AHCA

ahcahockey.com | Summer 2026 3 W e are well into the off-sea- son. I only have a few items on my plate as I wrap up my 35th year working for the AHCA. On a Zoom call yesterday, I learned that college hockey's concerted effort to seek a waiver from the proposed legislation ending deferred enrollment has hit a snag. The NCAA has decided, at least at this moment, not to exempt any sports from the proposal to be voted on in June. A student-athlete would have five years from the date of his expected graduation from high school to play five years of NCAA athletics. College hockey leaders had support from the NHL, USA Hockey and junior leagues in both the U.S. and Canada but the effort did not sway the NCAA. I would like to use some space here to pay tribute to a handful of coaches who will not be standing behind their familiar benches next year. These coaches, four men's head coaches and one women's head coach, combined to win 2,380 games over 125 seasons. Their com- bined winning percentage was .612. Rick Gotkin (Brockport '82) coached the Mercyhurst Lakers for 38 seasons, going 617-578-114 in that time. His 617 wins rank him 16th overall among NCAA men's hockey coaches. But to me, he was always a pleasant presence, whether I ran into him during the regular season or, more likely, at the Conven- tion in Florida. He contributed to our weekly national polls for many years and in any other way I might call upon him. I hope to keep him on some committees even in retirement. Ed Gosek (Oswego '83) was Oswego's head coach for 25 years and, like Gotkin, spent his entire head coaching career at one place. He had a phenomena; winning percentage of .726 as a result of a 427-149-38 record. Another who, like Gosek, only coached at his alma mater, is Ted Donato (Harvard '91), whose 334 wins are the most of any Harvard coach, Donato passing his coach, Bill Cleary, this past winter. His record was 334-292-77 in 22 seasons. Donato, who was Most Outstand- ing Player of the1989 Frozen Four (two goals in the OT final), spent 13 years in the NHL and is also an Olympian. Bob Motzko (St. Cloud State '87) coached 21 seasons, in two stints in the state of Min- nesota. In 13 seasons with his alma mater and another eight at the University of Minnesota, Motzko went 448-296-73. FROM THE MEDIA DIRECTOR by Joe Bertagna Letter | continued on page 4 5353 Wayzata Blvd. Suite 640 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Dave Jensen or Bryan Nelson (763) 595-0808 info@nordstarmedia.com | nordstarmedia.com For inquiries about advertising in Stops & Starts or sponsorship opportunities with the AHCA: PUBLISHER THE AMERICAN HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION Founded in 1947 2027 AHCA CONVENTION April. 28-30, 2027 Hya Regency Coconut Point Bonita Springs, FL 2025-26 OFFICERS President Steve Wiedler, Vermont Vice President, Men's Issues Keith Fisher, Lindenwood Vice President, Women's Issues Grant Kimball, Yale Vice President, Convention Planning Zach McKelvie, Army West Point Vice President, Membership Ann Ninnemann, UW-Stevens Point Vice President, Outreach Maura Crowell, Dartmouth Vice President, Sponsorships Rico Blasi, St. Thomas Past President Casey Jones, Cornell 2025-26 GOVERNORS Kelsey Cline, Ohio State Max Gavin, Boston College Jeff Giesen, Minnesota State Sean Hogan, College Hockey Inc. Sadie Lundquist, College Hockey Inc. Drew Michals, Holy Cross Sco Paluch, USA Hockey Chris Schultz, Geneseo Shane Talarico, Princeton Holley Tyng, Colby Kyle Wallack, Albertis Magnus Anthony Walsh, Colgate EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Forrest Karr, Minnesota Duluth forrestkarr@ahcahockey.com SECRETARY-TREASURER Bre Petersen, Gustavus Adolphus bpeters4@gustavus.edu MEDIA DIRECTOR Joe Bertagna j2b2hockey@gmail.com MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATOR Kathy Bertagna ahcahockey@comcast.net WEBSITE ahcahockey.com Ed Gosek Ted Donato Bob Motzko Rick Gotkin

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