2009-10 UNH MEN’S ICE HOCKEY MEDIA GUIDE
this is hockey east The league is coming off a banner 25th anniversary season, as the Hockey East Association boasts back-to-back NCAA national champions for the first time in league history. The league has been consistently the strongest Div. I conference from top to bottom, encompassing 10 established Division-I hockey programs, entering its 26th season in 2009-2010. The conference will also make history as Fenway Park will play host to the Hockey East doubleheader on Friday, January 8, 2010. Northeastern will play UNH in the women’s game, while storied rivals Boston College and Boston University will play in the men’s game. It marks the first women’s outdoor game in history and the third men’s outdoor game in the modern era. Hockey East has continued a steady rise to prominence since its founding charter on July 11, 1983, when the possibility of an apparent Ivy League departure threatened the ECAC. In response, the athletics directors from Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence unveiled a new Division I men’s ice hockey conference. Together, Bill Flynn of Boston College, John Simpson of Boston University, Andy Mooradian of New Hampshire, Joe Zabilski of Northeastern and Lou Lamoriello of Providence launched Hockey East. Lamoriello assumed the role of the league’s first commissioner. Later that summer, the Board of Directors added the University of Maine and the University of Lowell (now UMass Lowell). Official conference competition of the seven-team league began with the 1984-85 season. Expansion brought the league to its current 10 teams with the additions of Merrimack College (1989), the University of Massachusetts (1993) and most recently the University of Vermont (2005). Since its inception, Hockey East has set new competitive standards for success in college hockey, annually compiling an impressive collective winning percentage against non-conference opponents, including a record .705 during the 2002-03 season and a .669 win percentage during the 25th anniversary season of 2008-09. Over the last 17 years, Hockey East has cemented its position as the nation’s elite colCOMMISSIONER lege hockey league, having earned 27 of the 66 berths in the NCAA Frozen Four and boasting six NCAA title winners: Boston College in 2001 and 2008, Boston University in 1995 and 2009, and JOE BERTAGNA the University of Maine in 1993 and 1999. Three of the four Frozen Four participants in 1999 came from the Hockey East ranks, and in 2007, both Boston College and the University of Maine made it to the semifinal round in St. Louis after five squads (including Boston University, Massachusetts and New Hampshire) were selected for the 16-team NCAA field for the first time in the conference’s history. Hockey East sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, marking the eighth time league teams have accomplished that feat. Hockey East has proven to be an equally strong presence off the ice. Both in the classroom and in the community, league athletes continue to demonstrate their commitment to overall excellence. The Hockey East All-Academic Team honored a league-record 94 student-athletes for outstanding academic achievement during the 2008-09 campaign. UMass-Lowell’s Frank Stegnar and Merrimack’s Andrew Braithwaite both earned 4.0 GPA’s last season, earning them Hockey East’s “Top Scholar Athlete” distinction for the second time in their HEA careers. The league also boasted a record 10 “Distinguished Scholar-Athletes” who recorded a 4.0 GPA in every semester of their four year Hockey East career. Hockey East athletes also strive to make a ASSOCIATE positive impact in community service programs across the New England, volunteering with youth hockey associations and community service organizations. Five Hockey East athletes have received the prestigious COMMISSIONER Hockey Humanitarian Award, two from the men’s league and three from the women’s, and seven others have been finalists for the award. Northeastern senior forward Missy Elumba was the recipient of the KATHY WYNTERS award in 2009, marking the league’s fifth honoree in as many years. Hockey East’s “Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer” has raised more than $90,000 in the three years since its inception, including over $38,000 that was raised in 2009-08. The program supports local breast cancer charities throughout New England, with all 18 men’s and women’s programs taking an active role in the annual event. Last season, BU senior defenseman Matt Gilroy took home college hockey’s top individual award, winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Gilroy became the seventh Hockey East player to earn the award. It also marked the first time in the history of the award that all three “Hobey Hat Trick Finalists” were from the same conference, as Gilroy’s teammate Colin Wilson and Northeastern’s Brad Thiessen were among the HOCKEY EAST PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL three finalists. The trio was joined by four more Hockey DIRECTOR/ East student-athletes, as the conference boasted seven Rk. Team (1st Place Votes) Pts in 2008-09, including UMass’ James MarMEDIA RELATIONS All-Americans 1. Boston University (6) 84 cou, UML’s Maury Edwards, BU’s Kevin Shattenkirk, and 2. UMass-Lowell (2) 79 PETER SOURIS Vermont’s Viktor Stålberg. However, 3. Boston College (2) 76 it is the quality 4. New Hampshire 59 Hockey East Association of its individual players as lead Vermont 59 591 North Ave #2 ing athletes 6. Northeastern 57 Wakefield, MA 01880 that most sets 7. Massachusetts 47 Hockey East Phone: (781) 245-2122 apart from 8. Maine 32 Fax: (781) 245-2492 the rest. More 9. Providence 24 HockeyEastOnline.com than 43 former 10. Merrimack 23 Hockey East student-athletes Commissioner: Joe Bertagna were regulars Associate Commissioner: Kathy Wynters in the National Hockey League in 2008-09. A recording-setting five HEA alumni earned Stanley Cup rings Director of Public Relations: Peter Souris with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, which included PC’s Hal Gill and Tom Fitzgerald, Supervisor of Officials: Richard DeCaprio BC’s Bill Guerin, Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi. In total, 49 current Hockey East players have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft, 13 of Asst. Supervisor of Officials: John Jones whom come from the Boston University squad. Hockey East boasts 30 all-time first round picks Web Site Coordinator: Dan Parkhurst in the 25-year history of the league, which most recently includes BC’s Chris Kreider with the Coord. of Minor Officials: Jim Prior 19th pick of the ‘09 Draft by the New York Rangers. A total of 499 Hockey East student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft in the past 25 years. 2009-10 Graduate Intern: Stephanie Bambury The reach of Hockey East continues to grow as new state-of-the-art facilities are constructed, increasing capacities and amenities for college hockey fans. And the fans have responded with over a million spectators coming out to watch Hockey East teams during the 2008-09 season for the seventh consecutive season.
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