Mark Dennehy enters his fifth season behind the bench for the
Merrimack College hockey team. He was named the seventh head hockey
coach in Merrimack College history on June 30, 2005. Dennehy came
from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he worked with
current UMass Coach Don Cahoon from 2000-2005.
Dennehy and his coaching staff have entirely rebuilt the hockey
program since his arrival in 2005. In 2008-09, freshman defenseman
Karl Stollery became the first Warrior to make an all-conference
team since Dennehy’s first season at Merrimack. The Warriors
surrendered just 89 goals last season, setting a school record for
the second straight year. Strong recruiting led to the addition of
goaltender Joe Cannata, who helped the Warriors post a
goals-against-average of under three in conference games for the
first time in school history.
Cannata and incoming freshman Kyle Bigos became the first players
at Merrimack to be drafted since 2002, as both were taken in the
2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Despite the 9-21-4 season, Dennehy had his team in virtually every
game, as the Warriors lost 14 games by one goal, tops in the
country. The freshmen and sophomore classes accounted for
approximately two-thirds of the team’s points, showing that
expectations are higher for this season.
After a tough 2006-07 season that saw the Warriors win just three
games, Dennehy’s squad rebounded in 2007-08, winning its
first three games and garnering 12 victories in all. Led by captain
Derek Pallardy, the Warriors allowed just 93 goals. Highlighted by
weekend sweeps at Bemidji State, vs. #16 Maine, and a home-and-home
with #14 Providence, the Warriors, who had just one senior and 22
freshmen and sophomores on the roster, caught the eye of the public
and even garnered 22 national votes in the USCHO poll following the
sweep of Maine on November 19th. Forwards Rob Ricci, J.C.
Robitaille, and Matt Jones combined to score 38 goals, one more
than the entire team scored in 2006-07.
Dennehy garnered Hockey East Coach of the Year staff member honors
in 2002-03 and was involved in all aspects of coaching the
Minutemen, including recruiting, video analysis, fund-raising,
marketing, and on ice instruction. He was a part of one of the
quickest rebuilding processes in the history of college hockey,
when the UMass team advanced to the finals of the 2003 Hockey East
Tournament in just the third season under head coach Don Cahoon and
his staff. With the likes of All-American Thomas Pock, Greg
Mauldin, and Nick Kuiper, UMass took Maine to three overtimes
before losing in the finals.
Off of the ice, the Merrimack Hockey program continues to set a
torrid pace academically. Andrew Braithwaite was among 16 Warriors
to earn Hockey East All-Academic honors, with Braithwaite being
named the Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second time.
Sixteen Warriors achieved a grade-point-average of over 3.0 in
2008-09, most in Hockey East.
Since the award’s inception 18 years ago in the 1991-92
season, a Merrimack athlete has received the honor nine times, most
among all Hockey East schools.
Prior to his position at UMass, Dennehy worked for Cahoon at
Princeton from 1994-99. He helped the tigers to three consecutive
ECAC ‘Final Five’ tournaments in Lake Placid. In
1997-98 Dennehy contributed toward Princeton’s first ever
ECAC championship and only NCAA appearance in the long
distinguished history of the program. From there, he cut his teeth
as the head coach at Fairfield University for the 1999-2000 before
joining ‘Toot’ again at UMass.
Dennehy has recruited and/or coached two All-American players, two
Hockey Humanitarian Award Finalists, three all-rookie team members,
and four all-league selections. Six of his former players have
signed NHL contracts. Jeff Halpern, the most prominent, served as
the captain of the Washington Capitals during the 2005-06 season
before signing with the Dallas Stars prior to the start of the
2006-07 season. He has also played for the U.S. National Team in
the World Cup of Hockey, Olympics, and World Championships.
More recently, Dennehy created, founded, and directed the U.S.
College Hockey Advancement Camp. The first of its kind in the east,
the USCHA attracts prospects and their families from all over North
America to the UMass Amherst campus. This prospect camp is fully
staffed with college hockey coaches. The schedule includes
practices, seminars, and games each day. The seminars include
topics such as the NCAA Clearinghouse, Strength & Conditioning,
and a panel discussion between the prospects, their parents, and
college coaches.
A member of the American Hockey Coaches Association since 1994,
Dennehy was named to the AHCA Boar of Governors in 2006. He has
also volunteered for both Massachusetts Hockey and USA Hockey.
A native of Dorchester, Mass., Dennehy helped Boston College win
three Hockey East regular season titles, played on the 1989-90
Hockey East Championship team and was a part of three NCAA
qualifying teams, including the 1990 team which advanced to the
NCAA Frozen Four at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
He then went on to play a season in Britain’s elite league
for the Ayr Raiders in 1991-92. Dennehy parlayed that into a tryout
with the Fort Wayne Comets in the IHL before trading in his skates
for a whistle.
Dennehy resides in Andover with his wife Heather and three
daughters – Kelsey, Kielan, and Caroline.
Phil Roy returns for his second season as an assistant coach
with the Merrimack hockey program.
Roy worked mainly with the forwards and the power play unit in his
first season at Merrimack, while recruiting primarily in eastern
Canada.
Roy comes to Merrimack after spending the 2007-08 season as the
head coach for Neumann College Knights. Roy guided the Division III
Knights to a 17-9 record and a fourth place finish in the ECAC West
Division.
Roy debuted in the coaching world as an assistant at Hobart
College prior to the 2005-06 season. During his tenure there, the
Statesman set the school record for most wins in a season and
appeared in the Division III Frozen Four for the first time ever.
He mentored the program's first All-American defenseman and was a
member of the coaching staff that garnered 6 All-ECAC West
selections, 14 All-ECAC West Academic Honorees and 1 ESPN
All-Academic First Team award winner. He was also a member of the
2006 coaching staff which received Coach of the Year honors by the
ECAC West organization.
He spent five years playing professional hockey in North America
and Europe. He served as an assistant captain and assistant coach
for the Diables Noirs de Tours in the France Elite League, where he
led the league in scoring by a defenseman. He was also an assistant
coach and a captain in the United Kingdom Elite League with the
Basingstoke Bison. Prior to his European career, Roy played for the
Johnstown Chiefs and Augusta Lynx of the East Coast Hockey League
and for the St. John Flames and Cleveland Barons of the American
Hockey League. He was named team Rookie of the Year by the Muskegon
Fury and was selected to the UHL All-Rookie Team in 2000-01.
Roy skated as a defenseman for Clarkson University from 1996 to
2000 where he recorded 77 career points, on 24 goals and 53 assists
in 144 games. He played an integral role in the team's two
first-place finishes, three NCAA tournament appearances and two
ECAC tournament championships, while earning his undergraduate
degree in technical communications.
A St. Leonard, Quebec native, Roy and his wife Sonia gave birth to
their first daughter Mackaelie in October of 2007. They currently
reside in Andover.
Glenn Stewart enters his first season as an assistant coach at
Merrimack College. A Toronto, Ontario native, Stewart will work
primarily with the forwards and serve as the recruiting
coordinator.
“This is a great hire for the Merrimack College hockey
program,” said head coach Mark Dennehy. “Glenn brings a
wealth of experience as a former Hockey East and nine-year
professional hockey player. He has already built some great
recruiting relationships from Western Canada to the USHL, NAHL, and
Ontario. Finally, as a former forward, he should prove to be the
perfect complement to the staff.”
Hired in August of 2009, Stewart spent five seasons as an
assistant coach at the University of Connecticut, and three as the
recruiting coordinator. During his first two seasons as the second
assistant, Stewart earned his Master of Arts degree in Sport
Management.
Prior to coaching, Stewart played professional hockey for nine
years in the East Coast and International Hockey Leagues (formerly
the United Hockey League) along with several stints in the American
Hockey League. As the assistant captain of the Quad City Mallards
(UHL) in 1997 and 1998, Stewart helped lead his team to
back-to-back Colonial Cup Championships. As a professional, Stewart
played in 618 games tallying 402 goals, 452 assists, 854, included
in this were three seasons where he registered over 50 goals and
100 points. Stewart remains in the top ten in many offensive
categories in all time playoff scoring in the IHL.
During his time as a professional player, Stewart was given an
opportunity to lead at a coaching level. While playing for the
Mallards from 1997-99 and as a member of the New Haven Knights from
2001-02, Stewart served as the Player Assistant Coach.
Stewart began his college coaching career as an assistant coach
under the guidance of head coach Gary Wright at American
International College in 2003-04. While at AIC, Stewart was
responsible for recruiting and served as the team’s goalie
coach.
Before playing professional hockey, Stewart was a four-year letter
winner at the University of New Hampshire earning his Bachelor of
Science degree in family and consumer studies. He played in a
career total of 144 games and was named assistant captain in
1993-94 his senior year. Stewart has also been extensively involved
with USA hockey working within the New England District. He is
employed as an evaluator and coach for the Yankee Conference
Festival as well as the New England District Development camps
13-18 which take place throughout the summer months.
Stewart and his wife Bridget reside in Wayland, Mass.
Former Merrimack goaltender Jim Healey enters his first season
as the goaltending coach at Merrimack. Healey began his duties in
mid-January of 2010.
Healey replaces Chris Rogles, who accepted a position at Clarkson
University, his alma mater, in January.
Healey appeared in 91 games for the Warriors from 2003-07,
backstopping Merrimack to its last playoff appearance in 2003-04,
his freshman season.
The goaltending coach, a volunteer position, was filled by Rogles
last summer after another Merrimack alum, Tom Welby, departed at
the end of the 2008-09 season. Welby coached Healey his final two
seasons at Merrimack.
Healey was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team in 2004 and to
the All-Academic team in 2006. He was voted Merrimack’s Most
Valuable Player in 2007 by his teammates.
