Finalists Emerge For Hockey East Commissioner

Pitch From America East to Share Resources Has Tepid Support

CHN Staff Report

Hockey East's search for a new commissioner has narrowed to some final candidates, just as the conference athletic directors have heard a pitch from America East to combine some forces.

Among the finalists for commissioner, CHN has learned, are current New Hampshire deputy athletic director Steve Metcalf, who is also currently the chair of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Committee; and Michael Mudd, a St. Lawrence alum who coached at Miami early in his career, and is currently the athletic director at D-III Worcester State. Mudd was previously president of the Worcester Sharks for 12 years; the Sharks were the AHL affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks.

Current comissioner Joe Bertagna was informed last year that his contract would not be renewed beyond this season. Bertagna has been Hockey East commissioner since 1997.

"Metcalf and Mudd are both great candidates," said one person closely familiar with both candidates. "Mudd is a very hard worker, soft-spoken. He's a lot like (NCHC commissioner) Josh Fenton."

The commissioner search could be complicated by the involvement of an all-sport conference, though sources tell CHN that is highly unlikely. Hockey East's athletic directors recently heard a pitch from America East, to share resources such as marketing, office space and web hosting. While sharing resources remains a possibility, sources said any agreement with America East, if there is any, wouldn't go beyond that.

"(Other schools) give this (idea) a big eye roll and single out Lowell as pushing that agenda," a source told CHN.

Lowell is one of four Hockey East schools who are members of America East — the others being Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.

Mike McMahon, Adam Wodon and Joe Meloni contributed to this report.