INCH UPDATE DESK

June 27, 2006
Whitten Joins Alaska Anchorage Staff

Alaska Anchorage head coach Dave Shyiak announced Tuesday that Damon Whitten has been hired as an assistant coach.

A native of Brighton, Mich., Whitten comes to UAA after a two-year assistant stint at Wayne State, and one year at his alma mater, Michigan State. At both schools he assisted with all facets of practices and games, with a specific focus on coaching the teams’ forwards.

“Damon is a passionate coach who brings a tremendous work ethic,” said Shyiak, who begins his second season at the Seawolf helm this fall. “His recruiting experience in Western Canada and the Midwest will help us identify future student-athletes for UAA. Damon has played in two Frozen Fours and won and ECHL championship, so he understands the process and demands in becoming a winning hockey team.”

June 26, 2006
Yale Adds Former Holy Cross Aide to Staff

Newly hired Yale coach Keith Allain filled out his staff by hiring former Holy Cross assistant Kyle Wallack to assume similar duties for the Bulldogs. He replaces Bruce Wolanin, who left for a head coaching position in the New England prep ranks.

A graduate of Springfield College, Wallack served under coach Paul Pearl at Holy Cross for two seasons and also spent two years as an assistant at Connecticut. Prior to joining the Huskies, he worked as an aide at Quinnipiac for three seasons.

June 22, 2006
Niagara's Burkholder Signs Extension

Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder has agreed to a multi-year contract that continues his leadership of the Purple Eagle program through 2009-10, Interim Director of Athletics Bill Agronin announced Thursday.

Burkholder, who enters his sixth season, agreed to a two-year deal after having two years remaining on his current contract, Agronin said.

“I am very happy that Dave has agreed to remain at Niagara for the additional years,” Agronin said. “He has proven not only to be a very good coach and a mentor to his players, but a fine representative of our athletics program.”

Burkholder was one of 11 finalists for the 2005-06 Spence Penrose Award, given to the Division I men’s national coach of the year by the American Hockey Coaches Association. He was selected to the list after being honored with the 2005-06 College Hockey America Coach of the Year Award.

“It has been 10 magnificent years here at Niagara University for me and my family,” Burkholder said. “The confidence and support that Father Levesque has provided me means a great deal. I welcome the opportunity and challenges that lie ahead.”

June 20, 2006
RPI Hires Kurulak as Assistant Coach

Rensselaer has hired Shawn Kurulak, a former assistant at Army and former defenseman at Denver, as an assistant coach, the school announced today.

"There is a lot of history and tradition at RPI and I look forward to being part of something special in Troy," Kurulak said. "[Head coach] Seth [Appert] is a great coach and I am very excited and honored that he asked me to be part of the staff."

"We are very excited to have Shawn on our team," said Appert. "He is a proven winner who consistently makes teams better. His intensity and competitiveness will be tremendous assets in the locker room, on the ice and as he is directing our recruiting efforts."

Kurulak spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Army.

June 19, 2006
UVM Promotes Micheletto to Associate Head Coach

John Micheletto, an assistant coach at Vermont for the last three seasons, has been promoted to associate head coach, head coach Kevin Sneddon and athletic director Robert Corran announced.

“I am very pleased to announce the promotion of John Micheletto to associate head coach at UVM,” Sneddon said. “He has distinguished himself as one of the top assistants in the college game, and certainly deserves to be recognized for his outstanding contributions to college hockey. I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by great people on our staff.”

Micheletto, a Chicago-area native, is a 1988 graduate of Dartmouth College. He begins his fourth season with UVM in 2006-07, and his 16th in the coaching profession. Micheletto followed head coach Kevin Sneddon to Burlington after serving a four-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame from 1999 to 2003. Prior to his time with the Fighting Irish he worked alongside Sneddon at Union as his top assistant.

June 19, 2006
ECACHL Names Galvin Supervisor of Officials

Luke Galvin, a veteran college a professional official, has been named the Supervisor of Officials for the ECAC Hockey League, league commissioner Steve Hagwell announced today. Galvin replaces Butch Bellmore, who served in the position through 2005-06.

Galvin will be responsible for coordinating efforts of the officiating program, which include, but are not limited to, improving the quality of officiating; promoting better communication between officials and coaches; evaluating officials and identifying prospective officials; and serving as a liaison in the area of officiating to the NCAA.

Galvin has been an official on several levels, including the collegiate and NHL ranks, serving as both a linesman and head referee. He spent eight seasons working in the NHL and has been a linesman for the AHL for the past 18 seasons. His work with the AHL has led to 10 consecutive seasons of Calder Cup playoff action.

June 17, 2006
Miami's Blasi Agrees to Six-Year Extension

Miami head coach Enrico Blasi has agreed to a six-year contract extension that will keep the former RedHawk captain behind the bench in Oxford through the 2011-2012 season.

Blasi, who became the school's all-time leader in wins last season, earned the Spencer Penrose Award for national coach of the year after guiding Miami to the 2006 CCHA regular-season championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He also won CCHA Coach of the Year honors last season, the third time in his seven seasons as bench boss he's captured that award.

The Toronto native enters the 2006-07 campaign with 130-116-23 career record, including a 97-81-18 mark in CCHA play.

June 9, 2006
Ohio State Assistant Brent Resigns

Ohio State assistant coach Steve Brent announced his resignation after nine years with the program. Brent, a Penticton, B.C., native and a four-year letterwinner for the Buckeyes from 1994-97, has accepted another job outside of hockey.

Brent, who was also a three-year captain for OSU, joined coach John Markell's coaching staff as a volunteer assistant for to the 1997-98 season when the Buckeyes advanced to the Frozen Four for the first (and only) time in school history. He was elevated to full-time assistant the next season.

June 1, 2006
Union's Leaman Named to U.S. Junior Staff

Union head coach Nate Leaman will be an assistant coach on the 2007 U.S. National Junior Team, USA Hockey announced today. Leaman will join the staff of head coach Ron Rolston along with fellow assistant coach Phil Housley.

Leaman, who coached with Rolston at Harvard prior to joining Union, has represented USA Hockey on both the international and national stages. He served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Under-18 Team that captured the gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. He also coached teams at USA Hockey’s Select 14 Player Development Camp in 2001 and 2002, and served as head coach for Team Massachusetts at USA Hockey’s 2003 Select 16 Festival.

The U.S. National Junior Team will compete at the 2007 World Junior Championship in Mora and Leksand, Sweden, Dec. 26, 2006-Jan. 5, 2007.

June 1, 2006
Denver, RPI and Robert Morris Hire Assistants

Two schools filled assistant coaching vacancies Wednesday, while a third has locked in on a candidate for its opening.

Multiple sources have told INCH that Ferris State assistant Derek Lalonde will assume similar duties at Denver. An official announcement is expected sometime next week. Lalonde will take over for Seth Appert, who was named head coach at Rensselaer last month. Like Appert, Lalonde is a former college goalie – he played at SUNY Cortland while the man he replaces, coincidentally, tended goal for Ferris State.

Appert, meanwhile, began the process of building his staff at Rensselaer by hiring former Maine standout Jim Montgomery as an assistant. Montgomery, who won a national championship as a player with the Black Bears in 1993, spent last season as a volunteer assistant coach at Notre Dame.

Robert Morris announced the hiring of Mike McCourt as an assistant. McCourt comes to the Colonials from Brockville of Ontario’s Central Junior Hockey League, where he served as the Braves’ coach and general manager for three seasons. Prior to his stint with Brockville, McCourt, a four-year letterwinner at St. Lawrence, spent one season as an assistant coach at Clarkson.

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