Canisius Announces Search Committee For Ice Hockey Head Coach

March 2, 2005

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Canisius College President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., announced today the formation of a search committee for the position of Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach. The committee will conduct a comprehensive search to attract and identify leading candidates for the position. Its objective is to have a new head hockey coach in place by April 1.

“The committee has a wealth of knowledge about Canisius College and both intercollegiate and professional hockey,” said Shawn O’Rourke, PhD, associate dean of graduate and Canadian programs, and chair of the search committee. “I am confident this committee will ensure Canisius College has a qualified and dedicated individual to continue the 25-year tradition of varsity hockey.”

The search committee is comprised of 10 members including four community and business leaders. They are: John Walsh, chairman and CEO of Walsh Insurance Group. Walsh played hockey at Yale University and has coached youth hockey; James Wadsworth, partner at Hodgson Russ LLP. Wadsworth played hockey at Princeton University; James Patrick, Sabres defenseman and NHL veteran of 21 seasons. Patrick ranks in the NHL’s top 40 on the all-time games played list and is 12th among defensemen. He also played at the University of North Dakota; and Frank Downing Jr., president of Towne Automotive. Downing was a four-year letter winner for hockey at the University of Michigan, team captain during his senior year, and named to the Big Ten and Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic teams.

Canisius alumnus and basketball player Terrence M. Connors ’68, founding partner of Connors and Vilardo, and Michael M. Gilbert ’90, director of public relations for the Buffalo Sabres, will also serve on the search committee, as will four staff from the Canisius College Athletics Department: Jennifer Zeh, senior associate athletics director; Kirsten Clark, assistant to the senior associate athletics director; Marc Gignac, director of athletic communications; and Shawn O’Rourke.

The Canisius College ice hockey team is currently tied for second place in Atlantic Hockey, posting an overall record of 14-14-4 and an 12-7-3 mark in the conference.