Next year’s Tommies have a new head behind their team.
Today, St. Thomas University announced that Troy Ryan will be the new head coach of the men’s hockey team. Ryan, a Spryfield, Nova Scotia native, will begin his new position on May 2.
The search began when STU interim president Dennis Cochrane decided to split the positions of the men’s hockey team’s head coach and athletics director. Former players, administrators, hockey executives and alumni of St. Thomas helped conduct the search for thenew head coach.
Ryan is honored to be the new head coach of the men’s hockey program, he said in an email. But he knows that with the position comes a lot of responsibility and challenges.
“Since my very first game behind a bench it has been my goal to be the head coach of a university program,” he said. “I am appreciative of St. Thomas University for giving me that opportunity and I strongly believe they will be pleased with their selection.”
Ryan believes that recruiting will play an important role in the success of the Tommies. But he admits successful programs must be built over time – on and off the ice.
“It is important for our hockey program to continue to grow its hockey schools, build stronger community relationships, gain back the support of its alumni and improve its on-ice performance and record,” he said. “It is very important to surround our program with good people that have similar values and visions.”
Most recently, Ryan was the general manager and head coach of the Halifax Junior Lions “A” Hockey Club (MJAHL). His was also an assistant coach for the Acadia Axemen from 2001 to 2003, as well as a coach for Team Canada’s World Junior Championship team in 2003. He was also recognized as Hockey Nova Scotia’s Coach of the Year in 2007-2008, an award he won while coaching the Pictou County Weeks Crushers (MJAHL).
Ryan said he will be meeting with athletics director Mike Eagles on Friday to discuss potential staff members for the upcoming season.
