After a 23-year career at the helm of the Norwich University men’s hockey team, Mike McShane (Wakefield, Mass.) announced his retirement from coaching last month at a press conference in Kreitzberg Arena.
McShane guided Norwich (Vt.) to four NCAA Division 3 championships, with the latest coming in 2017 after a 4-1 win over Trinity (Conn.) in Utica, N.Y.
“It’s been a great honor to coach here at Norwich University for 23 years,” McShane said. “I’ve been very fortunate to coach for 46 years and end my career at a special school like Norwich. I appreciate the tremendous support we have had here right from the top down.
“I’d like to thank my assistant coaches, especially Steve Mattson, who have helped sustain the program’s success by doing an excellent job recruiting. I’m looking forward to the search for a new coach and we’re doing everything in our power to make sure the success of the program continues.”
Under his guidance, Norwich won 19 of the past 20 New England Hockey Conference regular-season titles, including an unprecedented 17 in a row that ended after the 2014-15 season. Norwich made 16 NCAA tournament appearances and 12 Frozen Four appearances with McShane behind the bench.
He wrapped up his Norwich career winning back-to-back NEHC Coach of the Year honors in 2017 and ’18 to bring his total to 11. The Cadets won the NEHC tournament 12 times total, including three in a row from 2010-12.
During his Norwich career, he posted a 497-130-38 record. He became the Norwich program’s all-time winningest coach during the 2008-09 season.
McShane got his start in coaching at New Hampton (N.H.) Prep, posting a 122-25-6 record in six years before becoming an assistant coach at Dartmouth College in 1978.
He was named head coach at St. Lawrence University in 1980, leading the Saints to a 95-65-6 record in five seasons. That was followed by a decade as head coach at Providence College, where he led the team to NCAA playoff bids in 1989, ’91 and ’92.
BU promotes O’Connell
After helping the Boston University men’s hockey team achieve success on the ice as both a player and an assistant coach, Albie O’Connell (Watertown, Mass.) was named the program’s head coach last month, replacing David Quinn (Cranston, R.I.), who was earlier named coach of the New York Rangers.
The captain of the BU team in 1998-99, O’Connell returned to his alma mater in 2014 to join Quinn’s staff and was promoted to associate head coach one year later. He becomes the only current Division 1 men’s head coach who has captured a conference regular-season title, won a conference tournament championship and reached the NCAA title game as both a player and a coach.
“We aspire to have the best program in college hockey,” athletic director Drew Marrochello said, “which means that we want nothing less than the best for our university, our alumni, our fans and most importantly our student-athletes. In promoting Albie, we believe we have secured the best possible coach to lead our program at its elite level for many years to come.”
O’Connell has helped develop numerous Terriers into NHL-ready talent, including Olympian Jordan Greenway and All-Americans Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.), Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.), Charlie McAvoy and Danny O’Regan (Needham, Mass.).
Prior to his return to BU, O’Connell spent a decade as a Division 1 assistant coach throughout the Northeast and established himself as one of the sport’s premier recruiters. Following three-year stints at both Northeastern and Harvard, he spent one season each at Holy Cross and Merrimack after a two-year appointment at Niagara.
Kelly hired at Providence
Providence College announced last month that Matthew Kelly has been named the sixth head coach of the women’s ice hockey program.
Kelly (Walpole, Mass.) joins the Friars after most recently serving as a head scout for USA Hockey and the women’s national team. His primary responsibility was to oversee and maintain the player pools for the U-18, U-22 and women’s national teams.
He recently captured a gold medal with the women’s national team at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang.
Prior to USA Hockey, Kelly served as an assistant coach at Clarkson University. During his tenure there, Kelly helped guide the Golden Knights to a national championship in 2014.
In addition to his coaching experience at Clarkson, Kelly also spent time coaching at Quinnipiac University (2007-08) and his alma mater, Wayne State (2006-07).
Marcou joins Brown staff
Brown men’s hockey head coach Brendan Whittet (East Providence, R.I.) announced the hiring of James Marcou as an assistant coach last month.
Marcou, an All-American and the career assists leader at the University of Massachusetts (2007-10), had served as a graduate assistant coach at UMass since 2016, where he assisted the coaching staff in all aspects of the program.
Marcou put together a standout collegiate career at UMass. He earned AHCA second-team honors following his sophomore season in 2008-09, when he racked up 47 points on 15 goals and 32 assists, and tied for the Hockey East scoring title that season.
A two-time All-Hockey East performer, Marcou broke his own school record for single-season assists (40) as a junior. He finished with 130 career points (34 goals, 96 assists) in 111 games played.
Orpik earns honor for BC
After helping the Washington Capitals lift their first Stanley Cup in franchise history last month, former Boston College defenseman Brooks Orpik delivered an honor to his alma mater.
With the victory, BC has now had one of its former players etch his name onto the Stanley Cup on 19 different occasions. That figure pulls BC into a tie with Wisconsin for the most representatives of a program in college hockey history.
Orpik has now won two Stanley Cups in his professional career that has spanned 15 years (11 with Pittsburgh, four with Washington).
Prior to the start of his professional career, Orpik played three seasons (1998-2001) at BC, totaling 41 points (two goals and 39 assists) in 119 games. He helped BC win two Hockey East tournament titles (1998 and 2001) and the 2001 national championship.
