In 1998, Neumann University embarked on an ambitious venture by establishing a men’s ice hockey team. This decision, initially deemed risky, has since yielded remarkable success and has become an integral part of the university's athletic identity.
The roots of Neumann University can be traced back to 1855 when Bishop John Neumann approved the request of Anna Maria Boll Bachmann to start a religious community of Franciscan Sisters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Neumann University was founded as Our Lady of Angels College with 115 female students in 1965 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.
Neumann admitted its first male undergraduate students in 1980. On June 30, 2021, Chris Everett Domes, Neumann's president, and Mary Kathryn Dougherty, congregational minister of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, signed an agreement of sale for the university to purchase Our Lady of Angels Convent, three smaller buildings, and 63 acres from the sisters, the congregation that founded the university in 1965.
Today, Neumann University is a member of the Atlantic East Conference as well as the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC).
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The Genesis of the Hockey Program
The concept of a Neumann University ice hockey team first emerged in 1997 during a conversation between Jim Watson, co-owner of the IceWorks skating complex in Aston, and Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, Neumann’s president, along with Sr. Watson, aiming to boost business at his rinks, initiated the meeting and invited Uschi Keszler, a former Olympic figure skater and IceWorks colleague.
“College hockey was prevalent in the Northeast but not so much in the Philadelphia region,” recalled Watson. “We encouraged Dr. Watson was persuasive, and as a former player for the Philadelphia Flyers, his opinion carried some weight. “I told Rosalie that this was a great way to increase admissions. People are looking to play hockey in college, and some can’t go to Division I.
Watson also credits Nick Russo, the team’s first coach. “Nick was instrumental in kicking things off. He was very enthusiastic and always ready for a new challenge. The team first laced up their skates a year after that meeting. “It was a great opportunity for us and for Neumann,” Watson admits.
Early Challenges and Triumphs
It wasn’t always that easy. In the first four years after the men began conference competition (2001-02 through 2004-05), their overall record was 10-83-4 and just 3-39-1 in conference. In fact, the men’s on-ice woes earned Neumann its only reference on Sports Center, the flagship show on ESPN. Early in 2002, the Neumann men made that segment after a February 8 loss to the Rochester Institute of Technology. The final score was 24-0.
Despite these initial struggles, the program persevered, laying the groundwork for future success. The women’s team achieved success even faster than the men.
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The 2009 National Championship
In 2009, the men’s team achieved a significant milestone by winning the Division III national championship, marking the only NCAA title ever secured by any Knights team.
Chuck Sack, Neumann’s athletic director, arrived in 2003 and heard tales told by players about the early seasons for both teams. Sack calls Williams the person who built the framework for the national championship. “He taught us all what we needed to do. We got some kids from the Utica area because they wanted to play for him. We got some more kids out of Canada, and off we went.
Watson, the former Flyer, agrees. “I loved Dennis. Williams, who coached for three years, and Phil Roy, who stepped in for one, recruited the players whom Dominick Dawes inherited when he took the reins of the team in 2008. Dawes played for Norwich University from 2000 to 2004 and reached three Division III Frozen Fours with the Cadets.
Recalling his first year at Neumann, Dawes admits that “Even now, it’s kind of a blur. It all happened so fast. My first official day at Neumann was October 1 and our first practice was October 6. I was 27 years old, and I think the seniors were all 24.
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Their togetherness as a team impressed Dawes. “They drove themselves, got better as the year went on, and were the classic definition of playing for each other - and with a chip on their shoulder. According to Sack, “That core group of kids from Dennis and Phil, mixed with Dominick’s leadership became a magic elixir. They did not want to take off the jersey. They didn’t care who got the credit. Those guys loved each other so much, they didn’t want to stop playing. A movie indeed.
The Knights men’s ice hockey squad was a long shot to win the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship. In retrospect, however, the team had assembled a collection of stars unparalleled in the history of Neumann hockey.
Dawes is humble about his contribution. “There was a very good team when I got there,” he admitted. “We had some pretty high-end talent, guys who went on to have pro careers - Mike Hedden, Lincoln Schrock and others.
The facts tell a tale that contradicts Dawes’ humility. He coached for seven years at Neumann and notched 107 wins (the coach in second place has 40). Since its 12-year streak as a conference power, the men have experienced six straight seasons with disappointing records.
After graduating from Neumann in 2009, Hedden played professional hockey until 2020. He was a member of the 2014 AHL Calder Cup champions with the Texas Stars and represented Team Canada in the Spengler Cup in 2014.
Women's Ice Hockey: A Golden Era
The golden age for women’s ice hockey was 2003-04 through 2010-11. Matt Kennedy, who was the goaltender for the first two hapless years of the men’s program, later became the most successful head coach of women’s ice hockey in Neumann history.
Kennedy explains that he was injured during his second year in goal for the men (1999-00) and moved into an assistant coaching position with the women’s team. “We built on the foundation of the first two years and set out to recruit student-athletes who would embrace the mission of the university,” he recalled.
Underplaying his own coaching acumen, he attributed the women’s turnaround to the vision of Dr. Mirenda, implemented by leaders like Chuck Sack and Len Schuler with support structures from Sr. Marguerite and Dr. Kennedy was behind the bench during six of the eight years of stellar women’s play.
He remembers Jessica Schroeder as one of the best, if not the best, in Neumann history with unparalleled speed and goal-scoring ability. In 2009-10, Schroeder led the NCAA in assists with 28. He dubs Lindsay Parsons “the cornerstone of Neumann’s success and the catalyst for the start of a new era.” Parsons came from Ontario to join a growing program.
Despite the extraordinary talent during these golden years, the women’s team never broke through to make the NCAAs. “The ECAC West was one of the strongest conferences in the country,” Kennedy explained. His favorite memory of his time as coach at Neumann is beating Utica College, 6-1, in the ECAC West playoffs in 2009 and going to the ECAC West final four.
Sack, who has been Neumann’s athletic director for 20 years, recalled the heyday of women’s hockey at Neumann. “Parsons made me appreciate ice hockey, the last sport where everyone has to work together,” said Sack.
Parsons, who played from 2002 to 2006, is all over the Knights’ record books. She stands fourth in career goals and career points and second in career assists. Other legends in Neumann’s hockey annals are Jessica Schroeder (2007-11), Katelyn Brown (2017-22), Bek Lucas (2014-18), and Nikki Blazenko (2007-11).
NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship
Impact and Legacy
“It will be a distinctive point of difference from many of our competitors,” he predicts. “It would change our campus overnight, creating new revenue streams, affording opportunities to build a stronger following, and introducing the general population to ice skating and hockey.
The bold step taken in 1998 has borne fruit in many ways. The combined rosters of the women’s, men’s, and club teams hover at approximately 80-85 students every year.
The establishment of the ice hockey program has not only enriched the university's athletic offerings but has also contributed to its overall growth and reputation.
| Team | Key Achievements | Notable Players |
|---|---|---|
| Men's Ice Hockey | 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship | Mike Hedden, Lincoln Schrock |
| Women's Ice Hockey | ECAC West playoffs appearance | Jessica Schroeder, Lindsay Parsons |
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