flexxCOACH NCAA Division I Report: Gophers and Bobcats Start Fast

AMERICAN HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION
www.ahcahockey.com
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For immediate release: Thursday, December 5, 2013
flexxCOACH NCAA Division I Report: Gophers and Bobcats Start Fast
Here is our first look at the work of NCAA coaching staffs as the season approaches the one-third mark. This month, we look at NCAA
Division I programs.
NCAA Men: It has been a good season for Don Lucia and the
University of Minnesota (11-2-1). The Gophers’ head coach has, 1)
seen his squad atop the national polls for most of the season, 2)
is about to take the reins of the U.S. Junior National Team for the
upcoming World Championships in Malmo, Sweden, and, 3) has
enjoyed watching son Mario play for the University of Notre Dame,
with the possible exception of the November 8 contest when the
Irish handed the Gophers their first loss of the season, 4-1, in South
Bend.
It has also been a good year for Rand Pecknold at Quinnipiac,
who, despite losing key contributors from last year’s NCAA finalists,
has enjoyed a 13-2-2 start. Same can be said for Red Berenson at
Michigan, who, despite having one of the youngest teams in college
hockey, has started out at 10-2-1.
NCAA Women: At 17-1-0, the University of Minnesota women’s
team has more than matched the Gopher men. The only blemish on
that record was a November 17 loss to North Dakota that snapped
a 62-game winning streak...that began after a loss to North Dakota.
Coach Brad Frost has every right to set his sights on another NCAA
title.
Quinnipiac’s Rick Seeley has also been able to keep pace with
the male squad at his institution. The Bobcats are 12-2-5 and ready
to challenge not only the ECAC elite but the national powers that
be.
Hats off to Harvard’s Katey Stone, on leave from Cambridge as
she prepares our U.S. National Team for the Sochi Olympics. Stone
was named one of the NCAA’s Silver Anniversary Award recipients.
She will receive her award in San Diego in January, alongside the
likes of Troy Aikman and Dara Torres.
Above, from left, Don Lucia of Minnesota, Rand Pecknold of Quinnipiac, and
Red Berenson of Michigan.
Above, Brad Frost of Minnesota; above right, Rick Seeley
of Quinnipiac; at right, Katey
Stone of Harvard.
NATIONAL STAFFS FOR NOVEMBER: The combined men’s and women’s staffs at the
following NCAA Division I schools have really put it together early: the University
of Minnesota (28-3-1, .891) and Quinnipiac University (25-4-7, .792). The Gophers
have dominated weekly polls, both programs at #1 in the country almost exclusively since the start of the season.
Look for the flexxCOACH/AHCA Coach of the Year awards at season’s end. All AHCA Coach of the Year awards are selected by the
head coaches in each division and are sponsored by flexxCOACH, the leader in delivering on-line coaching education for sports and
the development of software products designed to assist coaches in creating drills, planning practices and designing fitness programs
for athlete development. Check us out on the AHCA web site: ahcahockey.com!