Army Black Knights men's ice hockey
Current season
Army Black Knights athletic logo
UniversityUnited States Military Academy
ConferenceAHA
First season1903–04
Head coachBrian Riley
20th season, 232–336–90 (.421)
Assistant coaches
  • Zack McKelvie
  • Chris Azzano
  • Jack Riley
Captain
  • Ricky Lyle
  • Michael Sacco
ArenaTate Rink
West Point, New York
ColorsBlack, gold, and gray[1]
     
Conference regular season championships
AHA: 2007–08
Current uniform

The Army Black Knights men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the United States Military Academy. The Black Knights are a member of Atlantic Hockey and play at the Tate Rink in West Point, New York.

History

The men's ice hockey program at West Point has been in existence since the 1903–04 season. The team played outdoors until 1930 when the Smith Rink opened.[2] The team competed as independent members of NCAA Division I from the inaugural season through the 1960–61 season.[3] In 1961 the program became a founding member of the ECAC.[3] The team, known at the time as the Army Cadets, played as members of the ECAC from 1961 to 1962 season through the 1972–73 season before dropping their program to Division II status when the NCAA instituted numerical divisions. The Cadets would remain there until 1980 when they rejoined the ECAC as an associate member. Army became a full ECAC member in 1984 in the aftermath of the Hockey East schism but the Cadets wouldn't remain for long and left the conference in 1990. The Cadets joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), which began sponsoring men's hockey at the time, in 1999 and in 2001 the team name was changed to Army Black Knights along with the other athletic programs at the Academy.[3] In 2003, the MAAC's ice hockey division split off and became the Atlantic Hockey Association, a hockey-only NCAA Division I conference.[4]

In 2007–08 season the Black Knights won their only conference title to date, the Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Championship. In that season the Knights finished with an overall record of 19 wins, 14 losses, and 4 ties and went 17–8–3 in conference play.[5] Took the No. 1 seed into the Atlantic Hockey playoffs and swept (#10) American Int'l two games to none in the three game first round series.[4] The Black Knight's season came to an end in the semifinal game when they lost to (#5) Mercyhurst 2–4.[6]

Since 1950, the Cadets/Black Knights have been coached by a member of the Riley family. Jack Riley, best known for leading the United States to the gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics, coached at West Point from 1950 to 1986. He handed the reins to his son Rob in 1986, who in turn handed coaching duties to his younger brother Brian in 2004.

Army–RMC rivalry

The Army Black Knights have a long-standing rivalry with the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Paladins. It is considered one of the longest-running annual international sporting events in the world.[7][8]

The tradition originated when the commandant of RMC, Sir Archibald McDonnell, and the superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur, suggested a game of ice hockey between the two schools in 1921.[9] After two years of exchanging ideas, the first game was played on February 23, 1923, at West Point. The Redmen won that first game 3–0.[10] In 1924 the series moved to Kingston, Ontario (the location of RMC), thus beginning the tradition of rotating venues. This was Army's first away game and up until 1941, the West Point Game was the only time that Army played away from the Academy.[7][8]

From 1923 to 1935 RMC ran up a record of 14–0–1, the only blemish being a 4–4 tie in 1935. 1939 saw Army win its first game, 3–1. As a result of World War II, only one game was played, a 3–1 Army win in 1942, over the next 10 years.[7]

In the 1950s and 1960s Army won 15 of 20 games, bringing the series close with RMC holding a 21–18–1 advantage. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the teams played fairly closely. In 1986 the record stood at 26–25–4 in favor of RMC.[7]

From 1988 to 1999, Army dominated the rivalry, going undefeated. RMC last won in 2002 by a score of 3–0 and Army won in 2004, 3–2.

The 2006 game was a 3–3 tie in front of 3100 fans in Kingston. Currently Army leads the Series 39–29–7.

The game was played continually after the World War II years, from 1949 until 2007.[11] The 2007 edition of the rivalry was to take place on Saturday Feb 10, at Tate Arena in West Point, New York, but was cancelled due to regular season scheduling conflicts and for 2008 the teams will not play a competitive game but instead the Paladins will travel to New York to spend 3 days practicing, playing and socializing with the West Point cadets. [12]

The series was re-established on February 4, 2011, with Army hosting the Paladins at West Point. This rivalry will continue on an annual basis, counting as an exhibition game for both teams.

Season-by-season results

[13]

All-time coaching records

As of March 7, 2023

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
2004–PresentBrian Riley19232–336–90.421
1988–2004Rob Riley18257–288–33.473
1950–1986Jack Riley36542–343–20.610
1945–1950Len Patten533–35–2.486
1944–1945Robert Lutz17–2–1.750
1943–1944John Hines15–4–0.556
1923–1943Ray Marchand2076–106–9.421
1920–1923Talbot Hunter312–12–2.500
1918–1920Philip Day26–4–1.591
1917–1918Joseph Viner16–3–0.667
1914–1917Frank Purdon39–10–1.475
1912–1914Philip Gordon27–6–0.538
1910–1912LeRoy Bartlett23–4–1.438
1907–1910George Russell35–7–4.438
1904–1907Robert Foy315–8–0.652
1903–1904Edward Leonard King15–1–0.833
Totals 16 coaches 120 seasons 1220–1169–164 .510

Awards

U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

The following individuals have been inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

† As the coach of the 1960 Olympic team.

IIHF Hall of Fame

The following individuals have been inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Army Sports Hall of Fame

The following individuals have been inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame.

Lester Patrick Award

The following individuals have been awarded the Lester Patrick Award.

NCAA

Individual awards

All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

MAAC

Individual awards

All–MAAC teams

First Team[14]

  • Brad Roberts (2003)

Second Team

  • Joe Dudek (2003)

Rookie Team[15]

  • Chris Casey (2002)
  • Brad Roberts (2003)

Atlantic Hockey

Individual awards

All-Atlantic Hockey Teams

First Team[18]

  • Josh Kassel (2008)
  • Zach McKelvie (2008, 2009)
  • Luke Flicek (2008)
  • Owen Meyer (2009)
  • Alexander Wilkinson (2018)
  • Trevin Kozlowski (2021)
  • Thomas Farrell (2021)
  • Colin Bilek (2021, 2022)

Second Team

  • Brad Roberts (2006)
  • Tim Manthey (2006, 2007)
  • Josh Kassel (2007)
  • Owen Meyer (2008)
  • Marcel Alvarez (2010, 2011)
  • Cody Omilusik (2010)
  • Parker Gahagen (2016, 2017)
  • Michael Wilson (2018)
  • Dalton MacAfee (2019)
  • Dominic Franco (2020)
  • John Zimmerman (2021)
  • Gavin Abric (2022)
  • Anthony Firriolo (2022)
  • Joey Baez (2023)

Third Team

  • Luke Flicek (2007)
  • Cody Omilusik (2011)
  • John Keranen (2023)

Rookie Team

  • Tim Manthey (2006)
  • Owen Meyer (2007)
  • Marcel Alvarez (2009)
  • Joe Kozlak (2013)
  • C. J. Reuschlein (2014)
  • Tyler Pham (2015)
  • Alexander Wilkinson (2017)
  • Dominic Franco (2017)
  • John Zimmerman (2018)
  • Anthony Firriolo (2020)
  • Lincoln Hatten (2021)
  • Max Itagaki (2023)

Statistical leaders

[19]

Career scoring leaders

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Years GP G A PTS PIM
Dave Rost1973–1977104226330
Tom Rost1976–1980118169287284
George Clark1971–1975153113266
Jim Knowlton1978–198290172262
David Merhar1966–1969112117229
Robbie Craig1980–198486135221
Ed Collazzo1979–198393104197
Frank Keating1978–198265131196
Dan Cox1979–198361133194
Biff Shea1981–198568120188

Career goaltending leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Minimum 35 games

Player Years GP MIN W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Trevin Kozlowski2017–2021653865362161423.9112.18
Jack Shepard1960–1963.9202.20
Neil Meiras1961–1964.8962.28
Parker Gahagen2013–2017110637241491625510.9262.40
Josh Kassel2005–2009774415373171818.9092.46

Statistics current through the start of the 2017-18 season.

Roster

As of September 14, 2023.[20]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Wisconsin Gavin Abric Senior G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-01-11 Hayward, Wisconsin Jersey (NCDC) —
2 Alaska Mac Gadowsky Freshman D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-01-10 Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks (NAHL) —
3 South Dakota Easton Zueger Freshman D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2003-06-07 Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux City (USHL) —
4 Colorado John Driscoll Sophomore D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2001-08-19 Littleton, Colorado Green Bay (USHL) —
5 Minnesota Jon Bell Freshman D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2002-06-22 St. Cloud, Minnesota Wisconsin (NAHL) —
6 Florida Pierce Patterson Freshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2002-02-26 Valrico, Florida Amarillo (NAHL) —
7 Connecticut Andrew Gilbert Junior D 6' 5" (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 2000-05-02 Fairfield, Connecticut Jersey (NCDC) —
8 Minnesota Ricky Lyle (C) Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2000-08-21 Duluth, Minnesota Madison (USHL) —
9 Minnesota Nik Hong Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-08-27 Minneapolis, Minnesota St. Cloud (NAHL) —
10 Nebraska Jake Felker Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2000-03-19 Omaha, Nebraska Youngstown (USHL) —
11 Wisconsin Josh Bohlin Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2000-02-10 Wausau, Wisconsin Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL) —
12 Massachusetts Jake Hewitt Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-07-05 Ashburnham, Massachusetts Nanaimo (BCHL) —
13 New York (state) Michael Sacco (C) Junior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1999-11-16 Syosset, New York Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (NAHL) —
14 New York (state) Owen Nolan Sophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2000-03-10 Mahopac, New York Lone Star (NAHL) —
15 North Dakota Lucas Kanta Sophomore F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2001-04-20 Grand Forks, North Dakota Minnesota Magicians (NAHL) —
16 Massachusetts Hunter McCoy Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2000-08-01 Newburyport, Massachusetts Maryland (NAHL) —
17 Michigan Vincent Salice Freshman F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2003-02-28 Commerce Township, Michigan Omaha (USHL) —
18 Wisconsin Dayne Hoyord Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-03-19 Scandinavia, Wisconsin Odessa (NAHL) —
19 Illinois Max Itagaki Sophomore F 5' 5" (1.65 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 2002-06-18 Glenview, Illinois Nanaimo (BCHL) —
20 New Jersey Sean Vlasich Sophomore D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2001-04-20 Hillsdale, New Jersey North Iowa (NAHL) —
21 Connecticut Stephen Willey Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2001-03-26 Shelton, Connecticut New Jersey (NAHL) —
22 New York (state) Jude Brower Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-06-11 Mahopac, New York Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC) —
23 Florida Joey Baez Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2000-01-12 Tampa, Florida Lone Star (NAHL) —
24 Michigan Andrew Garby Junior D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 2000-09-17 Canton, Michigan Fairbanks (NAHL) —
25 Illinois Barron Woodring Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2002-07-05 Chicago, Illinois Sioux City (USHL) —
26 Minnesota Joey Dosan Sophomore F 6' 6" (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2001-03-20 Bloomington, Minnesota Springfield (NAHL) —
27 North Carolina Trevor Smith Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-03-02 Raleigh, North Carolina Boston Advantage (NCDC) —
28 Colorado Brent Keefer Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2001-09-28 Colorado Springs, Colorado Northeast (NAHL) —
29 Texas Eric Huss Senior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1999-03-16 Dallas, Texas Lone Star (NAHL) —
31 Tennessee Evan Szary Junior G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2000-02-29 Nashville, Tennessee South Shore (NCDC) —
33 Ohio Gus Holt Freshman G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 206 lb (93 kg) 2003-02-21 Bowling Green, Ohio Victoria (BCHL) —

Olympians

This is a list of Army alumni were a part of an Olympic team.

Name Position Army Tenure Team Year Finish
Larry PalmerGoaltender1956–1959United States USA1960 Gold

Black Knights in the NHL

As of July 1, 2022.

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