Rick Bennett

Eric John "Rick" Bennett (born July 24, 1967) is an American former ice hockey left winger and former head coach of the Union Dutchmen ice hockey team at Union College where he coached from 2011 until 2022.[1] He has led the Dutchmen to three ECAC Hockey regular season titles (2011–12, 2014-14 & 2016-17), three ECAC Hockey tournament titles (2012, 2013 & 2014), four NCAA Tournament appearances (2012, 2013, 2014 & 2017), two Frozen Fours (2012 & 2014) and one NCAA championship title (2014) by defeating Minnesota. Bennett won ECAC Hockey's Tim Taylor Award for conference coach of the year twice (2012 & 2017) and won the American Hockey Coaches Association's Spencer Penrose Award for NCAA Division I coach of the year in 2014. Bennett resigned in 2022 following an allegation about his coaching style and practices that was substantiated through an investigation by Union College.

For other uses, see Richard Bennett.
Rick Bennett
Born (1967-07-24) July 24, 1967
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
NHL Draft 54th overall, 1986
Minnesota North Stars
Playing career 1990–1999
Coaching career
Biographical details
Alma materProvidence College
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2000–05Providence (assistant)
2005–07Union (assistant)
2007–11Union (associate head coach)
2011–22Union
Head coaching record
Overall192–133–45 (.580)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2014 NCAA Champion
3× ECAC Regular Season Champion (2011-12, 2013-14, 2016-17),
3× ECAC Tournament Champion (2012, 2013, 2014)
Awards
2014 Spencer Penrose Award
2014 College Hockey News Coach of the Year
2014 USCHO Coach of the Year
2012 Tim Taylor Award
2017 Tim Taylor Award

Bennett and his wife, Karyn have five children together. The family resides in Clifton Park, New York.

Playing career

Bennett was a four-year letterwinner (1986–90) and co-captain at Providence, where he was recognized as a Hobey Baker finalist (1990) and two-time winner of the Lou Lamoriello Trophy as team MVP. He was named an All-American during the 1988-89 season and earned All-Hockey East Second Team honors in 1990. A left-winger, Bennett finished with 134 points (50 goals, 84 assists) in 128 career games. Bennett skated on the famed B-B-G line, along with center Mike Boback and right wing Robbie Gaudreau. Rick, who graduated with a B.A. in general studies, was inducted into the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.[2]

Bennett was a third-round draft pick (54th overall) of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. His draft rights were later traded to the New York Rangers. Bennett appeared in 15 games with the Rangers over three seasons (1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92). Bennett's 10-year professional career also included stints with the Binghamton Rangers (AHL), Springfield Indians (AHL), Hershey Bears (AHL), Springfield Falcons (AHL), Albany River Rats (AHL), Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL), Jacksonville Lizard Kings (ECHL) and Pee Dee Pride (ECHL). Bennett served as a player assistant coach for the Jacksonville Lizard Kings and Pee Dee Pride.[3]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Union Dutchmen (ECAC Hockey) (2011–2022)
2011–12 Union 26–8–714–4–41st[4]NCAA Frozen Four
2012–13 Union 22–13–510–8–44th[5]NCAA Regional Finals
2013–14 Union 32–6–418–3–11st[6]NCAA Champions
2014–15 Union 19–18–28–13–110th[7]ECAC Quarterfinals
2015–16 Union 13–14–96–10–69th[8]ECAC First Round
2016–17 Union 25–10–316–4–2T-1st[9]NCAA Regional Semifinals
2017–18 Union 21–15–216–5–12nd[10]ECAC Quarterfinals
2018–19 Union 20–13–610–10–27th[11]ECAC Quarterfinals
2019–20 Union 8–25–45–15–210th[12]ECAC First Round
2021–22 Union 6–11–3 †4–6–1 †-N/A
Union: 192–133–45107–78–24
Total:192–133–45

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

† Bennet resigned mid-season.[13]

Awards and honors
Award Year
All-Hockey East Rookie Team 1986–87 [14]
AHCA East Second-Team All-American 1988–89 [15]
All-Hockey East Second Team 1989–90 [16]

References
  1. "Bennett Steps Down as Union Head Men's Hockey Coach".
  2. "Rick Bennett - Head Men's Hockey Coach - Men's Ice Hockey Coaches".
  3. "Rick Bennett - Head Men's Hockey Coach - Men's Ice Hockey Coaches".
  4. "2011-12 Standings".
  5. "2012-13 Standings".
  6. "2013-14 Standings".
  7. "2014-15 Standings".
  8. "2015-16 Standings".
  9. "2016-17 Standings".
  10. "2017-18 Standings Presented by U.S. Army ROTC".
  11. "2018-19 Standings".
  12. "2019-20 Standings".
  13. "Union men's hockey coach Bennett steps down after 'an allegation about his coaching style and practices that was substantiated through an investigation by the college'". USCHO. January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  14. "Hockey East All-Rookie Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  15. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  16. "Hockey East All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.


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