The Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the College of the Holy Cross. The Crusaders are members of Atlantic Hockey America (AHA), formed shortly after the 2023–24 season by the merger of their former home of the Atlantic Hockey Association with the women-only College Hockey America. They play at the Hart Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
History Holy Cross men's ice hockey began in 1966 and a year later it joined ECAC 2. The Crusaders played in the second tier of college ice hockey for ten years before they played their first playoff game, but once they made it they didn't go very far. Over a six year period Holy Cross wen 2–5 in the conference postseason and never really got close to an NCAA tournament berth. When Division II ice hockey was abandoned in 1984 Holy Cross dropped down to Division III and was placed in ECAC East when ECAC 2 split. They made the ECAC tournament three out of four years under Peter Van Buskirk but couldn't manage a win. The team went through a down period under Bill Bellerose for six seasons but started winning again when Paul Pearl became head coach in 1994. After recording their best season in fifteen years Holy Cross promoted its program to Division I and joined the MAAC in 1998–99.
In their first year of D–I play Holy Cross won its first Conference Tournament, winning the inaugural MAAC Championship. Unfortunately, because the NCAA did not offer the MAAC an automatic bid at that time the Crusaders did not make the NCAA tournament. The next season Holy Cross dropped to seventh in the conference and lost 24 games over the course of the season (a program worst). After missing out on the conference tournament the next season Holy Cross returned to the playoffs for the final two years of the MAAC's existence before joining with all former MAAC programs in founding Atlantic Hockey.
Similar to their start with the MAAC, Holy Cross produced a great season, winning 22 games, and were able to win their first conference title. They then swept through the Atlantic Hockey playoffs and captured their second tournament championship, though this time they received a berth into the NCAA tournament for the first time.
Though their national championship experience was brief the Crusaders continued to play well and returned to the Championship in 2006 after winning both conference crowns. The met #2 overall seeded Minnesota in the first round and pushed the heavily favored Golden Gophers into overtime where Tyler McGregor scored 53 seconds in, winning what is usually noted as the biggest upset in tournament history.
Holy Cross would decline after their miraculous 2006 season, posting losing records for four consecutive years, but the program began to recover in the second decade of the 20th century. Paul Pearl resigned in 2014 and was replaced by David Berard who saw middling regular season results.
In the 2022-2023 regular season Holy Cross won their first Atlantic Hockey playoff round since the 2006 season against American International College. They would later upset Rochester Institute of Technology in the semifinals of the tournament but lose in the championship to Canisius.
Season-by-season results
Source:
Postseason
NCAA tournament results The Crusaders have appeared in the NCAA tournament two times. Their combined record is 1–2.
Year Seed Round Opponent Results 2004 #4 West Regional semifinal #1 North Dakota L 3-0 2006 #4 West Regional semifinalWest Regional Final #1 Minnesota#2 North Dakota W 4-3 (OT)L 5-2
Coaches
As of completion of 2025–26 season Tenure Coach Years Record Pct. 1966–1976 Bill Kane 10 122–104–2 1976–1979 Mike Addesa 3 49–31–1 1979–1988, 1996–1997 Peter Van Buskirk 10 167–146–8 1988–1994 Bill Bellerose 6 61–99–3 1994–1996, 1997–2014 Paul Pearl 19 297–293–69 2014–2021 David Berard 7 84–116–34 2021–Present Bill Riga 5 92–90–13 Totals 7 coaches 60 seasons 872–879–130
Awards and honors
NCAA Individual Awards
Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award Matt Vidal: 2016
Division I All-Americans AHCA Second Team All-Americans
2023–24: Liam McLinskey, F 2024–25: Liam McLinskey, F
MAAC
Individual awards
Offensive Player of the Year Patrick Rissmiller, F: 2002 Brandon Doria, F: 2003
Goaltender of the Year Scott Simpson: 1999
Offensive Rookie of the Year Tyler McGregor, F: 2003
Coach of the Year Paul Pearl: 2002
Tournament Most Valuable Player Mike Maguire, D: 1999
All-Conference teams First Team All-MAAC
1998–99: Scott Simpson, G; Chris Fattey, F 2001–02: Patrick Rissmiller, F 2002–03: Brandon Doria, F
Second Team All-MAAC
1998–99: Mike Maguire, D 1999–00: Jim Whelan, D 2001–02: R. J. Irving, D; Brandon Doria, F
MAAC All-Rookie Team
1998–99: Patrick Rissmiller, F 2000–01: R. J. Irving, D; Greg Kealey, F 2002–03: Tyler McGregor, F
Atlantic Hockey Individual awards
Player of the Year Tyler McGregor: 2006 Liam McLinskey: 2024
Best Defensive Forward Greg Kealey: 2004 Blair Bartlett: 2006 Rob Linsmayer: 2011
Best Defenseman Rob Godfrey: 2006 Jon Landry: 2007
Individual Sportsmanship Award Tim Coskren: 2004 Tyler McGregor: 2006 James Sixsmith: 2007
Regular Season Goaltending Award Ben Conway: 2005 Tony Quesada: 2006 Jason Grande: 2024
Regular Season Scoring Trophy Tyler McGregor: 2006 Liam McLinskey: 2024
Best Defensive Forward Greg Kealey, F: 2004 James Sixsmith, LW: 2006
Most Valuable Player in Tournament Tyler McGregor: 2006
All-Conference teams First Team All-Atlantic Hockey
2003–04: Jeff Dams, F 2004–05: Tyler McGregor, F 2005–06: Jon Landry, D; Tyler McGregor, F 2006–07: Jon Landry, D; James Sixsmith, F 2014–15: Matt Ginn, G 2017–18: Paul Berrafato, G 2023–24: Liam McLinskey, F
Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey
2003–04: Tony Quesada, G 2004–05: Pierre Napert-Frenette, F 2005–06: Tony Quesada, G; Pierre Napert-Frenette, F 2011–12: Adam Schmidt, F 2020–21: Matt Slick, D 2022–23: Jack Ricketts, F 2023–24: Jason Grande, G; Jack Ricketts, F
Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey
2007–08: Matt Burke, D; Brodie Sheahan, F 2016–17: Spencer Trapp, D; Danny Lopez, F 2021–22: Ryan Leibold, F 2022–23: Nick Hale, D
Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team
2003–04: James Sixsmith, F 2007–08: Mark Znutas, D; Everett Sheen, F 2010–11: Jeffrey Reppucci, F 2011–12: Matt Ginn, G 2012–13: Karl Beckman, D 2018–19: Matt Slick, D; Anthony Vincent, F 2022–23: Mack Oliphant, D 2023–24: Jack Stockfish, F 2024–25: Matt Kursonis, F
Atlantic Hockey America Individual awards
Player of the Year Liam McLinskey: 2025
Forward of the Year Liam McLinskey: 2025
Goaltender of the Year Thomas Gale: 2025
Individual Sportsmanship Award Mack Oliphant: 2026
Coach of the Year Bill Riga: 2025
All-Conference teams First Team All-Atlantic Hockey America
2024–25: Thomas Gale, G; Liam McLinskey, F 2025–26: Jack Stockfish, F
Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey America
2024–25: Mack Oliphant, D 2025–26: Mack Oliphant, D
Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey America
2024–25: Devin Phillips, F
Atlantic Hockey America All-Rookie Team
2024–25: Matt Kursonis, F
Statistical leaders Source:
Career points leaders Player Years GP G A Pts PIM 1982–1986 103 116 219 1982–1986 101 117 218 1966–1970 119 88 207 1982–1986 87 120 207 1973–1977 75 122 197 1977–1981 93 98 191 1966–1969 91 89 180 1973–1977 71 81 152 2003–2007 142 48 104 152 1977–1981 147
Career goaltending leaders
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Minimum 30 games Player Years GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA 2022–2024 42 2413 25 13 3 87 2 .920 2.16 2021–2025 85 4749 37 35 6 191 5 .917 2.41 2002–2006 105 6034 61 33 8 251 7 .915 2.50 2014–2018 114 6677 46 47 19 281 11 .911 2.51 2011–2015 129 7759 59 55 13 324 8 .917 2.51 1995–1999 38 1960 21 10 2 82 2 .903 2.51 Statistics current through the end of the 2024–25 season.
Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame The following is a list of people associated with the Holy Cross men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses).
Larry Murphy (1981) Gerry Curley (1996) Jim Stewart (1998) Joe Lunny (1999) Glenn Graves (2000) Bill Bellerose (2002) Dean Casagrande (2002) Matt Muniz (2005) Patrick Rissmiller (2010) Tyler McGregor (2013) Tony Quesada (2014) James Sixsmith (2017) Terrence Butt (2018)
Current roster As of August 11, 2025.
Crusaders in the NHL
As of July 1, 2024.
Player Position Team(s) Years Games Patrick RissmillerLeft Wing SJS, NYR, ATL, FLA2003–20111920Jim StewartGoaltender BOS1979–198010
References
External links