Courtesy AHCA/Trinity Sports Information
GLOUCESTER, Mass. – John Dunham, who coached the Trinity men's ice hockey team for the first 33 years of its existence as a varsity program and won 441 games and five league titles, has been selected as the 2010 John MacInnes Award recipient by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Dunham, who retired following the 2006-07 season, guided Trinity to two NCAA Tournaments and an NCAA semifinal appearance in 2005.
Established by the AHCA in 1982 to honor former Michigan Tech coach, John MacInnes, the award recognizes those people who have shown a great concern for amateur hockey and youth programs. The recipients have had high winning percentages, as well as outstanding graduating percentages among their former players. The winners of this award have helped young men grow not only as hockey players, but more importantly, as men.
Dunham was the guiding force behind the Trinity men's ice hockey program for 37 years, beginning his coaching career with Trinity’s club hockey team in 1970 and helping it attain varsity status in 1974. His teams developed into a dominant force in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North/South in the 1980’s, including the 1986-87 squad, which posted a 24-1 record en route to the second of four conference titles.
In all, Dunham compiled a 441-306-34 record with 21 post-season appearances, NCAA appearances in 2003 and 2005, four ECAC North/South Championship titles, and a NESCAC crown in 2003. In 2004-05, Trinity qualified for its second NCAA Tournament and posted the program’s first NCAA victory, 4-0, at Geneseo St., to advance to the team’s only NCAA semifinal appearance.
“My involvement with the Trinity club hockey team truly began as a labor of love,” said Dunham upon his retirement in 2008. “I had no idea the program would evolve to where it is today. I am proud of the many outstanding young men who have skated for us, and my hat is off to them for what they have accomplished on the ice despite the adversity of practicing and playing in off-campus facilities until this year."
Dunham’s 441 career-coaching victories placed him fourth among all active Division III coaches, fifth in Division III history, 11th among all active coaches in all divisions, and 20th among all coaches in all divisions in wins. He is second all-time in wins in Division III at the same school. Dunham was named as the 2001, 2003, and 2005 NESCAC Coach of the Year and as a finalist for the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Division III National Coach of the Year in both 2003 and 2005.
“Coach Dunham not only achieved a tremendous level of success on the ice, but played the pivotal role in making the exemplary Trinity ice hockey programs what they are today,” said Trinity Athletic Director Richard Hazelton. “He was officially a part-time coach but he gave more than a full-time effort to our teams for 37 years.”
Powered by PrestoSports