Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey explained

Team Name:Holy Cross Crusaders
Team Link:
Current:2024–25 Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey season
University:College of the Holy Cross
Sex:men's
Conference:Atlantic Hockey America
Conference Short:AHA
Division:NCAA Division I
Location:Worcester, Massachusetts
Coach:Bill Riga
Coach Year:4th
Coach Wins:50
Coach Losses:58
Coach Ties:9
Arena:Hart Center
Capacity:1,600
Surface:200' x 85'
Ncaatourneys:2004, 2006
Conference Tournament:1999, 2004, 2006
Conference Season:2003–04, 2005-06
Uniform Image:AHA-Uniform-CHC.png

The Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the College of the Holy Cross. The Crusaders are members of Atlantic Hockey America (AHA), formed shortly after the 2023–24 season by the merger of their former home of the Atlantic Hockey Association with the women-only College Hockey America.[1] They play at the Hart Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.[2]

History

Holy Cross men's ice hockey began in 1966 and a year later it joined ECAC 2. The Crusaders played in the second tier of college ice hockey for ten years before they played their first playoff game, but once they made it they didn't go very far. Over a six year period Holy Cross wen 2–5 in the conference postseason and never really got close to an NCAA tournament berth. When Division II ice hockey was abandoned in 1984 Holy Cross dropped down to Division III and was placed in ECAC East when ECAC 2 split. They made the ECAC tournament three out of four years under Peter Van Buskirk but couldn't manage a win. The team went through a down period under Bill Bellerose for six seasons but started winning again when Paul Pearl became head coach in 1994. After recording their best season in fifteen years Holy Cross promoted its program to Division I and joined the MAAC in 1998–99.[3]

In their first year of D–I play Holy Cross won its first Conference Tournament, winning the inaugural MAAC Championship. Unfortunately, because the NCAA did not offer the MAAC an automatic bid at that time the Crusaders did not make the NCAA tournament. The next season Holy Cross dropped to seventh in the conference and lost 24 games over the course of the season (a program worst). After missing out on the conference tournament the next season Holy Cross returned to the playoffs for the final two years of the MAAC's existence before joining with all former MAAC programs in founding Atlantic Hockey.

Similar to their start with the MAAC, Holy Cross produced a great season, winning 22 games, and were able to win their first conference title. They then swept through the Atlantic Hockey playoffs and captured their second tournament championship, though this time they received a berth into the NCAA tournament for the first time. Though their national championship experience was brief the Crusaders continued to play well and returned to the Championship in 2006 after winning both conference crowns. The met #2 overall seeded Minnesota in the first round and pushed the heavily favored Golden Gophers into overtime where Tyler McGregor scored 53 seconds in, winning what is usually noted as the biggest upset in tournament history.[4]

Holy Cross would decline after their miraculous 2006 season, posting losing records for four consecutive years, but the program began to recover in the second decade of the 20th century. Paul Pearl resigned in 2014 and was replaced by David Berard who saw middling regular season results.

In the 2022-2023 regular season Holy Cross won their first Atlantic Hockey playoff round since the 2006 season against American International College. They would later upset Rochester Institute of Technology in the semifinals of the tournament but lose in the championship to Canisius.[5]

Season-by-season results

See main article: article and List of Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey seasons. Source:[6]

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Crusaders have appeared in the NCAA tournament two times. Their combined record is 1–2.

Year Seed Round Opponent Results
  1. 4
West Regional semifinal
  1. 1 North Dakota
L 3-0
  1. 4
West Regional semifinal
West Regional Final
  1. 1 Minnesota
    #2 North Dakota
W 4-3 (OT)
L 5-2

Coaches

As of completion of 2023–24 season

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
2021–Present 3 50–58–9
2014–2021 7 84–116–34
1994–1996, 1997–2014 19 297–293–69
1988–1994 6 61–99–3
1979–1988, 1996–1997 10 167–146–8
1976–1979 3 49–31–1
1966–1976 10 122–104–2
Totals 7 coaches 58 seasons 830–847–126

Awards and honors

NCAA

Individual Awards

Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award

2016

Division I All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

MAAC

Individual awards

Offensive Player of the Year

Goaltender of the Year

1999

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Coach of the Year

2002

Tournament Most Valuable Player

All-Conference teams

First Team All-MAAC

Second Team All-MAAC

MAAC All-Rookie Team

Atlantic Hockey

Individual awards

Player of the Year

2024

Best Defensive Forward

2004

2006

2011

Best Defenseman

2006

Individual Sportsmanship Award

2004

2007

Regular Season Goaltending Award

2005

2006

2024

Regular Season Scoring Trophy

2024

Best Defensive Forward

Most Valuable Player in Tournament

All-Conference teams

First Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team

Statistical leaders

Source:[7]

Career points leaders

PlayerYears GP G APts PIM
1982–1986103116219
1982–1986101117218
1966–197011988207
1982–198687120207
1973–197775122197
1977–19819398191
1966–19699189180
1973–19777181152
2003–200714248104152
1977–1981147

Career goaltending leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Minimum 30 games

PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
2022–2024 42 2413 25 13 3 87 2 .920 2.16
2002–2006 105 6034 61 33 8 251 7 .915 2.50
2014–2018 114 6677 46 47 19 281 11 .911 2.51
2011–2015 129 7759 59 55 13 324 8 .917 2.51
1995–1999 38 1960 21 10 2 82 2 .903 2.51
Statistics current through the end of the 2023–24 season.

Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame

The following is a list of people associated with the Holy Cross men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses).[8]

Current roster

As of August 12, 2024.[9]

Crusaders in the NHL

As of July 1, 2024.

PlayerPositionTeam(s)YearsGames
Patrick RissmillerLeft WingSJS, NYR, ATL, FLA2003–20111920
Jim StewartGoaltenderBOS1979–198010

Source:[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America Join to Form Atlantic Hockey America . Atlantic Hockey America . April 30, 2024 . May 2, 2024.
  2. Web site: U.S. College Hockey Online. Holy Cross Crusaders Men's Hockey. April 10, 2011.
  3. News: Holy Cross Crusaders Men's Hockey 2021-2022 Team History Statistics - College Hockey USCHO.com. College Hockey | Uscho.com.
  4. Web site: SB Nation . Remembering the Holy Cross Upset 10 Years Later . November 24, 2016 . November 23, 2018.
  5. Web site: 2023 Atlantic Hockey Postseason - Atlantic Hockey Association . 2023-04-14 . atlantichockeyonline.com . en.
  6. Web site: Holy Cross Crusaders . All Time Results . November 23, 2018.
  7. News: All-Time Career Records . Holy Cross Crusaders . November 26, 2018.
  8. Web site: Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame Members (Men's Ice Hockey) . 31 July 1999 . Holy Cross Crusaders . November 26, 2018.
  9. Web site: 2024-25 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY ROSTER . Holy Cross Crusaders . September 14, 2023.
  10. Web site: Alumni report for Holy Cross College . Hockey DB . November 26, 2018.