Rick Bennett
Eric John "Rick" Bennett (born July 24, 1967) is an American former ice hockey left winger and current head coach of the Union Dutchmen ice hockey team at Union College where he is under contract to coach through the 2022-23 season.[1] He has led the Dutchmen to three ECAC Hockey regular season titles (2011–12, 2014-14 & 2016-17), three ECAC Hockey tournament titles (2012, 2013 & 2014), four NCAA Tournament appearances (2012, 2013, 2014 & 2017), two Frozen Fours (2012 & 2014) and one NCAA championship title (2014) by defeating Minnesota. Bennett won ECAC Hockey's Tim Taylor Award for conference coach of the year twice (2012 & 2017) and won the American Hockey Coaches Association's Spencer Penrose Award for NCAA Division I coach of the year in 2014.
| Rick Bennett | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
July 24, 1967 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | New York Rangers | ||
| NHL Draft |
54th overall, 1986 Minnesota North Stars | ||
| Playing career | 1990–1999 | ||
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Union |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | July 24, 1967 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Providence College |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2000–05 | Providence (assistant) |
| 2005–07 | Union (assistant) |
| 2007–11 | Union (associate head coach) |
| 2011–present | Union |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 186–122–42 (.591) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2014 NCAA Championship ECAC Regular Season Championship (2011-12, 2013-14, 2016-17), ECAC Tournament Championship (2012, 2013, 2014) | |
| Awards | |
| 2014 Spencer Penrose Award 2014 College Hockey News Coach of the Year 2014 USCHO Coach of the Year 2012 Tim Taylor Award 2017 Tim Taylor Award | |
Bennett and his wife, Karyn have five children together. The family resides in Clifton Park, New York.
Playing career
Bennett was a four-year letterwinner (1986–90) and co-captain at Providence, where he was recognized as a Hobey Baker finalist (1990) and two-time winner of the Lou Lamoriello Trophy as team MVP. He was named an All-American during the 1988-89 season and earned All-Hockey East Second Team honors in 1990. A left-winger, Bennett finished with 134 points (50 goals, 84 assists) in 128 career games. Bennett skated on the famed B-B-G line, along with center Mike Boback and right wing Robbie Gaudreau. Rick, who graduated with a B.A. in general studies, was inducted into the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.[2]
Bennett was a third-round draft pick (54th overall) of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. His draft rights were later traded to the New York Rangers. Bennett appeared in 15 games with the Rangers over three seasons (1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92). Bennett's 10-year professional career also included stints with the Binghamton Rangers (AHL), Springfield Indians (AHL), Hershey Bears (AHL), Springfield Falcons (AHL), Albany River Rats (AHL), Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL), Jacksonville Lizard Kings (ECHL) and Pee Dee Pride (ECHL). Bennett served as a player assistant coach for the Jacksonville Lizard Kings and Pee Dee Pride.[3]
Head coaching record
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union (ECAC Hockey) (2011–present) | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | Union | 26–8–7 | 14–4–4 | 1st[4] | NCAA Frozen Four | ||||
| 2012–13 | Union | 22–13–5 | 10–8–4 | 4th[5] | NCAA Regional Finals | ||||
| 2013–14 | Union | 32–6–4 | 18–3–1 | 1st[6] | NCAA Champions | ||||
| 2014–15 | Union | 19–18–2 | 8–13–1 | 10th[7] | ECAC Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2015–16 | Union | 13–14–9 | 6–10–6 | 9th[8] | ECAC First Round | ||||
| 2016–17 | Union | 25–10–3 | 16–4–2 | T-1st[9] | NCAA Regional Semifinals | ||||
| 2017–18 | Union | 21–15–2 | 16–5–1 | 2nd[10] | ECAC Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2018–19 | Union | 20–13–6 | 10–10–2 | 7th[11] | ECAC Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2019–20 | Union | 8–25–4 | 5–15–2 | 10th[12] | ECAC First Round | ||||
| Union: | 186–122–42 | 103–72–23 | |||||||
| Total: | 186–122–42 | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
Awards and honors
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| All-Hockey East Rookie Team | 1986–87 | [13] |
| AHCA East Second-Team All-American | 1988–89 | [14] |
| All-Hockey East Second Team | 1989–90 | [15] |
References
- https://www.unionathletics.com/news/2017/8/25/mens-ice-hockey-rick-bennetts-contract-extended.aspx
- https://www.unionathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=230
- https://www.unionathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=230
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2011-12/standings
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2012-13/standings
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2013-14/standings
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2014-15/standings
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2015-16/standings
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2016-17/standings
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2017-18/standings
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2018-19/standings
- http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2019-20/standings
- "Hockey East All-Rookie Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Hockey East All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Coach Bio from Union College
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nate Leaman Rand Pecknold |
Tim Taylor Award 2011–12 2016–17 |
Succeeded by Rand Pecknold Mike Schafer |
| Preceded by Norm Bazin |
Spencer Penrose Award 2013–14 |
Succeeded by Mike Hastings |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by Nate Leaman |
Union Dutchmen men's ice hockey Head Coach 2011–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |