Men's Hockey Program

Saint head coach Greg Carvel was an assistant for the Ottawa Senators before his current post.

Appleton Arena is one of the classic hockey arenas in the nation

A charter member of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Hockey League and a six-time tournament titlist, St. Lawrence University's Division I men's ice hockey program enters a new era in 2012-13 as former Saint player and National Hockey League assistant coach Greg Carvel takes over as Charles W. Appleton II Head Men's Hockey Coach.

Carvel replaced his former coach, Joe Marsh, who retired after taking a medical leave for the 2011-12 season. Carvel and associate head coach Mike Hurlbut shared the coaching duties for 2011-12 with Carvel officially named as Saint head coach in March of 2012. Marsh compiled a career record of 468-399-72 in 26 seasons behind the Saint bench and won five of SLU's six ECAC tournament titles. He became the third coach in NCAA Division I history to accrue more than 400 wins at one institution and was a multiple winner of the Spencer Penrose Award as NCAA Division I men's coach of the year.

Carvel and his staff, which includes Hurlbut, a former Saint All America defenseman with an extensive professional playing background and newcomer Kris Mayotte, a former Union College and professional goaltender, intend to carry on the legacy established by Marsh while making the Saint program attractive to high-profile recruits.

"St. Lawrence hockey is a diamond in the rough in today's college hockey landscape," said Carvel. "Our staff understand what it takes to get to the NHL and we look forward to helping good young players get to the next level while continuing the tradition of producing the highly competitive and exciting college hockey that St. Lawrence is known for."

Carvel, who coached with the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks of the NHL, coached in two Stanley Cup finals and brings the structure and systems learned through coaching at the top level of the game to the Saint program.

He takes over a Saint program which has won six ECAC Championships and made 16 NCAA tournament appearances including two championship game showings. The Saint program has also produced six ECAC Players of the Year, four ECAC Rookies of the Year, five winners of the ECAC Outstanding Defensive Forward Award, including Carvel as a senior in 1993, and five Outstanding Defensive Defenseman Award winners. Included among the 31 Saint hockey All Americas are six two-time All Americas and seven Hobey Baker Award finalists.

Two former Saint players were active in the NHL in the 2011-12 season, Rich Peverley with the Boston Bruins and Brandon Bollig with the Chicago Blackhawks. Several other Saints played professionally in various North American minor hockey leagues including six in the American hockey league, five in the ECHL four in the Central Hockey League and several others played professionally in Europe.

The Saint program has also had an impact on professional hockey behind the bench and in front offices. Former NHL head coaches Jacques Martin and Mike Keenan are St. Lawrence graduates as are NHL Hall of Fame members Bill Torrey (GM and Alternate Governor of the Florida Panthers, GM of the five-time Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders) and Brian McFarlane, a famed broadcaster and author. Former Saint captain Randy Sexton helped build the Ottawa Senator franchise and has been a general manager and scout, Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero was also a Saint captain while others with professional ties include Murray Cawker, director of hockey operations for the Panthers, Paul Castron, director of amateur scouting for Columbus, Eric LaCroix, director of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche, Mike Barnett, former Phoenix GM, now director of US scouting for the New York Rangers, Mark Leach is a scout for the Red Wings and Mark Bonneau is a vice president of the Senators. In addition, former Saint Jamie Baker, who had a 10-year NHL playing career, joins SLU graduate Dan Rousanowsky as the radio broadcast team for the San Jose Sharks. Mike Mudd is the president of the Worcester Sharks in the AHL.

The Saints will enter their 75^th season of intercollegiate competition in 2012-13 and are just eight wins away from 1000 total wins in program history. SLU takes an all-time record of 992-857-106 into the upcoming season.

For the Saint Hockey Record Book, click the link below.