2023-24 Season Preview: Rivier Men’s Ice Hockey
NASHUA, N.H. – With a new coach at the helm for the upcoming season in Shaun Millerick, Rivier men's ice hockey will look to build off an 8-15-2 campaign from a year ago and head into its final season as an independent program with an energized group captained by Luke Newell, Nicolas Paolucci, and Jon Tavella.
Millerick was named the head coach on July 10 after spending the previous six seasons at the helm at Franklin Pierce. While at Pierce, he set the record for all-time coaching victories with 53 and was named the Northeast-10 Conference's Coach of the Year in 2020.
The team's roster includes 20 returners along with eight first years who will look to make an instant impact.
"I'm really pleased with the way our group has bought into developing our culture," said Millerick. "We've had a productive fall and have a lot of confidence going into the season."
The team retains top point scorers Jon Tavella (7-6-13), Nicolas Paolucci (5-6-11), and Cormac Hayes (6-4-10). The trio will look to work together as the team's top unit of forwards.
Defender Carter Poulin also returns for his sophomore season, after posting a +7 and five assists over 25 games last year.
Both Will Augustine and Luke Newell return in between the pipes, while the team has added first years Dylan Lowe and Mason Meyer who will look to compete for the starting job. Newell is expected to start in 2023-24 after posting a 2.85 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage over 15 starts last season.
Alvernia will be the first opponent of the season as they make the trek to Nashua for games on Oct. 27 and 28. The following weekend will be Family Weekend, as the Raiders welcome both Mass. Liberal Arts and Mass.-Dartmouth to Conway Arena on Nov. 4 and 5.
The Terry Moran Invitational will be the first tournament action of the year for the Raiders in late November, as they will travel to Castleton to take on Morrisville on Friday, Nov. 24 at 4:00 p.m. at Spartan Arena followed by the championship or consolation game the following day.
After the start of the new year, Rivier will trek north to Plattsburg's Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic on Jan. 5 and 6 to take on the host Cardinals and either Nazareth or Albertus Magnus.
Down the stretch, Rivier will alternate home and away games before capping off the slate on a three-game homestand against Framingham St. (Feb. 6), Anna Maria (Feb. 10 - Senior Night), and Franklin Pierce (Feb 13.)
"You really never know what to expect when the puck finally drops, but I feel the work our guys have put in and their commitment to getting better every day will have us ready to go on October 27," Millerick said.
