Utica University Athletics

Nick Therrien ‘14 was hired as the Utica University men’s ice hockey program’s first full-time assistant coach in the Summer of 2018. He is responsible for assisting head coach Gary Heenan in all facets of the program including practice and game preparation, skills development, program logistics, and recruiting.
 
In Therrien’s seven seasons on the job, the Pioneers have ascended to be one of the nation’s top programs. He is a winner at every level he has played and coached. Additionally, he is a proven and dedicated recruiter both domestically, and internationally.
 
Along with Coach Heenan, he has led Utica to a 151-25-11 record over the past seven seasons. In his time on the staff, Utica has won seven UCHC regular season championships, four UCHC tournament championships, earned five NCAA Quarterfinal appearances, two NCAA Frozen Four appearances, and one NCAA National Championship game appearance. Since his return, he has coached 11 All-Americans, dozens of all-conference performers, one USCHO national rookie of the year, and the only two-time UCHC Player of the Year. The Pioneers have finished in the top five of the USCHO National Poll in six consecutive seasons.
 
His playing days at Utica were impressive in their own right, as the Utica program began an ascent towards true national prominence with Therrien on the roster. He was a two-time all-conference selection and led the nation in wins (18) as he guided the 2013 Pioneers to their first NCAA Division III Tournament and an appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. He posted a career win percentage of .720 and ranks second on the College's all-time list in wins and saves.
 
Therriens most recent college job was at Buffalo State under head coach Steve Murphy. He helped the Bengals set new program records for wins in a season, and highest SUNYAC regular season finish (2nd), and also helped the program achieve a top ten national ranking. He made an immediate impact on the defense in his first season; guiding the Bengals to the top defense, goaltending, and penalty kill units in the SUNYAC. He also had the privilege of developing and coaching multiple All-Americans.
 
Before Buffalo State, he served as the assistant to Craig Russell at Plymouth State. Therrien spent one season on the bench with the Panthers. He helped guide the team to a MASCAC title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament for just the second time in program-history.
 
Therrien graduated from Utica in 2014 with a degree in public relations where he was a four-time dean's list recipient and a two-time president's list honoree. He was also the male recipient of the University’s prestigious Sportsmanship Award in 2014. He received his Masters’ degree from Plymouth State in 2016.