Back row from left to right: Will Hannum, James Pioppi, Nick Souretis, Connor Merrick, Connor Durant, Jack St. Pierre, George Vadyak, Dan Kane, Ryan Glass, Ben Kotsifas, Aidan Harris, Marsh Hickman, Casey Donovan, Ryan Kane, Eoin Faherty, Ian Stapleton, Matt Duane, Dave Maccini.
Front row from left to right: Jack Dickie, Shea Cunningham, Brady Leslie, Jack Braga, Owen Lapworth, James Driscoll, Colin Campbell, Patrick Keenan, James Eustace, Ryan Prendergast, Aidan Weir, Liam Polles, Jack Garland, Kyle Souza, and Katie Smiley. (Photo courtesy: Margaret Nye / Massachusetts Maritime Hockey)
Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), a top-ranked public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, is proud to announce that the Club Hockey Team – which includes its first female player – recently ended the 2023-2024 season with a conference win, an invitation to play in a national tournament, and a record of 20-7-1.
Led by Captain Ryan Prendergast, the Club Hockey Team won the New England Independent Hockey Conference (NEIHC) in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Division 2, going on to an invitation to play in the AAU D2 National Tournament where the team ranked 9th playing against Anna Maria College, Neumann University, and the University of Florida.
Other highlights of the year included the opportunity to travel to Canada for a weekend to compete against Bishops University and a trip to Philadelphia to play in the Empire Classic Tournament. In addition, two of the team players, sophomore Kyle Souza and senior Ryan Glass, received a special invitation to play in the AAU All-Star Tournament in Florida.
The team finished the year with an impressive record of 20-7-1.
Prendergast, who will graduate from the Academy this spring, praised the entire team, singling out goaltender Liam Polles as being “the backbone for the team the entirety of the season” and for receiving the 1st Team All-American award in addition to being voted into the All-Star game. Prendergast also pointed to Head Coach Dave Maccini for “providing great support to the team on and off the ice.”
The 2023-2024 Club Hockey Team included the first woman player, Katie Smiley of Brigantine, New Jersey, a Marine Transportation major, who also played for the Philadelphia Little Flyers prior to entering the Academy as a first-year cadet last September.
In addition, later this summer the 2024 Prendi Cup Golf Tournament will honor two MMA hockey alumni that have passed away. John “Prendi” Prendergast (MMA 1985) will be honored for his dedication to Hockey Club and the lasting impact he made on so many, and Joseph Benting (MMA 2022) will be honored for his devotion to the team and the many connections he made with his teammates. The proceeds from the July 19 tournament will benefit the Hockey Club to help offset costs for the season. For more information or to register for the tournament, please visit www.maritime.edu/clubs-orgs/
“What a truly amazing season our Club Hockey Team had,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “Each year this team continues to grow and make its mark on both regional and national levels – congratulations to all members of the 2023-2024 team for one outstanding season.”
About Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA): MMA is a fully accredited, four-year, co-educational state university offering Bachelor and Master of Science degrees that are highly regarded in the worldwide maritime industry and beyond. For more than 100 years, MMA has prepared women and men for exciting and rewarding careers on land and sea. As the nation’s finest co-ed maritime college, MMA challenges students to succeed by balancing a unique regimented lifestyle with a typical four-year college environment. Located on Cape Cod, at the mouth of the scenic Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is the ideal college to pursue the love for the ocean, concern for the environment, interest in math and science, and a thirst for adventure. Follow MMA on FB: @massmaritime, @MassMaritime.Advancement; IG: @massmaritime, @mmacademyalumni; Twitter: @MMAadmissions, @MMAcademyAlumni; YouTube: Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
