Men’s D-II/III in general
“Be Prepared” is the motto of the Boy Scouts. It’s also something goaltenders must be if they are to have success at the college level. Gustavus Adolphus’ Chris Amsden definitely seems to be week in and week out, and he already has nearly as many wins as he did in his first two seasons, winning … Read more
For SUNY-Canton coach Alex Boak, life is really focused on one thing: getting better as a program and building the culture for his team to be able to compete hard against all competitors every time his team takes the ice. The second-year coach is building the foundation for what he hopes and expects will be … Read more
Kyle Wagner is playing offense full-time this season at Saint John’s. And it’s safe to say he made quite the impression in his new role. Wagner finished with five points on the opening night of the season, propelling the Johnnies to a 5-1 win over Bethel. He scored a goal and dished out four assists. … Read more
The last of the D-III conferences with an ECAC moniker is gone. The former ECAC West has now become the United Collegiate Hockey Conference, or UCHC. The members of the former league, minus Hobart (now a member of the NEHC), have been joined by newcomers King’s College and Chatham University to create a new nine-team … Read more
The conference is officially realigned as an eight-team conference with the addition of Hobart from the former ECAC West, where they have won multiple conference championships and appeared in the NCAA tournament without the luxury of an autobid. The schedule is also a bit different, as this year some travel partners will play each other … Read more
Unlike many conferences that have gone through some changes in make-up, SUNYAC remains intact and formidable in the level of competition across the league. Many, including Geneseo coach Chris Schultz, feel this may be the most competitive the league has been. “I know we were picked in the coaches poll, but Plattsburgh is really good; … Read more
The conference is now inclusive of all the hockey programs without joint league entanglements or mixed schedules. The new NE-10 includes six teams, with a seventh D-II program, Post University, included in the schedule for all teams. Each team will face the other six opponents three times in the regular season, and that kind of … Read more
After a slow start to the season due to a number of roster and injury challenges, the Salem State Vikings proved it’s not always about being great the entire season, it is about being great at the right time of the season. An 11-4-1 second half carried them past rival Plymouth State in the conference … Read more
The CCC will be changing after the season, as Johnson & Wales and Suffolk move on to the NEHC, but that is too far off for Endicott coach RJ Tolan to worry about. After winning the league title last season and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament, where a double OT goal from … Read more
You can’t talk about the NCHA without bringing up Adrian and St. Norbert. Both teams reached the Frozen Four a year ago, and both will be the front runners in the conference again this year. While it’s hard to imagine anyone knocking those two teams off, the NCHA certainly is never short on surprises. Need … Read more
Change is in the air in the WIAC this season, especially at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, which is under the direction of interim head coach Tyler Krueger, who takes over after Chris Brooks accepted a job as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech. Krueger is no stranger to the Pointers. He played for them earlier in the … Read more
UMass Boston has announced the hiring of Cory Schneider as a new assistant coach. Schneider makes the short trip to UMass Boston from Wentworth, where he spent the past two season as an assistant coach. While with the Leopards, Schneider was charged with planning and running practices, recruiting, breaking down film, and helping to run … Read more
American International College has named Evan Moorhouse as its director of hockey operations. “Evan has had a seamless transition to our staff,” AIC coach Eric Lang said in a statement. “He has a tremendous knowledge of Western Massachusetts hockey, a great hockey background and understands his role in operations. Evan is very talented in so … Read more
The Robert Morris women’s program has added Liam Cavanagh to its staff as director of hockey operations. Cavanagh is a 2017 graduate of Acadia University in Canada, where earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. “Liam is an excellent addition to our staff [and] we are excited he is able to join us … Read more
Alaska has announced the addition of Lincoln Nguyen as the team’s new assistant coach. “I am beyond excited to become part of the Nanook family and the Fairbanks community,” Nguyen said in a news release. “I would like to thank Dr. Gray, Coach (Lance) West and Coach (Erik) Largen for this opportunity. I look forward … Read more
Pat McCadden has been named the new assistant coach at Lawrence. McCadden, who also will serve as the assistant athletic performance coach, joins the Lawrence coaching staff after playing pro hockey for the past three seasons. “Pat brings a wealth of knowledge about what it means to be a successful hockey student-athlete — in the … Read more
Niagara has announced the addition of Andrew Mason as director of hockey operations. Mason will be responsible for video analysis, analytics, team logistics and academic coordination at Niagara. Mason joins the Purple Eagles after spending the 2016-17 season in the same position at Hobart, returning to his alma mater where he previously served as a … Read more
Cortland assistant coach Chris Azzano has been named assistant coach of the USHL’s Lincoln Stars. Azzano spent the previous two seasons at Cortland and prior to joining Cortland, served one season as an assistant coach for Canton. “We are excited to add Chris to our staff,” Stars coach Cody Chupp said in a statement. “His … Read more
Zach Gaynor has been named the new head coach at Marian. Gaynor replaces Lincoln Nguyen, “who recently accepted a Division I assistant coaching position,” according to a Marian news release. “I am pleased to announce that Zach Gaynor will be taking over the leadership of our men’s hockey program,” said Marian director of athletics Jason … Read more
Northland hockey player Max Glashauser received heartbreaking news in a phone call from his head coach last Sunday. Glashauser learned in the call with Seamus Gregory that one of his closest friends on the team was dead at the age of 22 as Chris Morgan was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident in his hometown of Rochester Hills, Mich.