Tyler Krueger of UWSP Is Edward Jeremiah Award Winner As 2018-19 AHCA Division II-III Men's Coach of the Year
For leading the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point into the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockley Championships, Tyler Krueger has been named winner of the Edward Jeremiah Award as the CCM/AHCA Division III Men's Coach of the Year. The Pointers will meet Hobart in the NCAA Semifinals at K.B. Willett Ice Arena in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
In his first season as head coach without the interim tag, Tyler Krueger has guided the Pointers to the only unbeaten record in the country this season (27-0-2). The current 29-game unbeaten streak is the longest in program history. He was named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading UWSP to its third-straightregular season title and an unblemished 8-0-0 record in league play. His career record over two seasons at UWSP is 48-6-5.
Under his tutelage, Krueger's goaltender, sophomore Connor Ryckman, set a program single-season record with his 24th win on Saturday. In 1,749 minutes of action this season, Krueger's team has trailed for just 34 minutes.
Krueger was hired as head coach on May 31, 2018. He served as interim head coach for the 2017-18 season and led the Pointers to the Frozen Four. UWSP won the regular season WIAC title with an undefeated 6-0-2 record and he led the Pointers to an NCAA Tournament road win at Adrian in the second round to advance to Lake Placid.
He spent the previous three seasons on the staff of former head coach Chris Brooks, most recently as associate head coach. He was a pivotal part of the Pointers' three-year run to the National Championship game in 2014, 2015 and 2016. From behind the bench, Krueger helped UWSP win its first WIAC Tournament title and fifth National Championship in 2016.
Prior to joining the coaching staff, Krueger was a four-year member of the Pointers hockey team. He skated in 79 games as a Pointer with two goals, 15 assists and a plus/minus of +34 for his career. He captained the 2014 team that reached the NCAA title game. A Stevens Point native, Krueger graduated from UWSP in 2014 with a bachelor of science degree in health promotion and wellness.
The Edward Jeremiah Award is named in honor of the great Dartmouth College head coach and was first presented in 1970. Krueger was assisted this year by Evan Dixon and Zach Badalamenti. The runner-up for the Jeremiah Award was Chris Schultz of Geneseo, receipient of this award in both 2014 and 2016.
Krueger and his staff will receive their awards at the annual AHCA Celebration of Men's Ice Hockey Banquet, held in conjunction with the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL. This year's banquet is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1.
The CCM AHCA COACH of the YEAR AWARDS are sponsored by CCM HOCKEY and chosen by members of the AMERICAN HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION. CCM is the legendary hockey brand dedicated to the endless pursuit of performance by delivering game-changing, head-to-toe innovative hockey equipment to players worldwide.
| Winners of the Edward Jeremiah Award (Division III Coach of the Year) |
|
| 1970 | Sid Watson, Bowdoin |
| 1971 | Sid Watson, Bowdoin |
| 1972 | Jack Canniff, Massachusetts |
| 1973 | Jim Cross, Vermont |
| 1974 | Barry Urbanski, Boston State |
| 1975 | Wendall Forbes, Middlebury |
| 1976 | Don Roberts, Gustavus Adolphus |
| 1977 | Bill Riley, Jr., Lowell |
| 1978 | Sid Watson, Bowdoin |
| 1979 | Don Brose, Mankato State |
| 1980 | Steve Stirling, Babson |
| 1981 | Herb Hammond, Plattsburgh State |
| 1982 | Steve Stirling, Babson |
| 1983 | Mike Gibbons, Bemidji State Peter Van Buskirk, Holy Cross |
| 1984 | Bob Peters, Bemidji State |
| 1985 | Rob Riley, Babson |
| 1986 | Terry Meagher, Bowdoin |
| 1987 | Tony Mariano, Norwich |
| 1988 | Glenn Thomaris, Elmira |
| 1989 | Terry Meagher, Bowdoin |
| 1990 | Bill Beaney, Middlebury |
| 1991 | Glenn Thomaris, Elmira |
| 1992 | Bruce Marshall, Connecticut |
| 1993 | Joe Baldarotta, WI-Stevens Point |
| 1994 | Jeff Meredith, Fredonia |
| 1995 | Bill Beaney, Middlebury |
| 1996 | Dean Talafous, WI-River Falls |
| 1997 | Mike McShane, Norwich |
| 1998 | Mike Schwartz, Augsburg |
| 1999 | Mike McShane, Norwich |
| 2000 | Mike McShane, Norwich |
| 2001 | Wayne Wilson, RIT |
| 2002 | Dan Stauber, WI-Superior |
| 2003 | George Roll, Oswego State |
| 2004 | Bill Beaney, Middlebury |
| 2005 | Terry Skrypek, St. Thomas |
| 2006 | Bill Beaney, Middlebury |
| 2007 | Ed Gosek, Oswego State |
| 2008 | Tim Coghlin, St. Norbert College |
| 2009 | Dominick Dawes, Neumann College |
| 2010 | Mike McShane, Norwich |
| 2011 | Tim Coghlin, St. Norbert College |
| 2012 | Jack Arena, Amherst College |
| 2013 | Matt Loen, UW-Eau Claire |
| 2014 | Chris Schultz, Geneseo |
| 2015 | Jack Arena, Amherst College |
| 2016 | Chris Schultz, Geneseo Peter Belisle, UMass Boston |
| 2017 | Mike McShane, Norwich |
| 2018 | Blaise MacDonald, Colby College |
| 2019 | Tyler Krueger, UW-Stevens Point |
