NECHL Preview: Rutgers University

2022 NECHL SEASON PREVIEW: rutgers university

The Rutgers University ACHA Division I men's hockey team is led by the "old guard" of the league, Joe Dickson, who is in his seventh year as head coach of the Scarlet Knights. After losing some key pieces in its offensive side of the game, Rutgers is looking to build toward the next step of being a contender for the NECHL Memorial Cup.

QUICK HITS

Coaching Staff:

Head Coach: Joe Dickson (17th year coaching, 7th year at Rutgers)

Assistant Coaches: Devin Cheifetz, Corey Pinney & Travis DiLello

Captains:

C's: Scott Schnell and Austin Cross

2022 Record:

Overall: 5-16-1

NECHL: 1-0-11-1 (6th)

New Players:

Thomas Hilliard
Alex Sech
Michael Sciaretta
Garrett Kata
Max Werfel
Michael Libutti
Andre Amezquita
Ryan Kulaszewski
Nate Block

Key returners

Scott Schnell
Austin Cross
Jake Lakatos
Thomas Spero

COACH'S CORNER

What were your immediate reaction/thoughts to how your team did in the 2021-22 season; what was the general takeaway moving into the offseason?

Dickson: "As a coaching staff we felt that our younger players took some good strides as the season moved along. Not the end result we as a group wanted, but felt moving into 2022-2023 we would be in a much better position with a large group of returning players."

What was your biggest task going into the offseason? What was the No. 1 goal heading into the 2022-23 season?

Dickson: "Our biggest task was to try and replace a large majority of our scoring, which I feel we have done with our new incoming players plus our returning vets. Obviously our number one goal is to try and win the league, and represent the NECHL at Nationals this year in Boston."

What's the team goal this year? Anything specific (outside of the obvious answers such as winning the league, etc.)?

Dickson: "Being a disciplined structured team that is always getting better everyday."

Do you have any personal goals or does the coaching staff have any goals for the program this year?

Dickson: "The coaching staff's goal is to take the next step in building a contender for the NECHL title. It will take a lot of hard work but this group has the tools to do it. Another big goal for myself and the coaching staff is to prepare these young men for what is next after they graduate from Rutgers."

You could be considered the "veteran coach" of the NECHL now with some recent turnover over the last couple years. Does that mean anything to you and the program as a whole with the NECHL?

Dickson: "Seven years sure does fly. Feels like yesterday I was the new guy. I take great pride in the program being stable and representing Rutgers University and the NECHL. My hope is that I can help the NECHL grow to its true potential in the next couple of seasons."

FIRST SIGHTS OF ACTION

Rutgers has another week before it hits the ice for the first time in the regular season. After a couple exhibition matchups, the Scarlet Knights travel to Robert Morris University (PA) on Sept. 30-Oct. 1 for a weekend series at the RMU Island Sports Center. The Friday matchup is slated for 8:30 p.m., while the Saturday game is set to drop the puck at 2:30 p.m. Rutgers then takes on former NECHL team Niagara University on Oct. 7-8 at Dwyer Arena.