As renovations began on Appleton Arena last week, the St. Lawrence Men’s Hockey team announced more major changes for the upcoming season. On March 29, Director of Athletics Bob Durocher announced that the team would be moving on from Head Coach Mark Morris.
In a statement to saintsathletics.com, Durocher lauded the coach’s hard work to set the program back on course towards success over the past few seasons. “The coaching staff has worked hard to get the program back on track after some disappointing seasons,” he said. “I would like to thank the coaches for their dedicated service to St. Lawrence University and wish them well in their future endeavors.”
Associate Head Coach Mike Hurlbut and Assistant Coach Matt Deschamps will also not be returning next season.
Morris’s brief tenure got off to a strong start in the 2016-17 season. The team finished with a 17-13-7 record, earning a first-round bye in the ECAC tournament. The next two seasons were not as fruitful for the team, as they finished last in the conference in back to back seasons. Morris leaves St. Lawrence with a record of 31-69-11.
This wasn’t the first go-around for Morris behind the bench for the Saints. He was an assistant under Head Coach Joe Marsh from 1985-88, helping the team on its incredible run to the National Championship game in 1988 before taking over as Head Coach of Clarkson the next year.
He stayed at Clarkson for 15 years, leading the team to seven National Championship tournament appearances. In November 2002, he was fired from Clarkson following an investigation into an altercation he had with one of his players.
On April 3, AD Durocher released an update on the search for the next Charles W. Appleton II Head Men’s Hockey Coach. “A short list of candidates is being developed and vetted, as we work with focus and urgency to select the future leader of our men’s ice hockey program,” the statement read.
The program is working with “several St. Lawrence alumni, including those that have experience and expertise in the professional and college hockey worlds” to find a suitable replacement for Morris.
“This is an exciting time for our student-athletes, alumni, and the broader St. Lawrence hockey family,” the statement closed. No official time-table has been set for when the new coach will be announced.
As the Madhouse on Miner undergoes its own cosmetic repairs this offseason, fans are sure to be anxious to see who will be leading the next era of Saints Men’s Hockey.