Shayne Toporowski has been named as the new head coach of the Worcester State University Hockey Team.
Toporowski, was a second round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, played 1,057 games for 15 teams in seven countries during his 18-year professional career. Twelve seasons in Europe, including nine in Finland, and serving as a player assistant coach for the CHL’s Quad City Mallards in 2012-13, Toporowski was an assistant at Holy Cross last season.
Worcester State is coming off a 9-15-1 campaign. The Lancers last had a winning season in 1997-98 when they finished 13-12. Toporowski replaces John Guiney, who resigned earlier this summer after guiding the Lancers for 22 seasons.
With ten returning senior players for the 2014-2015 season, the Worcester State cupboard is certainly not empty. That many returners though does mean that the new head coach will need to be looking to restock the team heading into the 2015-2016 season, and more will be expected from this seasons senior class.
While at Holy Cross, Toporowski was very involved with recruiting, scouting, game-day preparation and video analysis. Critical skills that will be needed this season and beyond.
“This is a great opportunity to take the Lancers in a new direction,” said Toporowski. “I am excited to be named the new head coach of the men’s ice hockey team. I am eager to share and instill some of the great concepts that I have learned throughout my professional career as a player and a coach.”
“We will play fast, maintain pucks and bring our goals against average down as a team. To accomplish this goal, we will keep pucks out of our net by blocking shots, communicating defensively and improving through video teaching on our overall awareness of on ice responsibilities,” said Toporowski.
“I will put my best foot forward as I always have in this great game and I expect the players, coaching and support staff to equal or exceed these expectations.”
2014 shapes up to be a busy and challenging season for the Lancers, and Toporowski has shown throughout his career he faces challenges head on and knows how to achieve success.
