UTICA, NY - Shawn Lynch, who helped the Utica men's hockey program lay the foundation for today's success, has returned to the program, this time in a coaching role, as the Class of 2019 graduate has been named the program's new assistant coach. 

Career Roadmap:
Utica University (NCAA DIII) | 2026-Present (AC)
Northwood School (PHC) | 2023-2025 (AC), 2025-2026 (HC)
Lake Forest College (NCAA DIII) | 2022-2023 (AC)
Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC/Premier) | 2021-2022 (AC/HC)

About Coach Lynch: Shawn Lynch was named an assistant coach for the Utica men's hockey program in June of 2026, ahead of the 2026-27 academic year. Coach Lynch returned to his alma mater, where he graduated in 2019 after a stellar career on the ice for the blue and orange. Lynch returned to Utica following a stint at the prestigious Northwood School, an elite college-preparatory boys' hockey program based in Lake Placid, New York. Coach Lynch began as an assistant coach at the Northwood School before taking on a head coaching role for the remainder of his tenure with the northern-based program, of which he is also an alumnus, having graduated in 2013. 

Prior to his time in Lake Placid, Coach Lynch was an assistant coach for the Lake Forest College men's hockey program during the 2022-2023 season, helping lead the Foresters to a few big wins over ranked NCHA opponents such as #14 Aurora (7-0) and #3 Adrian (5-3). Coach Lynch was hired by Lake Forest after a year coaching the Utica Jr. Comets NCDC team. 

Just before embarking on his coaching career, Coach Lynch played a few professional hockey games for the Macon Mayhem of the SPHL, which he joined after graduating from Utica in 2019. 

Coach Lynch had a strong run for the Pioneers during his collegiate career, forming the core of a group that would lead the program to become the perennial NCAA contender that it is today. Coach Lynch suited up for the blue and orange from 2015-2019, playing 78 games over four seasons. The forward from Camillus, New York, would rack up 19 goals and 23 assists during his on-ice career for the Pioneers, also notching four game-winning goals. As a team, the Pioneers rapidly improved during Lynch's time with the program, as they rose from 14 wins in his freshman season to 20 wins in each of his last two years, The team would accrue a record of 73-31-7 during Lynch's four years, reaching the conference championship in each of his four seasons and also managing to grab the program's first conference tournament title with a UCHC Championship in 2018.