Rivier has named now-former Franklin Pierce head coach Shaun Millerick as its new men's hockey coach. (Franklin Pierce photo)

NASHUA — The Rivier University athletic department hopes with its latest hire the third time will be the charm when it comes to its men’s ice hockey coaching job.

The Raiders, as was rumored, on Monday officially named former Franklin Pierce head coach Shaun Millerick as their new men’s head hockey coach.

Millerick has served as the Ravens head coach since 2017 and is FPU’s all-time wins leader with 53, going 53-86-10 in his six full seasons at the FPU helm. He was the Northeast-10 Conference’s Coach of the Year in 2020, the Ravens making it to the conference finals. In his five full years he had had three NE 10 Players of The Year.

He becomes already the third coach in the team’s brief history. Eric Sorenson was the program’s initial hire in November of 2020, but he left after a few months to take a Division I assistant’s job at Holy Cross. Former Tufts and Babson assistant Matt Keating, who was an original finalist for the job, was hired in June of 2021 and guided the Raiders for their first two seasons but was dismissed nearly a month ago for unspecified reasons.

“I am incredibly excited to welcome Coach Millerick to Rivier,” said Harper in a statement released by Rivier. “His demonstrated dedication to student-athletes as a Head Coach for the past six seasons will enable Shaun to take the Raiders ice hockey to new heights. We welcome him to Nashua to begin our preparation to compete in the MASCAC.”

In Millerick, the Raiders have an already established head coach. This past season, the Ravens made the NE-10 semis for the third time in program history. He had been an assistant at Pierce in 2016-17 before being promoted to head coach.

The Rivier job is an attractive one as the program, entering its third year, will be joining the MASCAC beginning with the 2024-25 season, and that will allow for a more set schedule and a chance to compete in NCAA post-season play.

“I would like to thank Director of Athletics Jonathan Harper and the entire search committee for providing me with this tremendous opportunity of leading the men’s ice hockey program at Rivier University,” said Millerick in the school’s release. “I am excited to build a competitive program comprised of talented and hardworking student-athletes who are relentless in the pursuit of academic and athletic success.”

Meanwhile, the former Becker College player leaves behind an imprint at Franklin Pierce.

“Franklin Pierce athletics will always hold a special place in my heart and I’m incredibly grateful for all the student-athletes I’ve been fortunate to coach over the last seven years,” said Millerick.