Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey


The Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the College of the Holy Cross. The Crusaders are a member of the Atlantic Hockey Association. They play at the Hart Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

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.
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. 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.
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 and while the team hasn't played poorly, they've yet to win a round in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament.

Season-by-season results

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Crusaders have appeared in the NCAA Tournament two times. Their combined record is 1–2.
YearSeedRoundOpponentResults
2004#4West Regional Semifinal#1 North DakotaL 3-0
2006#4West Regional Semifinal
West Regional Final		#1 Minnesota
  1. 2 North Dakota
W 4-3 L 5-2

Coaches

As of completion of 2018–19 season
TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
2014–presentDavid Berard680–104–34
1994–1996, 1997–2014Paul Pearl19297–293–69
1989–1994Bill Bellerose661–99–3
1979–1988, 1996–1997Peter Van Buskirk10167–146–8
1976–1979Mike Addesa349–31–1
1966–1976Bill Kane10122–104–2
Totals6 coaches55 seasons776–777–117

Awards and honors

NCAA

Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award

Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Goaltender of the Year
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Coach of the Year
Tournament Most Valuable Player
First Team All-MAAC
Second Team All-MAAC
MAAC All-Rookie Team

Individual Awards

Player of the Year
Best Defensive Forward
Best Defenseman
Individual Sportsmanship Award
Regular Season Goaltending Award
Regular Season Scoring Trophy
Coach of the Year
Most Valuable Player in Tournament
First Team All-Atlantic Hockey
Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey
Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
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 1000 minutes
PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
2002–20061056034613382517.9152.50
2014–2018114667746471928111.9112.51
2011–201512977595955133248.9172.51
1995–199938196021102822.9032.51
2002–2006452411181551032.9092.56

Statistics current through the start of the 2018-19 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.
As of July 12, 2019.

Crusaders in the NHL

PlayerPositionTeamYearsStanley Cup|
Patrick RissmillerLeft WingSJS, NYR, ATL, FLA2003–20110
Jim StewartGoaltenderBOS1979–19800