Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey

The Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the College of the Holy Cross. The Crusaders are members of Atlantic Hockey America (AHA), formed shortly after the 2023–24 season by the merger of their former home of the Atlantic Hockey Association with the women-only College Hockey America. 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 (a program worst). 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 who saw middling regular season results.

In the 2022-2023 regular season Holy Cross won their first Atlantic Hockey playoff round since the 2006 season against American International College. They would later upset Rochester Institute of Technology in the semifinals of the tournament but lose in the championship to Canisius.

Season-by-season results Source:

NCAA tournament results
The Crusaders have appeared in the NCAA tournament two times. Their combined record is 1–2.

Coaches
As of completion of 2023–24 season

Individual Awards
Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award
 * Matt Vidal: 2016

Division I All-Americans
AHCA Second Team All-Americans


 * 2023–24: Liam McLinskey, F

Individual awards
Offensive Player of the Year
 * Patrick Rissmiller, F: 2002
 * Brandon Doria, F: 2003

Goaltender of the Year
 * Scott Simpson: 1999

Offensive Rookie of the Year
 * Tyler McGregor, F: 2003

Coach of the Year
 * Paul Pearl: 2002

Tournament Most Valuable Player
 * Mike Maguire, D: 1999

All-Conference teams
First Team All-MAAC


 * 1998–99: Scott Simpson, G; Chris Fattey, F
 * 2001–02: Patrick Rissmiller, F
 * 2002–03: Brandon Doria, F

Second Team All-MAAC


 * 1998–99: Mike Maguire, D
 * 1999–00: Jim Whelan, D
 * 2001–02: R. J. Irving, D; Brandon Doria, F

MAAC All-Rookie Team


 * 1998–99: Patrick Rissmiller, F
 * 2000–01: R. J. Irving, D; Greg Kealey, F
 * 2002–03: Tyler McGregor, F

Individual awards
Player of the Year
 * Tyler McGregor: 2006
 * Liam McLinskey: 2024

Best Defensive Forward
 * Greg Kealey: 2004
 * Blair Bartlett: 2006
 * Rob Linsmayer: 2011

Best Defenseman
 * Rob Godfrey: 2006
 * Jon Landry: 2007

Individual Sportsmanship Award
 * Tim Coskren: 2004
 * Tyler McGregor: 2006
 * James Sixsmith: 2007

Regular Season Goaltending Award
 * Ben Conway: 2005
 * Tony Quesada: 2006
 * Jason Grande: 2024

Regular Season Scoring Trophy
 * Tyler McGregor: 2006
 * Liam McLinskey: 2024

Best Defensive Forward
 * Greg Kealey, F: 2004
 * James Sixsmith, LW: 2006

Most Valuable Player in Tournament
 * Tyler McGregor: 2006

All-Conference teams
First Team All-Atlantic Hockey


 * 2003–04: Jeff Dams, F
 * 2004–05: Tyler McGregor, F
 * 2005–06: Jon Landry, D; Tyler McGregor, F
 * 2006–07: Jon Landry, D; James Sixsmith, F
 * 2014–15: Matt Ginn, G
 * 2017–18: Paul Berrafato, G
 * 2023–24: Liam McLinskey, F

Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey


 * 2003–04: Tony Quesada, G
 * 2004–05: Pierre Napert-Frenette, F
 * 2005–06: Tony Quesada, G; Pierre Napert-Frenette, F
 * 2011–12: Adam Schmidt, F
 * 2020–21: Matt Slick, D
 * 2022–23: Jack Ricketts, F
 * 2023–24: Jason Grande, G; Jack Ricketts, F

Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey


 * 2007–08: Matt Burke, D; Brodie Sheahan, F
 * 2016–17: Spencer Trapp, D; Danny Lopez, F
 * 2021–22: Ryan Leibold, F
 * 2022–23: Nick Hale, D

Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team


 * 2003–04: James Sixsmith, F
 * 2007–08: Mark Znutas, D; Everett Sheen, F
 * 2010–11: Jeffrey Reppucci, F
 * 2011–12: Matt Ginn, G
 * 2012–13: Karl Beckman, D
 * 2018–19: Matt Slick, D; Anthony Vincent, F
 * 2022–23: Mack Oliphant, D
 * 2023–24: Jack Stockfish, F

Statistical leaders
Source:

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 30 games Statistics current through the end of the 2023–24 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 (induction date in parentheses).


 * Larry Murphy (1981)
 * Gerry Curley (1996)
 * Jim Stewart (1998)
 * Joe Lunny (1999)
 * Glenn Graves (2000)
 * Bill Bellerose (2002)
 * Dean Casagrande (2002)
 * Matt Muniz (2005)
 * Patrick Rissmiller (2010)
 * Tyler McGregor (2013)
 * Tony Quesada (2014)
 * James Sixsmith (2017)
 * Terrence Butt (2018)

Current roster
As of September 14, 2023.

Crusaders in the NHL
As of July 1, 2023.

Source: