PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State College has named the seventh head ice hockey coach in the program’s 33-year history.
Taking over as head coach of the Panther hockey program is Brett Tryder, who served the past two seasons as PSC’s top assistant coach. He takes over from former coach Chris Hudon, who resigned after last season for personal reasons.
Tryder played collegiately at Salem State College in 1990-91, when the team won the ECAC East Championship and played in the NCAA Tournament. He also skated for Fitchburg State College in 1995 on a Falcon team that advanced to the ECAC Northeast final.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” said Tryder. “The past two years here have allowed me to get to know the players, the league, and all the people involved in Plymouth State hockey. Sometimes you even get to know the kids better as an assistant coach. I look forward to preparing these guys to play hockey, but more importantly, preparing them for life after hockey.”
A native of Melrose, Mass., where he was a three-sport athlete at Melrose High School, Tryder participated in Hockey Night in Boston in 1989, where he broke the all-time single-season scoring record and was Tournament MVP.
“We are pleased to promote Brett Tryder to the position of head coach,” said PSC athletic director John P. Clark. “He is a hard worker, and brings a wealth of knowledge to the program. He is the right person at the right time for this team.”
The Panthers are coming off a disappointing season in 2002-03, finishing with a 5-12-5 overall record and a 3-9-4 mark in the ECAC Northeast. Plymouth State has had a solid program in the past, earning eight ECAC post-season bids since 1986, including recent berths in 1998, 1999, and 2002.