denver and Western Michigan and Penn State and Boston University. St. Lawrence coach Brent Brekke, who similar to Schooley is a Western Michigan alum, join the show as does former Bronco and St. Louis Blues forward Jamal Mayers.
Check back after each semifinal game as the crew breaks down each game.
Listen:
RIT brings back alum Thomas as head coach
Rochester Institute of Technology on Thursday announced the hiring of Matt Thomas as its new men’s hockey coach. Thomas will replace Wayne Wilson, who announced his retirement Wednesday after 26 seasons on the Tigers’ bench.
Thomas, the eighth coach in the school’s history, is a former RIT player (1994-98) and captain. His most recent job was an as an assistant coach with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. Prior to that, Thomas held assistant and head coaching roles in pro and college hockey.
“I am excited to welcome Matt back to RIT as our new men’s hockey coach,” said RIT executive director of athletics Jacqueline Nicholson. “He brings a winning pedigree back to his alma mater and I am confident he will carry on the success our program has enjoyed since he was on the RIT bench. We look forward to welcoming him and his family to the RIT community and can’t wait to see what the next chapter of RIT Men’s Hockey will bring.”
Thomas appeared in 102 games during his RIT playing career, totaling 72 points on 25 goals and 47 assists. He helped the Tigers to an ECAC West title and three trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
“I am truly honored and excited to return to my alma mater as the new head coach of the RIT Men’s Hockey program,” said Thomas. “This is a special moment for me, as RIT played a significant role in my development both as a player and as a person. To have the opportunity to give back to the program and the institution that helped shape my career is a dream come true.”
After graduating from RIT, Thomas spent a year as an assistant there before moving on to Maine for three years in the same role, helping the Black Bears to the 1999 national title.
Thomas then moved into the pro ranks, first as an assistant and then coach of the ECHL’s Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, followed by head coaching and general manager roles at Stockton, Fresno and Cincinnati, where he was named ECHL coach of the year in 2019.
Thomas amassed a 431-255-96 record in 11 total seasons as an ECHL head coach, ranking sixth in league history in wins and games coached.
Thomas was a head coach at the NCAA Division I level at Alaska Anchorage from 2013 to 2018, compiling a 48-105-21 record for the Seawolves. His 18-16-4 record in 2013-14 was the first winning campaign in 20 seasons at UAA.
“I am excited to continue the proud tradition of winning hockey that has defined this program for so many years,” said Thomas. “ I look forward to the first game and the great support our fans and the Corner Crew provide our team.
“I am committed to developing our student-athletes not just as hockey players but as individuals who will excel on and off the ice. The foundation of our success will be built through hard work, discipline and a strong team-first mentality, with a focus on player development in everything we do. … The future is bright, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.”
Thomas will be introduced during a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. April 17 in the Gene Polisseni Center on the RIT campus.
