NEW YORK – Last year the Citadel planned a hockey tour of Scotland and England with a group of players from the Citadel and the Naval Academy. This year they are joining together again, with additional help from some other military academies, to plan a tour of Germany. The United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy will be joining the Citadel and United States Naval Academy this year. More details on the tour will follow, as the details are still being worked out.
To kick off this years series, we will be profiling each of the academies hockey programs. Each of the institutions was provided the same set of questions. Our fourth featured team is the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Name: United States Merchant Marines Men’s Club Hockey
Coach: Rick Dominique, USA Hockey Level 5
D2 or D3? D-3
What league? Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC)
How long has the program been in existence? 1980-89, 2010-present.
How many on average try out, and how many make the roster? 6-7 new players per year, all are accepted, some less skilled players as practice squad the rest as fully rostered members.
What is the overall enrollment number for the institution? Approx. 1200
Where are your games played? Home rink is the Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink at the Parkwood Sports Complex, Great Neck, NY just 1 mile from campus.
How many hours of practice per week? We have one 1.5 hour practice per week, sometimes two.
How many games do you generally play per season? 14-16 plus 2-3 military school tournaments.
How much recruiting is done and how do you recruit? I reach out through various online resources like BeRecruited, etc.
For the academies that have a D1 NCAA team, what are the differences in your programs, and does this help or hurt the club program? N/A
How many states do your players come from? Can come from all 50, but currently we have players from 8 states.
What was your record last year? 4W, 10L in-conference, 1W, 2L in tournament play.
How many seniors graduated last season? Two.
What fund raising is done, by whom, and how can people donate? Fundraising is via the USMMA Alumni Association, Inc. Donors may contact Head Coach, Rick Dominique at: DominiqueR@usmma.edu or 516-726-6036.
Please provide any other comments, thoughts etc that you would like everyone to know. A unique education, given to the Sea Year and unique among service academies in that our midshipmen can commission as officers in any branch of the service. We have a very diverse student body with small classes. Our hockey program is a club sport with support from our Alumni and Parents’ Associations.
United States Merchant Marine Academy
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