Chris Czarnota has been hired as the first ever women's hockey coach at Rivier. (Photo courtesy of Rivier University)

NASHUA – Rivier University can now go full steam ahead with its historic plans for hockey for next season.

A couple of weeks ago the school hired Eric Sorenson to coach its first-ever men’s program, and on Tuesday named Norwich assistant Chris Czarnota to guide its inaugural women’s team.

Czarnota has been the Norwich men’s assistant for the last three years, and like Sorenson, is a former college goaltender. He worked not only with the men’s goalies at Norwich but also the women’s netminders as well with superb results. Norwich is one of the top Division III hockey schools in the country.

“We’re so excited that Chris will be our first head coach in (Rivier) women’s ice hockey history,” Riv athletic director Joanne Merrill said in a statement. “He brings a vast knowledge and championship pedigree with him and his schills as a former NCAA Division III student-athlete are something that our women are going to learn extensively from.”

The goalies Czarnota coached received national accolades, including the Sid Watson Award captured by Cadets goalie Tom Aubrun last season as the national Division III Player of the Year. Auburn had an NCAA Divison III record shutout string of 527:31 that spanned nine games, plus a record 13 shutouts.

The prior season, he and Emily Lambert of the women’s team were New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Goalies of the Year.

Czarnota, a Wakefield, Mass. native, posted a record of 31-7-3 with a 1.50 goals against average during his playing career at Norwich, ranking him third all time at the school with 10 career shutouts.

“I’m looking forward to building this program,” Czarnota said. “Division III is special because the student-athletes are playing their sport for the loe of the game.

“I understand this perspective as a former Division III athlete myself. I believe my devotion to the game and the players will fuel a successful women’s hockey program at Rivier.”

Czarnota also has been an assistant at Tufts University, in addition to coaching at the 2019 Hockey Select U15 Development Camp, plus youth hockey leagues in Southern Vermont.

Now both Czarnota and Sorenson will be hitting the recruiting trail as the Raiders expect to begin playing next fall with Conway Arena being the Raiders’ home rink.The school announced its plans to add hockey back in October.

“Hiring Chris is a solid step in establishing our ice hockey programs,” said Kurt Stimeling, Rivier’s VP for Student Affairs. “His commitment to building a culture supporting academic and athletic success and demonstrated coaching and mentoring skills will benefit our student athletes and provide a strong foundation for our women’s ice hockey program.”

(Rivier Sports Information Director Anthony Perry contributed to this report.)

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