New England hockey notes: coaching changes and USHL awards

Former Providence College star Drew Omicioli was named head coach and GM of the South Shore Kings. (Courtesy Photo)

While there hasn’t been much movement on the college coaching front in the Northeast, the final two head coaching vacancies in the USPHL NCDC have been filled over the past few days.

Former Providence College star Drew Omicioli was named the new head coach and general manager of the South Shore Kings. The West Warwick, R.I., native played for the Friars from 1998 to 2002, amassing 45 goals and 52 assists in 135 career games.

Omicioli, 39, returns to the New England area after playing and coaching minor pro hockey in Italy. He was most recently the head coach of Milano Rossoblu in the Alps Hockey League.

Omicioli replaces John Gurskis, who had led the organization’s NCDC team for the past three seasons after taking over for Scott Harlow.