Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

WILKES-BARRE — It’s been almost a year since Stephen Mallaro was tabbed as the first head coach of the King’s College men’s ice hockey team.

Now, Mallaro is building a staff, has recruited a team of 25 players and on Thursday, he found out when and where his team will play.

King’s announced the completion of the college’s first D-III ice hockey schedule for the 2017-18 season. The program will make its debut on Oct. 27 at home against Brockport State University. All of King’s home games will be played at the Revolution Ice Center in Pittston.

“We have our team in place, we have our schedule and now it’s really starting to come together,” Mallaro said. “(The schedule) puts it all in perspective for me.”

King’s will play 16 games in the newly formed United Collegiate Hockey Conference, which consists of teams from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York, and six more games in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The team will also play in its first tournament Nov. 24-25 in the Rutland Herald Invitational in Vermont. The UCHC playoffs will begin on Feb. 21, 2018.

While King’s won’t begin practicing until the third Monday of October, per NCAA rules, Mallaro said he’s already very familiar with many of the opponents his team will face this season. He served as an assistant coach with Manhattanville College and Brockport State, and as a player with Oswego State.

“Being familiar with some of these teams will help us to transition into the league,” Mallaro said. “After playing or coaching against them, you know their styles.”

Mallaro anticipates a rivalry developing between King’s and the other Pennsylvania teams on the schedule – Neumann University, Chatham University, Lebanon Valley College and Bryn Athyn College. The biggest potential rival, Wilkes University, will begin play in the 2018-19 season.

“Every game is going to be tough. When I played in the ECAC West every game was an all-out battle. There were no nights off,” Mallaro said.

Since he was named head coach last July, Mallaro has been busy traveling the continent to recruit players for the first hockey team at King’s. On one trip, Mallaro travelled to Minnesota, Vancouver, Alberta and Boston to meet with players.

Players on the roster, which will be announced in the future, hail from Alberta, Ontario, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and two players from Pennsylvania – Collegeville and Pittsburgh.

Most of the players on this season’s roster will be juniors, Mallaro said, and he’s talking to local players about playing for King’s in 2018-19.

While hockey talent was obviously a big component with recruiting, Mallaro also placed a heavy emphasis on academic excellence. He said it’s important for his players to become involved with the community and he hopes to have them work on the ice with local youth programs.

Prior to the season opener, King’s will play two exhibition games – Oct. 22 in Maryland and Oct. 24 at home against Manhattanville.

As the program becomes established, Mallaro expects fan support to grow.

He said the style of play will make for exciting games for fans to watch.

“We want to play a fast-paced game, and we have the guys that can do that,” Mallaro said. “It’s going to be exciting hockey, and the most exciting part for me is seeing everyone at the college wanting to be a part of this.”

King’s ice hockey head coach Stephen Mallaro with Janet Mercincavage, vice president for student affairs, with the inaugural schedule for the college’s men’s ice hockey team, which will begin play in October.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Kingshockey-1.jpg.optimal.jpgKing’s ice hockey head coach Stephen Mallaro with Janet Mercincavage, vice president for student affairs, with the inaugural schedule for the college’s men’s ice hockey team, which will begin play in October. Submitted photo
Men’s ice hockey schedule released

By Tom Venesky

[email protected]

King’s College men’s ice hockey 2017-18 schedule

(The King’s women’s ice hockey schedule will be announced next week)

Oct. 27 – Brockport State University – H

Nov. 4 – Elmira College – A

Nov. 10 – Stevenson University – H

Nov. 11 – Neumann University – H

Nov. 17 – Bryn Athyn College – H

Nov. 18 – Manhattanville College – A

Nov. 24 – Rutland Herald Invitational – A

Nov. 25 – Rutland Herald Invitational – A

Dec. 1 – Utica College – H

Dec. 2 – Nazareth College – H

Dec. 8 – Lebanon Valley College – A

Dec. 9 – Chatham University – A

Jan. 5 – Trine University – H

Jan. 6 Trine University – H

Jan. 9 – Western New England College – H

Jan. 19 – SUNY-Canton – A

Jan. 20 – Elmira College – H

Jan. 26 – Stevenson University – A

Jan. 27 – Neumann University – A

Feb. 2 – Bryn Athyn College – H

Feb. 3 – Manhattanville College – H

Feb. 9 – Lebanon Valley College – H

Feb. 10 – Chatham University – H

Feb. 16 – Utica College – A

Feb. 17 – Nazareth College – A

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TomVenesky