September 29, 2009

Connecticut Annouces Changes to Coaching Staff

Courtesy of Connecticut Athletic Communications

STORRS, Conn. (September 24, 2009) – After working as second assistant coach of the University of Connecticut men’s hockey team last season, Joe Dumais has been promoted to first assistant coach for the upcoming 2009-10 season following the departure of Glenn Stewart from the university.

“I am excited to name Joe to this position,” said Head Coach Bruce Marshall. “He has a tremendous work ethic and passion for both the game and the University of Connecticut. Joe has already demonstrated to us what a great coach and recruiter he can be and I know he will continue to do great things in this new position.”

This season, Dumais will be UConn’s recruiting coordinator. He will also be in charge of the penalty kill and will breakdown the video of upcoming opponents throughout the season.

Dumais, a graduate of nearby Quinnipiac University, came to UConn after working for a year as a graduate assistant coach at Ohio University. He played at Quinnipiac from 2002-06 where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. As a member of the Bobcats, he was named team captain during his senior season.

At Ohio, Dumais earned a master’s of science in recreation and sport sciences with a focus on coaching education while also serving as an assistant coach on the Bobcat’s hockey team.

“It feels great to receive this promotion,” said Dumais. “To be in the position that I am in is an unbelievable opportunity for me to have this job at a Division I program like UConn. I am excited for the upcoming season to begin and I am looking forward to getting the year started.”

University of Connecticut men’s hockey Head Coach Bruce Marshall has named Devin Rask as the second assistant coach of the Huskies for the upcoming 2009-10 season. Rask, a 2003 graduate of Providence College, comes to UConn from the Northern Conn. Wings/CT Lazers Hockey Organization.

“We are very excited for Devin to be joining our staff,” said Marshall. “His experience at the collegiate and professional level will have a great impact on all of our student-athletes.”

Rask played for the Friars from 1999-2003 earning Hockey East First Team honors as well as Second Team All-American honors during his time at PC. After graduation, Rask played for the Trenton Titans of the East Coast Hockey League for a season where he was activated by the St. John’s Maple Leafs of the AHL and attended rookie camp for the St. Louis Blues of the NHL.

Rask continued his hockey career overseas from 2004-06 where he played in the German Oberliga Hockey League for the Hannover Indians helping his team to the championships two years in a row.

After his playing career was over, Rask moved on to coaching. He began his career at Wesleyan University working as an assistant coach under Chris Potter, a former alum of the UConn hockey program. Rask worked as the head recruiting coordinator and was in charge of running the forwards on the team.

He moved on to working with the Northern Conn. Wings/CT Lazers Hockey Organization where he was the general manager in charge of every aspect of the organization including the recruitment, coaching and development of over 300 players aged eight to 19. Still with the organization, Rask also took on assistant coaching responsibilities at Xavier High School in 2008.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of UConn hockey,” said Rask. “I can’t wait to be able to learn and coach with coach Marshall and coach Dumais. They each have a lot of experience and I am excited to start coaching at the university.”

Rask responsibilities at UConn will be to assist coach Joe Dumais with all aspects of recruiting as well as video breakdown and game preparation. He will also be working with the forwards on the team.