Introduction
Eric John "Rick" Bennett (born July 24, 1967) is a retired American ice hockey left winger. He is currently the head coach of theUnion Dutchmen ice hockey team at Union College where he is under contract to coach through the 2022-23 season. He has led the Dutchmen to three ECAC Hockey regular season titles (2011–12, 2014-14 & 2016-17), three ECAC Hockey tournament titles (2012, 2013 & 2014), four NCAA Tournament appearances (2012, 2013, 2014 & 2017), two Frozen Fours (2012 & 2014) and one NCAA championship title (2014)by defeating Minnesota.Bennett won ECAC Hockey's Tim Taylor Award for conference coach of the year twice (2012 & 2017) and won the American Hockey Coaches Association's Spencer Penrose Award for NCAA Division I coach of the year in 2014.
Bennett is currently married, has five children and resides in Clifton Park, NY.
Playing career
Bennett was a four-year letterwinner (1986–90) and co-captain at Providence, where he was recognized as a Hobey Baker finalist (1990) and two-time winner of the Lou Lamoriello Trophy as team MVP.He was named an All-American during the 1988-89 season and earned All-Hockey East Second Team honors in 1990. A left-winger, Bennett finished with 134 points (50 goals, 84 assists) in 128 career games. Bennett skated on the famed B-B-G line, along with center Mike Boback and right wing Robbie Gaudreau.Rick, who graduated with a B.A. in general studies, was inducted into the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Bennett was a third-round draft pick (54th overall) of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.His draft rights were later traded to the New York Rangers.Bennett appeared in 15 games with the Rangers over three seasons (1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92).Bennett's 10-year professional career also included stints with the Binghamton Rangers (AHL), Springfield Indians (AHL), Hershey Bears (AHL), Springfield Falcons (AHL), Albany River Rats (AHL), Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL), Jacksonville Lizard Kings (ECHL) and Pee Dee Pride (ECHL).Bennett served as a player assistant coach for the Jacksonville Lizard Kings and Pee Dee Pride.
Head coaching record
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union (ECAC Hockey) | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | Union | 26–8–7 | 14–4–4 | 1st | NCAA Frozen Four | ||||
| 2012–13 | Union | 22–13–5 | 10–8–4 | 4th | NCAA Regional Finals | ||||
| 2013–14 | Union | 32–6–4 | 18–3–1 | 1st | NCAA Champions | ||||
| 2014–15 | Union | 19–18–2 | 8–13–1 | 10th | ECAC Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2015–16 | Union | 13–14–9 | 6–10–6 | 9th | ECAC First Round | ||||
| 2016–17 | Union | 25–10–3 | 16–4–2 | T-1st | NCAA Regional Semifinals | ||||
| 2017–18 | Union | 21–15–2 | 16–5–1 | 2nd | ECAC Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2018–19 | Union | 20–13–6 | 10–10–2 | 7th | ECAC Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2019–20 | Union | 8–25–4 | 5–15–2 | 10th | ECAC First Round | ||||
| Union: | 186–122–42 | 103–72–23 | |||||||
| Total: | 186–122–42 | ||||||||
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Awards and honors
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| All-Hockey East Rookie Team | 1986–87 | |
| AHCA East Second-Team All-American | 1988–89 | |
| All-Hockey East Second Team | 1989–90 |