Rick Bennett

{{Other uses|Richard Bennett (disambiguation){{!}}Richard Bennett}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Rick Bennett

| image = Rick Bennett (13776916135) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Bennett with Union in 2014

| image_size = 230px

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 218

| played_for = New York Rangers

| ntl_team =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|7|24}}

| birth_place = Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.

| draft = 54th overall

| draft_year = 1986

| draft_team = Minnesota North Stars

| career_start = 1990

| career_end = 1999

| module = {{Infobox college coach|embed=yes

| name =

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_title = Assistant coach

| current_team = Quinnipiac

| current_conference = ECAC Hockey

| current_record =

| contract =

| alma_mater = Providence College

| coach_years1 = 2000–2005

| coach_team1 = Providence (asst.)

| coach_years2 = 2005–2007

| coach_team2 = Union (asst.)

| coach_years3 = 2007–2011

| coach_team3 = Union (asso. head coach)

| coach_years4 = 2011–2022

| coach_team4 = Union

| coach_years5 = 2022–2024

| coach_team5 = Savannah Ghost Pirates

| coach_years6 = 2024–Present

| coach_team6 = Quinnipiac (asst.)

| overall_record = 192–133–45 ({{winpct|192|133|45}})

| tournament_record =

| championships = 2014 NCAA Champion
3× ECAC regular season champion (2011-12, 2013-14, 2016-17),
3× ECAC Tournament Champion (2012, 2013, 2014)

| awards = 2014 Spencer Penrose Award
2014 College Hockey News Coach of the Year
2014 USCHO Coach of the Year
2012 Tim Taylor Award
2017 Tim Taylor Award

| coaching_records =

}}}}

Eric John "Rick" Bennett (born July 24, 1967) is an American former ice hockey left winger and former head coach of the Savannah Ghost Pirates. He is the former head coach of the Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey team of Union College, where he coached from 2011 until 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://unionathletics.com/news/2022/1/28/mens-ice-hockey-bennett-steps-down-as-union-head-mens-hockey-coach.aspx|title = Bennett Steps Down as Union Head Men's Hockey Coach|publisher=Union College|date=January 28, 2022}} He played 15 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers over three seasons from 1990 to 1991. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1990 to 1999, was spent in the minor leagues.

Playing career

Bennett was a four-year letterwinner (1986–90) and co-captain at Providence, where he was recognized as a Hobey Baker finalist (1990) and two-time winner of the Lou Lamoriello Trophy as team MVP. He was named an All-American during the 1988-89 season and earned All-Hockey East Second Team honors in 1990. A left-winger, Bennett finished with 134 points (50 goals, 84 assists) in 128 career games. Bennett skated on the famed B-B-G line, along with center Mike Boback and right wing Robbie Gaudreau. Rick, who graduated with a B.A. in general studies, was inducted into the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unionathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=230|title = Rick Bennett - Head Men's Hockey Coach - Men's Ice Hockey Coaches}}

Bennett was a third-round draft pick (54th overall) of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. His draft rights were later traded to the New York Rangers. Bennett appeared in 15 games with the Rangers over three seasons (1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92). Bennett's 10-year professional career also included stints with the Binghamton Rangers (AHL), Springfield Indians (AHL), Hershey Bears (AHL), Springfield Falcons (AHL), Albany River Rats (AHL), Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL), Jacksonville Lizard Kings (ECHL) and Pee Dee Pride (ECHL). Bennett served as a player assistant coach for the Jacksonville Lizard Kings and Pee Dee Pride.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unionathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=230|title = Rick Bennett - Head Men's Hockey Coach - Men's Ice Hockey Coaches}}

Coaching career

Bennett served as head coach at Union College from 2011 to 2022, leading the Dutchmen to three ECAC Hockey regular season titles (2011–12, 2014-14 & 2016-17), three ECAC Hockey tournament titles (2012, 2013 & 2014), four NCAA Tournament appearances (2012, 2013, 2014 & 2017), two Frozen Fours (2012 & 2014) and one NCAA championship title (2014) by defeating Minnesota. Bennett won ECAC Hockey's Tim Taylor Award for conference coach of the year twice (2012 & 2017),{{cite web|url=https://dailygazette.com/2012/06/06/606_Bennett/|title=College hockey: Dutchmen reward Bennett|publisher=The Daily Gazette|date=June 6, 2012|access-date=May 22, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uscho.com/2017/08/25/union-gives-coach-rick-bennett-contract-extension-through-2022-23/|title=Union gives Bennett contract extension to stay behind bench through 2022-23|website=USCHO.com|date=August 25, 2017|access-date=May 22, 2022}} and won the American Hockey Coaches Association's Spencer Penrose Award for NCAA Division I coach of the year in 2014.{{cite web|last=Dilks|first=Chris|url=https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/4/9/5597328/unions-rick-bennett-wins-spencer-penrose-award|title=Union's Rick Bennett Wins Spencer Penrose Award|publisher=SB Nation College Hockey|date=April 9, 2014|access-date=May 22, 2022}} Bennett resigned in 2022 following an allegation about his coaching style and practices that was substantiated through an investigation by Union College.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-hockey-coaching-college-hockey-schenectady-b700879f1b240f237074e0fd87fed500|title=Union hockey coach Rick Bennett resigns after investigation|publisher=The Associated Press|date=January 29, 2022|access-date=May 22, 2022}}

On May 19, 2022, Bennett was announced to be the first head coach of the ECHL expansion team Savannah Ghost Pirates.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/vgk-announce-echl-affiliation-relationship-with-savannah-ghost-pirates/c-334197306|title=VGK Announce ECHL Affiliation Relationship With Savannah Ghost Pirates|website=NHL.com|date=May 19, 2022|access-date=May 19, 2022}}

On February 1, 2024, it was announced that Bennett would be relieved from his duties as head coach of the Savannah Ghost Pirates.

Personal life

Bennett and his wife, Karyn have five children together. The family resides in Clifton Park, New York.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! colspan="5"\|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! colspan="5"\|Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
1985–86 \| Wilbraham & Monson Academy \| HS-MA \| 20	30	69	99	25 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1986–87 \| Providence College \| HE \| 32	15	12	27	34 \| —	—	—	—	—
1987–88 \| Providence College \| HE \| 33	9	16	25	70 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1988–89 \| Providence College \| HE \| 32	14	32	46	74 \| —	—	—	—	—
1989–90 \| Providence College \| HE \| 31	12	24	36	74 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1989–90 \| New York Rangers \| NHL \| 6	1	0	1	5 \| —	—	—	—	—
1990–91 \| New York Rangers \| NHL \| 6	0	0	0	6 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1990–91 \| Binghamton Rangers \| AHL \| 71	27	32	59	206 \| 10	2	1	3	27
1991–92 \| New York Rangers \| NHL \| 3	0	1	1	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1991–92 \| Binghamton Rangers \| AHL \| 69	19	23	42	112 \| 11	0	1	1	23
1992–93 \| Binghamton Rangers \| AHL \| 76	15	22	37	114 \| 10	0	0	0	30
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1993–94 \| Springfield Indians \| AHL \| 67	9	19	28	82 \| 6	1	0	1	31
1994–95 \| Springfield Falcons \| AHL \| 34	3	5	8	74 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1994–95 \| Hershey Bears \| AHL \| 30	3	4	7	40 \| 3	2	1	3	14
1995–96 \| Jacksonville Lizard Kings \| ECHL \| 67	28	34	62	182 \| 18	5	10	15	30
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1995–96 \| Cincinnati Cyclones \| IHL \| 4	0	1	1	0 \| 1	0	0	0	2
1996–97 \| Jacksonville Lizard Kings \| ECHL \| 64	23	33	56	120 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1996–97 \| Albany River Rats \| AHL \| 4	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
1997–98 \| Pee Dee Pride \| ECHL \| 68	12	30	42	137 \| 8	3	2	5	14
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1998–99 \| Pee Dee Pride \| ECHL \| 66	21	18	39	103 \| 11	3	1	4	33
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"\| AHL totals ! 351 !! 76 !! 105 !! 181 !! 628 ! 40 !! 5 !! 3 !! 8 !! 125
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"\| NHL totals ! 15 !! 1 !! 1 !! 2 !! 13 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! —

Head coaching record

{{CBB Yearly Record Start

|type=coach

|conference=

|postseason=

|poll=

}}

{{CIH yearly record subhead

|name = Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey

|color = color:white; background:#822433

|startyear = 2011

|conference = ECAC Hockey

|endyear = 2022

|}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2011–12

| name = Union

| overall = 26–8–7

| conference = 14–4–4

| confstanding = 1st{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2011-12/standings|title = 2011-12 Standings}}

| postseason = NCAA Frozen Four

| poll = 3rd (USCHO)

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 2012–13

| name = Union

| overall = 22–13–5

| conference = 10–8–4

| confstanding = 4th{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2012-13/standings|title = 2012-13 Standings}}

| postseason = NCAA Regional finals

| poll = 10th (USCHO)

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| season = 2013–14

| name = Union

| overall = 32–6–4

| conference = 18–3–1

| confstanding = 1st{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2013-14/standings|title = 2013-14 Standings}}

| postseason = NCAA Champions

| ranking = 1st (USCHO)

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2014–15

| name = Union

| overall = 19–18–2

| conference = 8–13–1

| confstanding = 10th{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2014-15/standings|title = 2014-15 Standings}}

| postseason = ECAC quarterfinals

| poll =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2015–16

| name = Union

| overall = 13–14–9

| conference = 6–10–6

| confstanding = 9th{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2015-16/standings|title = 2015-16 Standings}}

| postseason = ECAC first round

| poll =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2016–17

| name = Union

| overall = 25–10–3

| conference = 16–4–2

| confstanding = T-1st{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2016-17/standings|title = 2016-17 Standings}}

| postseason = NCAA regional semifinals

| poll = 11th (USCHO)

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2017–18

| name = Union

| overall = 21–15–2

| conference = 16–5–1

| confstanding = 2nd{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2017-18/standings|title = 2017-18 Standings Presented by U.S. Army ROTC}}

| postseason = ECAC quarterfinals

| poll =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2018–19

| name = Union

| overall = 20–13–6

| conference = 10–10–2

| confstanding = 7th{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2018-19/standings|title = 2018-19 Standings}}

| postseason = ECAC quarterfinals

| poll =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2019–20

| name = Union

| overall = 8–25–4

| conference = 5–15–2

| confstanding = 10th{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2019-20/standings|title = 2019-20 Standings}}

| postseason = ECAC first round

| poll =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2021–22

| name = Union

| overall = 6–11–3 ^†

| conference = 4–6–1 ^†

| confstanding = -

| postseason = N/A

| poll =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Union

| overall = 192–133–45

| confrecord = 107–78–24

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End

| overall = 192–133–45

}}

† Bennet resigned mid-season.{{cite web|url=https://www.uscho.com/2022/01/29/union-mens-hockey-coach-bennett-steps-down-after-an-allegation-about-his-coaching-style-and-practices-that-was-substantiated-through-an-investigation-by-the-college/ |title=Union men's hockey coach Bennett steps down after 'an allegation about his coaching style and practices that was substantiated through an investigation by the college' |work=USCHO |date=January 29, 2022 |accessdate=January 29, 2022}}

Awards and honors

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

All-Hockey East Rookie Team

| 1986–87

| {{cite news|title=Hockey East All-Rookie Teams|url=http://www.augenblick.org/chha/hea_roo.html|publisher=College Hockey Historical Archives|accessdate=May 19, 2013}}

AHCA East Second-Team All-American

| 1988–89

| {{cite news|title=Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_icehockey_rb/2013/MIH%20awards%20for%202013.pdf|publisher=NCAA.org|accessdate=June 11, 2013}}

All-Hockey East Second team

| 1989–90

| {{cite news|title=Hockey East All-Teams|url=http://www.augenblick.org/chha/hea_all.html|publisher=College Hockey Historical Archives|accessdate=May 19, 2013}}