Coaches and Staff-Men's

Mike Szkodzinski
Head Coach, Lawrence University

Mike came to the University from St. Norbert College, where he was an assistant coach with the Green Knights During Szkodzinski's two seasons at St. Norbert, the Green Knights put together a 49-8-5 record, including a 22-2-4 mark in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play. St. Norbert was the NCAA Division III runner-up in 2006 after winning the NCHA regular season title. The Green Knights won the NCHA title in 2005 and also claimed the Peters Cup. Before coaching at St. Norbert, Szkodzinski was an assistant for two seasons at the University of Findlay and spent a season as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  A native of Brighton, Mich., Szkodzinski played for two seasons at Ferris State University, earning All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie Team honors in 1997. He transferred to St. Norbert and was a standout goaltender for the Green Knights. Szkodzinski was a second-team All-American in 1999 and earned first-team All-NCHA honors in 1999 and 2000.  Szkodzinski put together an impressive 2.21 career goals against average and still holds the school record with a .917 career save percentage. He compiled a 32-9-4 record between the pipes, and included in that total is a 4-2 win in the 1999 NCAA Division III Tournament over Middlebury College. Szkodzinski earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from St. Norbert and has a Master of Business Administration from Findlay.

Shane Fukushima-Assist Coach-Waterloo Black Hawks

Shane Fukushima will be entering his second season as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the Black Hawks.In his first season, Fukushima helped guide the Hawks to an Anderson Cup Championship, Eastern Division Championship, and a franchise record 39 wins. He was also named the Eastern Division All-Star coach. Fukushima hails from Owatonna, Minnesota where he graduated and played his high school hockey. Shane played 3 seasons in the USHL for the North Iowa Huskies under current Black Hawk coach P.K. O Handley. While at North Iowa, he captained the Huskies to a North Division title in 1997-98. He then continued his playing career and education at the University of Wisconsin River Falls. While studying finance, he led the NCHA in scoring and was named All-NCHA for his efforts. After playing a few seasons professionally, he began his coaching career at Owatonna High School. Shane made the jump to the collegiate level in 2004 as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the University of Wisconsin Superior. He helped guide the Yellowjackets to a NCHA title in 2006.

David Lassonde-
Associate Head Coach, University of New Hampshire

David Lassonde begins his 20th season and 14th overall at the University of New Hampshire,  which makes him the longest tenured assistant coach in the history of the men’s hockey program. Coach Lassonde spent three years at both the University of Wisconsin and Miami University. During his 19 years of collegiate coaching he has been to five Frozen Fours and 13 NCAA Tournaments. As a member of Coach Umile’s staff, Lassonde is primarily responsible for coaching the Wildcat defensemen and goaltenders. Lassonde’s other on-ice duties include assisting Umile in all aspects of practice preparation  and implementation. Off ice, Lassonde coordinates the UNH video program and his experience has also played a key  role in UNH’s recruitment of many of its national caliber players. Coach Lassonde has been recognized by the  American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) with the Terry Flanagan Award, which is given annually to an  assistant coach who has demostrated a superior body of work during their career. During the summer months,  Lassonde works for the New England District in its Player Development programs and at numerous USA Hockey  district and national festivals. The Rochester, N.H. native graduated cum laude from Providence College  with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History Education.

Chris Davidson-Head Coach, Saint Michael's College

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Chris Davidson, who has guided the Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey team to back-to-back Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championships in his first two seasons as head coach, enters his 11th season as a college hockey coach in 2009-10, and his third at the helm of the Purple Knights. He has compiled a 23-29-3 record in his first two seasons as head coach. In his first year as head coach in 2007-08, Davidson guided the Purple Knights to the Northeast-10 Conference regular season and tournament championships. The team finished with an overall record of 12-14-1, including 4-1-0 in NE-10 play, and Davidson earned the league's Coach of the Year award in the process.   A Clinton, N.Y. native, Davidson graduated from Saint Michael's in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature and a Master's degree in Business in 2006. Davidson has been instrumental in delivering a number of talented players to Saint Michael's over his tenure. During this time, one Purple Knight was named an All-American, 19 have earned All-ECAC accolades and 17 have received NE-10 honors. He has recruited three 'Players of the Year', one 'Goaltender of the Year', and two 'Defensive Players of the Year'.  Four of Davidson's recruits have signed professional contracts, while another has represented Canada at the Maccabiah Olympic Games.  The 33-year-old Davidson returned to Saint Michael's before the start of the 2000-01 season, after serving as the top assistant for one year at Manhattanville College of the ECAC West.  In addition to his work at the collegiate level, Davidson has worked at various USA Hockey Select Regional Camps.  A former forward for the Saint Michael's, Davidson was a four year letter winner and voted captain of the 1998-99 team.  As a member of one of the most successful teams to ever wear the Purple Knight uniform, Davidson and his classmates amassed a total of 65 wins over their career. Davidson's playing career also extended to the Southern Professional Hockey League, as he played for both Macon (Ga.) and Pee Dee (S.C.).

Ben Barr - Assistant Coach Union College

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An offensive specialist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Barr helped guide the Dutchmen to unloading 111 goals last season – the second most in school history. Union finished fourth in ECAC Hockey in goals and second for shots .   Barr’s responsibilities with the Dutchmen include recruiting, working with the forwards on the ice, assisting with special teams, managing the team’s off-ice strength and conditioning program, coordinating team travel and video analysis.  Prior to joining the Union staff, Barr spent the 2004-05 and 2007-08 seasons as a volunteer assistant coach for his alma mater.   A native of Fairbault, Minn., Barr served as a coach for the USA Hockey Select 14 Team during the summer of 2008 and for the Select 17 Team in 2007. From 2005 to 2007 he was the head coach for the Capital Districts Select AAA PeeWee Major Hockey Team.   As a student-athlete for RPI, Barr produced 64 points (25 goals and 39 assists) in 140 career games. He was the team’s most valuable player in 2002-03 and was given the team’s coaches award in 2002-03 and in 2003-04. His junior season he produced a team-best three shorthanded goals and a team-high tying three game winning goals. He served as a captain during his senior season and again led the team in shorthanded goals (two) and game-winners (three).   As a four year athletic scholarship recipient and letterman, Barr was named to the Rensselaer Dean’s List all four years and was on the 2004 President’s List.  Prior to RPI, he was awarded the Williams Cup (best all-around athlete) at Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep School in 2000.

Mike Corbett - Assistant Coach US Air Force Academy

Mike Corbett is in his fourth season as the assistant hockey coach at the Academy. Corbett works with the Falcon defensemen and also assists with the nation-wide recruiting effort. A 1996 graduate of the University of Denver. A three-time academic all-conference selection, Corbett was a finalist for the prestigious College Hockey Humanitarian Award.After completing his eligibility, Corbett was a graduate assistant in the DU athletic department for a year and also worked in the Daniels College of Business. While at DU, Corbett spent a season working with the Colorado Avalanche as a community relations intern and as a statistician/video assistant for head coach Mark Crawford.Corbett was the associate head coach with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the U.S. Hockey League in 2001-02.

Andy Berg - Assistant Coach US Air Force Academy

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First Lieutenant Andy Berg enters his first season as an assistant coach and his second season overall with the Falcon coaching staff. A 2003 graduate of the Academy, Berg served as a graduate assistant in 2003-04, assisting the coaching staff with administrative duties and the nation-wide recruiting effort. A native of Stillwater, Minn.,Berg graduated from the Academy with a degree in management and was a four-year letterman at forward. A two-time all-CHA selection, Berg finished his career tied for 12th in scoring with 142 points (64-78-142) in 140 games. As a senior, he earned the Chuck Delich award as the team's most valuable player. He led the team and was second in the CHA with 22 goals and was fourth in the league with 40 points. His 15 power-play goals led the CHA and were second in the nation. Berg's 15 power-play goals in 2002-03 tied the school record set by Mark Manney in 1981-82. His 33 career power-play goals are the second most in school history and Berg earned more CHA awards than any other Falcon with five major awards. He was named the CHA Rookie of the Year in the league's first season and was also named to the all-rookie team. He was a second-team all-conference selection as a sophomore and senior and was named to the CHA all-tournament team as a junior. Berg is one of only two Falcons to earn CHA all-tournament honors. Brian Gineo was named to the team in 2004-05.A two-year team captain, Berg led the team in points and goals twice. During his four-year career, he helped the team to 61 wins. During his first three seasons, the Falcons were a .500 team, posting a 51-51-8 record. The Falcons won 19 games as a freshman and finished with a winning record (19-18-2) for the first time in 11 years. He then helped the Falcons to consecutive 16-win seasons in 2000-01 and 2001-02. After spending the 2003-04 season with the hockey team as a graduate assistant, Berg's first assignment was with the 20th Contracting Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Berg served as the deputy flight commander for the  services element and was named the company grade officer of the year for 2005. While at Shaw, Berg played 50  games for the Columbia Inferno of the East Coast Hockey League.

Graham Johnson - Assistant Coach Hamilton College

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Graham Johnson is in his first season as the top assistant coach for the Hamilton College men's ice hockey program. Johnson was an assistant coach at Division I Quinnipiac University in 2008-09. He helped guide Quinnipiac to an overall record of 18-18-3. That squad finished in seventh place in the 12-team Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey league with a 9-10-3 conference record. Johnson also served as an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island for its club team in 2007-08. He graduated from Rhode Island in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in communication studies. Johnson played four seasons at Rhode Island and was given the Art Tuveson Leadership Award at the conclusion of his career in 2007. He was a four-year varsity letter winner on defense at Mount St. Charles Academy, where the team captured four Rhode Island Interscholastic League championships. He was a team captain for the Bridgewater Bandits of the Eastern Junior Hockey League in 2002-03.

Phil Roy - Assistant Coach Merrimack College

Phil Roy enters his first season as an assistant coach. Hired on August 25th, 2008, he is the former head coach at Neumann College. "I was impressed with him as a player, his background becomes another distinct advantage for our hockey program, and his head coaching experience at the collegiate level separates him from most assistant coaches in Hockey East," said Dennehy.  "His personality is infectious, and I am looking forward to working with him." Roy comes to Merrimack after spending the 2007-08 season as the head coach for the Division III Neumann College Knights. Roy guided the Knights to a 17-9 record and a fourth-place finish in the ECAC West Division. Roy skated as a defenseman for Clarkson University from 1996 to 2000 where he recorded 77 career points, on 24 goals and 53 assists in 144 games. He played an integral role in the team's two first-place finishes, three NCAA tournament appearances and two ECAC tournament championships, while earning his undergraduate degree in technical communications. Roy  debuted in the coaching world as an assistant at Hobart College prior to the 2005-06 season. During his tenure there the Statesman set the school record for most wins in a season and appeared in the Division III Frozen Four for the first time ever. He mentored the program's first All-American defenseman and was a member of the coaching staff  that garnered 6 All-ECAC West selections, 14 All-ECAC West Academic Honorees and 1 ESPN All-Academic First Team  award winner. Roy spent five years playing professional hockey in North America and Europe. He served as an assistant captain and assistant coach for the Diables Noirs de Tours in the France Elite League, where he led the eague in scoring by a defenseman. He was also an assistant coach and a captain in the United Kingdom Elite League with the Basingstoke Bison. Prior to his European career, Roy played for the Johnstown Chiefs and Augusta Lynx of the East Coast Hockey League and for the St. John Flames and Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League. He was named team Rookie of the Year by the Muskegon Fury and was selected to the UHL All-Rookie Team in 2000-01. A St. Leonard, Quebec native, Roy and his wife Sonia welcomed the birth of their first daughter Mackaelie in October of 2007 and currently live in Andover.  

Scott Robson- Assistant Coach Western Michigan

Entering his first season as an assistant coach at Western Michigan, Robson was hired to replace former associate head coach Chris Brooks. Robson spent six years as an assistant at Quinnipiac, his alma mater. During his time at Quinnipiac the Bobcats posted a record of 125-78-18, winning two regular-season championships and twice reaching the East College Athletic Conference Tournament finals. “Scott comes from a winning environment at Quinnipiac and was a two-time captain as a player,” says head coach Jim Culhane. “He is a great recruiter and is an offensive minded coach.” Robson has also spent time as assistant coach with the Valley Junior Warriors of the EJHL. After two seasons in the position with the Warriors, he took a position as the general manager and head coach of the Bay State Breakers in the same league. Robson was in charge of hockey and business operations and led the team to its best record in franchise history at the time. Several players under Robson’s tutelage went on to play hockey at both the Division I and professional levels. The Randolph, Mass., native was a four-year letterwinner and two-time captain under Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold. Robson finished his playing career with 77 points on 28 goals and 49 assists in 90 career games played. After his graduating in 1998 with a degree in history he moved into an assistant coaching position for the 1998-99 season. Robson resides in Kalamazoo.

Joe Dumais, Assist Coach Univ of Connecticut

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Dumais, played at Quinnipiac from 2002-2006 where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology. As a member of the Bobcats, he was named team captain during his senior season. He received numerous awards and was a member of  the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. He also took part in many hockey clinics and schools over the New England  area as a coach while in college. After graduation, Dumais attended Ohio University where he earned a master's of  science in recreation and sport sciences with a focus on coaching education. Also during his year at Ohio, Dumais served as an assistant coach for its men's ice hockey team.Dumais gained more coaching experience after graduation in June 2007 as he was an assistant coach of the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, a member of the North American Hockey League, Tier II Junior A. He also was the head coach of the Phantom Fireworks Midget AAA team. With the Phantom Fireworks, Dumais took on the role of head recruiter, organized, managed the team budget and travel schedule and helped to recruit the entire team for their 2007-08 season. During this year, the Phantom Fireworks were named 2007-08 Ohio State Champions, Mid-American Champions and took part in the 2007-08 national tournament. Dumais played with the Columbia Inferno from February to May of 2008. The Inferno is a team affiliated with the Toronto Maple eafs and a member of the East Coast Hockey League.

Scott McConnell - Assist Coach Wilkes-Barre Penguins-AHL

Coach McConnell is beginning his first season with the Penguins as Assistant Coach. Prior to this position he was with the Des Moines Buccaneets in the USHL and the Colorado Thunderbirds AAA program. McConnell brings a great amount of knowledge to the job. He spent two seasons playing in the USHL with Fargo-Moorhead and Cedar Rapids. He also spent the past three seasons with the Indiana Ice as Assistant Coach and Associate Head Coach. Past coaching jobs also include Assistant Head Coach for the Billings Bulls of the (NAHL) and a stint as Associate Head Coach of the Bay City Bombers (WSHL). After his USHL playing career, Scott was a four year member of the University of Denver Hockey team and helped the team win the 2004 NCAA National Championship. The Madison, WI native was born into a hockey rich family. His Grandfather "Badger" Bob Johnson coached 3 NCAA Championships teams with the Wisconsin Badgers in the 70's. He coached the 1976 U.S. Olympic team and was the Head Coach of the 1991 Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Championship team.

Tony Gasparani - Amateur Scout - Los Angeles Kings -NHL

Tony is in his third year of a member of the LA Kings scouting staff, his primary responsibilities are draft eligible players in the United States in addition to Collegiate Free Agents, his travels have taken him from
coast to coast in search of prospects for the kings across the US and Canada, Prior to joining the kings he worked both in NCAA Division I hockey in the ECAC in addition to serving as General Manager and Head Coach in the prestigious United States Hockey League. Tony currently resides in the Minneapolis, MN area.