Joe Kimball, Mercyhurst University’s director of athletics, announced at a news conference Tuesday that men’s hockey Rick Gotkin and women’s coach Michael Sisti have signed four-year contracts that will keep them with their respective NCAA Division I programs through the 2015-16 season.
Gotkin also confirmed that his Lakers have been invited to play an outdoor game against Ohio State in December 2013 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
“It’s an exciting day at Mercyhurst University, especially for our two hockey programs,” Kimball said.
Gotkin and Sisti still had one year left on three-year deals. Yet their new contracts, which replace those previous deals, allow them to maintain the continuity at the top of their programs that prospective student-athletes and their families search for during the recruiting process.
“When you look a kid in the eye and they ask if you’re going to be here, you’ve got the feeling you’re going to be here,” said Sisti, who heads into his 14th season as women’s coach after spending his first six years at Mercyhurst as Gotkin’s assistant. “But it’s nice to have it on paper, so you can look them in the eye back and say, ‘I’m definitely going to be here.’ It helps them feel good about the process.”
The first outdoor hockey game in school history also would serve as a great recruiting tool. Ohio State faced rival Michigan this past January in front of 25,864 fans at Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians baseball team, in the first outdoor college hockey game in Ohio.
“It’s a great reflection of our program from top to bottom,” Gotkin said. “I think people realize we have a big-time program.”
The game isn’t official yet, said Gotkin, who received the invitation from OSU officials this past weekend. The schools await confirmation from the Indians. Mercyhurst and OSU already are scheduled to play a two-game weekend series in Columbus Dec. 13-14, 2013. Gotkin said the Dec. 14 game would move to Progressive Field.

- Victor Fernandes

Delaney Collins, a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team since 1999, has been hired as the assistant coach for the Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team, as announced by Mercyhurst Director of Athletics Joe Kimball earlier today.

She will take over the spot vacated by Louis Goulet, who was promoted to associate head coach last month. The associate position was previously held by Paul Colontino, who is now the head coach at conference-rival Robert Morris. With the hiring at Mercyhurst, Collins is also taking this time to announce her retirement from Hockey Canada.

“I will always be thankful for the memories I have from my years with Team Canada, and for the friends I have made,” said Collins in a statement to Hockey Canada. “Thank you to my teammates, coaches, and everyone who has supported me over the years. I look forward to the next stage of my career, to be able to teach the game as a coach using the experience I have gained in a Team Canada jersey.”

“I am very excited about the prospect of coaching the Lakers and I look forward to sharing my experiences with Team Canada to grow and develop young hockey players,” continued Collins. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work in a hockey program of this magnitude and to express my passion for the game.”

A member of Canada’s National Women’s Team since 1999, Collins has played in five International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) championships, winning gold in 2000, 2004, and 2007; and silver in 2005 and 2008. She also appeared in six 3 Nations/4 Nations Cups from 2000-2007. In March of this year, she was invited to the Canadian National Women’s Team selection camp to determine the final roster for the 2011 IIHF Women’s World Championships. All told, Collins played 95 games in a Team Canada jersey and sits among the top ten in scoring by a defenseman, recording 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists).

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Delaney into our program,” said Mercyhurst head coach Michael Sisti, who has won 313 games since starting the program in 1999. “She comes from a great hockey family and has been an elite athlete playing at the highest levels of women’s hockey for over a decade. Her pride and competitiveness fits perfect with the standards of our program.”

“It was awesome to see her excitement to take on the challenges of this position,” Sisti continued. “Our program was built by our past and present player’s passion, commitment, pride, and the constant pursuit of excellence. Delaney has all these intangibles and tons of experience playing and training with some of the best players in the world.”

A native of Pilot Mound, Manitoba, Collins was a member of the Calgary Oval X-Treme in the Western Women’s Hockey League (WWHL) from 2005-2009, having led the team to the WWHL Championship in 2007. She averaged nearly a point-per-game for Calgary, scoring 48 points (10 goals, 38 assists) as a defenseman in 52 games. She also added five points in six career playoff games, scoring a goal and two assists in Calgary’s 2007 Championship season.

Prior to that, Collins played two seasons (2003-2005) at the University of Alberta, leading the Pandas to the 2004 CIS Championship. She was named an All-Canada West and CIS First-Team All-Canadian both seasons. Additionally, she was a member of the 2005 CIS National Championship All-Star Team. During her tenure, the Pandas went 63-1-0, and a perfect 40-0-0 in conference play. Collins made an immediate impact in her first season, scoring 36 points in 13 games. After winning the title on March 14, 2004, Collins scored three goals in the World Championship for Team Canada, leading them to gold with a 2-0 win over Team USA.

Collins also won gold medals at the 2001, 2003, and 2007 Esso Women’s National Championships as a member of Team Alberta. She also won bronze in 2000. In 1998, Collins played for Concordia University, winning the CIAU Championship and she was named to the CIAU All-Canadian Team. Also in 1998, she was a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning National Women’s Under-22 Team at the Christmas Cup. Collins started her career, playing in the Western Shield as a member of the Notre Dame Hounds.

In 2007, Collins was named the Manitoba Female Athlete of the Year.

“It is an honor for me to be named the assistant coach with the Mercyhurst College women’s hockey program,” added Collins. “They have a winning tradition and I am looking forward to working with coach Sisti and the entire team.”

“Delaney has dedicated the last 12 years of her life to Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, and we are sad to see her step away from the international game,” said Kalli Quinn in a release from Hockey Canada. Quinn serves as the director of female national teams for Hockey Canada. “We wish her the best of luck with the next step in her career and look forward to working with her in the future to continue to grow the women’s game.”

- From Mercyhurst College news release

Former University of New Hampshire All-American and Patty Kazmaier finalist, Kelly Paton, has been hired as the volunteer assistant coach for the upcoming 2011-12 Mercyhurst College women’s hockey campaign, as announced today by Mercyhurst Director of Athletics Joe Kimball.

Paton will handle a number of duties both on and off the ice for the Laker coaching staff.

“We are excited to add Kelly to our staff.  Kelly has great enthusiasm to join our program and will be able to work well with our players,” said head coach Michael Sisti. “She had a tremendous playing career and a great knowledge of the game.  We are looking forward to the upcoming season and providing our players with the building blocks needed to achieve success in all areas of their lives.”

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Mercyhurst College and three other Atlantic Hockey Association schools took the first step Tuesday towards a potential future move to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The next step lies ahead.

Representatives from Mercyhurst, Canisius, Niagara and Robert Morris met with CCHA commissioner Fred Pletsch and members of the league’s executive board on Mercyhurst’s campus.

The meeting included athletic director Joe Kimball and senior associate athletic director Aaron Kemp from Mercyhurst; athletic director Bill Maher and associate AD John Maddock from Canisius; Niagara AD Ed McLaughlin; and Robert Morris AD Craig Coleman.

Officials from the AHA-member schools called the meeting “a very frank and open discussion” in a statement. “The CCHA offers several exciting opportunities for our institutions,” the statement read.

Yet they also stated, “At this point in time, no decisions have been made about leaving Atlantic Hockey or joining the CCHA.” Both sides have agreed to meet again at a future date. For now, representatives from the AHA-member schools plan to meet with the presidents and hockey staffs from their respective schools as well as AHA commissioner Bob DeGregorio and the league’s executive committee.

The CCHA will lose four schools to different conferences in the 2013-14 season – Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State to the new Big Ten Conference and Miami (Ohio) to the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Reports indicate that Northern Michigan, which has been invited to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, Notre Dame and Western Michigan also could depart the CCHA. That could leave the conference with only Bowling Green, Ferris State and Lake Superior State.

Paul Colontino, associate head coach of the Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team, has announced his resignation to become the head coach of the women’s hockey team at Robert Morris University, a College Hockey America affiliate located in Moon Township.

Colontino becomes the third head coach in the history of the RMU women’s ice hockey program after the departure of Nate Handrahan, who accepted the same position at The Ohio State University earlier this month.

“Good coaches are hard to come by,” said Mercyhurst Director of Athletics Joe Kimball. “This is a great opportunity for Paul. He has been a valuable asset and has played a major role in the success of our women’s hockey team. We wish him nothing but the best in this new endeavor.”

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The Jerry McCormick Strength and Conditioning Center at Mercyhurst Ice Center was unveiled to the public in a dedication ceremony on Thursday.

The facility was dedicated to the late Gerard “Jerry” McCormick, a former star athlete from Kanty Prep who died in an automobile accident 25 years ago at the age of 24.

Owen McCormick, Jerry’s brother and owner of Joseph McCormick Construction Co., Inc., cut the ceremonial ribbon. McCormick, who’s also the lead local investor of the Erie BayHawks, donated nearly $117,000 in equipment for the 2,970 square-foot, $250,000 facility.

Mercyhurst President Dr. Thomas Gamble, Provost Dr. James Adovasio and Marlene Mosco, chair of the college’s board of trustees, spoke at the event. Monsignor David Rubino, Gamble’s special assistant, blessed the facility. Coaches and members of the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey teams, which began using the facility earlier this month, also attended the event.

Listen to the dedication ceremony as well as interviews with McCormick and Joe Kimball, Mercyhurst’s director of athletics, by clicking the links below.

- Victor Fernandes

Oversight Committee

Thomas Gamble – President

James Adovasio – Provost

Joe Kimball – Director of Athletics

Executive Committee

Ron Sertz – Executive Director

Kimball

Aaron Kemp – Associate Director of Athletics (tournament director)

Michael Sisti – Women’s hockey coach

John Leisering – Co-chair, operations committee

Mike Parry – Co-chair, operations committee

Chris LaChapelle – Mercyhurst’s sports business program

Emily Sertz – Executive Assistant

Ron Sertz speaks at Thursday's Women's Frozen Four news conference (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)

Mercyhurst College announced Thursday the formation of a local operating committee, led by veteran Erie sports executive Ron Sertz, to guide the efforts of the college in hosting the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Frozen Four.

“We are pleased to name Ron Sertz as executive director of the team coordinating the prestigious 2011 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four,” said Mercyhurst College President Dr. Thomas J. Gamble. “Ron brings with him a wealth of sports management experience and is just the leader we need to ensure the event is a great success.”

The NCAA Women’s Frozen Four consists of two semifinal games and a championship contest to determine a national champion. All three games will be played at Tullio Arena, with the semifinal games on March 18 and the championship game slated for March 20. In addition to the games, Mercyhurst will also host the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Award Banquet and the Women’s Frozen Four Alumni Game.

As executive director, Sertz will oversee an executive committee that includes tournament director and Mercyhurst associate director of athletics Aaron Kemp, women’s coach Mike Sisti and experienced sports marketing and event managers such as John Leisering, Mike Parry and Dr. Chris LaChappelle.

On being named to the executive director post, Sertz commented, “It is indeed a great honor and privilege to have the opportunity to lead this effort for Mercyhurst College and to work closely with Dr. Gamble, Dr. James Adovasio, director of athletics Joe Kimball and a host of talented individuals to make this national championship one of the premiere sporting events in Erie history. It will take a team of talented and enthusiastic individuals to reach the high goals we have set.”

Sertz and the local operating committee will address areas of event management, advertising and promotions and ticket and sponsorship programs. “We are extremely excited about having Ron Sertz on board to help us with the preparation and promotion for the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four,” Kimball said. “Ron has a very extensive background in the sports promotion industry which will help us raise awareness about this event.”

Sertz has been instrumental in the formation, direction and guidance of many of the major sporting organizations and events in the Erie region. For over four decades, Sertz has been involved in the Erie sport scene as an athlete, coach, author, athletic administrator and entrepreneur. Most recently, he served as the founding team president of the Erie BayHawks and as the President of EHC Ltd., the ownership group of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. He remains a minority owner in the Otters.

He is also nationally recognized as the founder and director of The McDonald’s Classic, which has been called “the best four-team tournament in the country” by HoopsUSA. Additionally, Sertz is known in Erie for his many years of achievement at Cathedral Preparatory School as a coach and athletic director.

This marks the first time the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four will take place in Pennsylvania. Further, it is the first time that Mercyhurst will host an NCAA Division I championship tournament and the first time that a team from College Hockey America will serve as host.

Sertz noted that “the opportunity for us to host a national championship in the Erie area and have Mercyhurst as a potential participant with the chance to garner an NCAA Division I title in our hometown is unbelievable. We need to raise the awareness of the entire region so that we can jam the Tullio Arena for the event and showcase our city to a national audience. Our goal is, quite simply, to pack the place and put on a great show for the NCAA, the nationwide hockey audience, and the residents of the tri-state area. Erie sports fans have always supported the major sporting events, and this NCAA Championship is a signature event for our town.”

The tournament is expected to draw over 10,000 attendees over the duration of the event and provide an impact of nearly $2 million to the Erie area.

- From Mercyhurst College news release, staff reports

John Rosso (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)

Mercyhurst College Director of Athletics Joe Kimball announced Monday the hiring of John Rosso as a men’s hockey assistant coach. Rosso, who joins the head coach Rick Gotkin and the Lakers after serving in the same capacity with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League, replaces Brian Burke, who resigned in June to take over as head coach of Victory Honda in Michigan.

“We’re really excited to welcome John Rosso to the Laker family,” said Gotkin. “With his coaching and recruiting background, we know he will make an immediate impact on our players and the program, and continue to attract the kind of student-athletes that we like to recruit here at Mercyhurst.”

Rosso, a native of Hopkins, Minn., brings an extensive hockey background to the men’s hockey program, serving as an assistant coach and recruiting scout in the USHL, the North American Hockey League, Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Hockey League.

Most recently, Rosso helped Sioux Falls to a 27-24-9 record and a fifth-place finish in the Western Division this past season, falling just one point shy of clinching a playoff berth. He also served as the team’s top scout, recruiting and coaching 29 players that received NCAA Division I scholarships.

Prior to joining the Stampede in 2008, Rosso spent three seasons with the Alexandria Blizzard (NAHL), working under head coach and general manager Brad Willner. In his final season, the Blizzard compiled a 29-25-4 regular season record, won the Central Division playoffs and earned a spot in the Robertson Cup Finals.

Rosso got his start in coaching at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska-Omaha, in 2004, serving as a volunteer assistant coach. The Mavericks excelled with him on staff, building a 19-16-4 record and reaching the CCHA Super Six for the first time in four years.

A 2001 graduate of UNO, Rosso earned a degree in history while playing four years of hockey under head coach Mike Kemp. Rosso’s first season as a Maverick in 1997 was a memorable one, as the school reinstated hockey after a 21-year hiatus. Three years into his career the Mavericks made the move to the CCHA and, that same year, reached the conference final after a stunning 7-4 upset of Michigan in the CCHA Final Four. During his career, Rosso was honored with several awards including the UNO Student Achievement and Most Improved Player Awards.

After graduation, Rosso spent three years working as a recruiting scout with the Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) in 2002, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) in 2003 and Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) in 2004 before returning to Omaha.

- From Mercyhurst College news release