The 2015–16 Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey team represented Yale University in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The team was coached by Keith Allain, '80, his tenth season behind the bench at Yale. His assistant coaches were Jason Guerriero, Josh Siembida, and Stephen Volek. The Bulldogs played their home games at Ingalls Rink on the campus of Yale University, competing in the ECAC.
Offseason
Seven Senior Bulldogs graduated in May: Captain Tommy Fallen – D, Anthony Day – F, Matt Killian – D, Trent Ruffolo – F, Nicholas Weberg – F, and Connor Wilson – G.
On April 22, 2015, it was announced that Senior defensemen Mitch Witek was named Captain for the 2015–16 season.
On July 6, 2015, Josh Siembida was promoted from Volunteer Goalie Coach for Yale to a full-time Assistant Coach.
On October 5, 2015, Ryan Donald, a 2010 Yale graduate and the 2009-10 Yale hockey team captain, was named Assistant Coach of the Bulldogs.
Recruiting Yale added seven freshmen for the 2015–16 season: four forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie.
Player Position Nationality NotesCharlie Curti Defense Mound, Mn; Played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)Andrew Gaus Forward Wexford, PA; Played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)Ted Hart Forward Cumberland, ME; Played for Phillips Exeter AcademyJ.M. Piotrowski Forward Irving, TX; Played for the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)Joe Snively Forward Herndon, VA; Played for the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)Sam Tucker Goalie Wilton, CT; Played for Choate Rosemary Hall (USHS-CT)Anthony Walsh Defense Burr Ridge, IL; Played for the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
2015-16 Roster
Departures from 2014–2015 team Anthony Day, F - Graduation Tommy Fallen, D - Graduation Matt Killian, D - Graduation Trent Ruffolo, F - Graduation Nicholas Weberg, F - Graduation Connor Wilson, G - Graduation
2015-16 Bulldogs As of December 22, 2015.
Coaching staff Name Position Seasons Coaching atYale University Alma mater Keith Allain Head Coach 14 Yale University (1980) Josh Siembida Assistant coach 3 Quinnipiac (2006) Ryan Donald Assistant coach 1 Yale University (2010) Stephen Volek Assistant director Strength & Conditioning 2 Penn State (2010) Nick Costanzo Volunteer Coach 1 Johnson and Wales University (2013)
Standings
Schedule
!colspan=12 style="color:white; background:#00356B" | Exhibition
!colspan=12 style="color:white; background:#00356B" | Regular season
!colspan=12 style="color:white; background:#00356B" | ECAC Tournament
!colspan=12 style="color:white; background:#00356B" | NCAA Tournament
On September 21, Yale was picked to win the ECAC Hockey Title by the ECAC Hockey Media Association, with 10 first place votes. On October 31, the Bulldogs beat Massachusetts 6–1 to win the Capital City Classic at the Sun Center. On January 5, Yale's Ryan Hitchcock was away, representing the United States at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Helsinki, Finland. The US beat Sweden 8–3 to win the bronze medal. On January 10, the Bulldogs lost to Michigan Tech 2–1 in a shootout to finish 2nd in the inaugural Desert Hockey Classic at the Gila River Arena. On January 30, Alex Lyon broke the school record for most wins in a career which was previously 42 by Alex Westlund. On February 10, the ECAC suspended senior defenseman Rob O'Gara for two games due to his actions in the third period of the game against Harvard on February 6. On March 20, the NCAA tournament Selection Committee placed Yale as the 3-seed in the East Regional at Albany, playing 1-seed UMass-Lowell in the first round. On March 26, Yale lost to 2-seed UMass-Lowell in OT by a score of 3–2 in the first round.
Rankings
PollWeekPre1234567891011121314151617181920212223 (Final) USCHO.com12131313121011101015131212121111108787101111 USA Today12141515981091015121212121211108787111210
Statistics As of the completion of the season.
Skaters Player 7Joe SnivelyFFR3210182812200 +5756Stu WilsonFSR31818268302 +111221John HaydenFJR321672326605 +213617Frankie DiChiaraFJR32781518100 +47828Ryan HitchcockFSO2286140201E4012Cody LearnedFSR3166126012 +842 25 Chris Izmirlian F JR 27481210001+6584Rob O'GaraDSR30481241101 +56114Ryan ObuchowskiDSR32481220201 +56324Mike DohertyFJR222101223100 +55510Mitch WitekDSR32012122000 +12639Carson CooperFSR30381128100 +45719Ted HartFFR243694002 -24111Andrew GausFFR183142102 -54422JM PiotrowskiFFR2831410002 +43918Nate RepenskyDSO131346100E1823Charlie CurtiDFR231342100 -5222Adam LarkinDSO300334000E2316Anthony WalshDFR2720212000 +22815Henry HartFSO171120000 +463Dan O'KeefeDJR100222000 +2434Alex LyonGJR310110000 +15030Patrick SpanoGJR10000000 -2020John BaioccoFSO40002000 +1527Charles OrzettiFSR240006000 -117Bench2 Team 328613822424622119+121087
Goaltenders Player 34 Alex Lyon JR G311905:371984521.64818766.936530Patrick SpanoJRG159:1801033.043027.9000Empty Net115:2422 Team 321970:191984571.74850793.9335
Awards and honors
Preseason awards ECAC All-League Team Alex Lyon, G - Preseason All-League Team Rob O'Gara, D - Preseason All-League Team
Weekly awards
ECAC Player of the Week John Hayden, F – Week of December 15, 2015
ECAC Rookie of the Week Joe Snively, F – Week of November 3, 2015 Joe Snively, F – Week of February 23, 2016
ECAC Goaltender of the Week Alex Lyon, G – Week of November 3, 2015 Alex Lyon, G – Week of November 10, 2015 Alex Lyon, G – Week of February 16, 2015
American Sports Network Player of the Week Alex Lyon, G – Week of February 9, 2016
College Hockey News Warrior Player of the Week Alex Lyon, G – Week of February 16, 2016
Monthly awards
ECAC Rookie of the Month Joe Snively, F – Month of January 2016
ECAC Goaltender of the Month Alex Lyon, G – Month of January 2016 Alex Lyon, G – Month of February 2016
Postseason awards Ivy League All-Stars Stu Wilson, F – 1st Team All-Ivy Rob O'Gara, D – 1st Team All-Ivy Alex Lyon, G – 1st Team All-Ivy Ryan Obuchowski, F – 2nd Team All-Ivy John Hayden, F – Honorable Mention All-Ivy Joe Snively, F – Honorable Mention All-Ivy Mitch Witek, D – Honorable Mention All-Ivy
Ivy League Awards Joe Snively, F – Ivy League Rookie of the Year Keith Allain – Ivy League Coach of the Year
ECAC All-Stars Rob O'Gara, D – First Team All-League Alex Lyon, G – First Team All-League Joe Snively, F – All-Rookie Team
ECAC Awards Carson Cooper, F – Best Defensive Forward Rob O'Gara, D – Best Defensive Defenseman Alex Lyon, G – Ken Dryden Goaltender of the Year Carson Cooper, F – Best Defensive Forward Joe Snively, F – Rookie of the Year Yale University Bulldogs – Sportsmanship Trophy
References