Dan Fontas ’98, P’27
Named Head Coach of Boys’ Varsity Hockey After a magical 2024–2025 season winning the Elite 8 championship, Dan Fontas ’98, P’27 has been named to succeed Ryan Bourque ’09 as the next head coach of Boys’ Varsity Hockey at Cushing Academy. “We are thrilled that Dan is taking the reins of Cushing boys’ hockey,” said Dr. Randy Bertin, Head of School. “Coach Fontas has been instrumental in our hockey program’s recent run of success. As a former Cushing Penguin and current coach, he knows firsthand the values of our program and our commitment to our students — both on and off the ice.” Coach Fontas, who played DI hockey at UMass-Lowell, returned to Cushing in 2021 as the head coach of Varsity B Hockey, guiding the program to back-to-back Rust Cup championships before being promoted last season to
associate head coach of Boys’ Varsity Hockey and helping coach the squad to the 2024–2025 Elite 8 championship. “I’m incredibly honored and excited to be named head coach of boys’ hockey,” said Fontas. “As a proud member of the Class of 1998, Cushing has always held a special place in my life. This school shaped me — as a student, as an athlete, and as a person — and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue to give back to a community that has given me so much.” Bourque, who joined the coaching staff of the Providence Bruins, the AHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins, remarked: “It is an honor to have Dan Fontas as my successor at Cushing. Dan embodies everything it means to be a Penguin. He was more than a colleague, he was a mentor — and played an integral role in our team’s success this past season.”
“One of the biggest memories for me is how proud my kids were — my son Steve ’02 and my daughter Lauren ’04 — pulling on the Cushing sweater. And then, of course, so many of the players who contributed on the ice, in the community, and in the classroom at Cushing. So many wins and all the hard losses too — they were all part of the memory package.” —STEVE JACOBS P’02, ’04, HON. ’24, Boys’ Hockey Coach and Director 1985–2024
MORE THAN 80 ALUMS HAVE PLAYED PROFESSIONALLY, INCLUDING 17 IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
• Jeff Norton ’84 (1987–2002) • John Lilley ’91 (1993–1996) • Eric Nickulas ’94 (1998–2006) • Tom Poti ’96 (1998–2013) • Brad Norton ’94 (2001–2007) • Bobby Allen ’97 (2002–2008) • Keith Yandle ’05 (2006–2022) • Chris Bourque ’04 (2007–2013) • Zach Bogosian ’08 (2008– )
• Richard Bachman ’06 (2010–2019) • Brad Malone ’07 (2011–2023) • Dave Warsofsky ’09 (2013–2018) • Ryan Bourque ’09 (2014–2015) • Conor Sheary ’10 (2015– ) • Joey Daccord ’15 (2018– ) • Marc McLaughlin ’17 (2021– ) • Cam Lund ’22 (2024– )
In 2022, Keith Yandle ’05 became the National Hockey League Iron Man, earning the record for most consecutive NHL games played.
50 C U S H I N G T O D A Y
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—JOEY DACCORD ’15
7 seasons in NHL, currently with Seattle Kraken
©ANDRE RINGUETTE/NH
“When I look back, I really think that Cushing helped shape me into the person and the hockey player that I am today, and I definitely wouldn’t be here right now without them. I had so many amazing memories, but one that stands out is winning the Watkins Tournament my senior year.”