This past spring, current ACHA Division I head coach, Dan Phelps, accepted the position as Director of ACHA Hockey at Adrian College. Part of his task, along with continuing to coach the DI team, was to assemble a third ACHA hockey team to begin play this upcoming season. With that, a few minor adjustments took place within the ACHA program to help streamline all ACHA hockey teams within the college. To start, last seasons ACHA Division II program was moved to the ACHA Division III level and was accepted into the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) as an affiliate member this season and a full member for the 2011-12 season. This team was also re-identified as Adrian Colleges Division III Gold team. The move to the MCHC will give the Gold team a competitive schedule against many other Michigan based colleges competing at this level. The MCHC is a nationally recognized conference at the ACHA Division III level. The assembling of a third ACHA team also took place as a new program within the college identified as the ACHA Division III Black team. This team will also be an ACHA registered program but will compete with an independent schedule made up of colleges and universities in Michigan and throughout the mid-west. In addition to these teams taking a new flight pattern, the Division I program will also begin play in the newly formed Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL) that will begin its inaugural season in October of this fall. Members of the GLCHL include; Adrian College, Oakland University, Davenport University, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Western Michigan University (ACHA) and Eastern Michigan University. All members of the GLCHL were nationally ranked contending programs throughout last season.

 

            With the new direction, some additions and moves occurred in the coaching staff's. Brett Berger will continue to assist Dan Phelps with the ACHA Division I program as coach and recruiting coordinator. Brett is in his third season at Adrian College and has been an asset to the team's success since he and Coach Phelps started the program in 2008-09. The Gold team will be coached by Brandon Scero. Brandon is a young, ambitious coach that brings a wealth of background and playing experience to Adrian. After spending two seasons playing in The National Development program in Ann Arbor (USA Hockey-NTDP), Brandon played 4 season of NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. At UNO, Brandon became the program's career record holder for power play goals (26) and holds the record for consecutive games with a goal (6). He graduated from UNO in 2010, finishing his career ranked sixth on the programs all-time scoring list. His addition to the staff, and background as a Michigan native with high school and travel coaching networks, makes him an asset to the ACHA program at Adrian College. The ACHA Black team leadership will be headed up by former Adrian College Division I pioneer and team captain Trevor Markovich. Trevor recently graduated, from Adrian and spent his academic senior year as a volunteer coach with the Division I program. Trevor has been a great addition to the staff with his background of the college and program. He comes to the ACHA staff with a head start and a great ambition to work with our student-athletes. He will also continue to assist on the Division I program as his schedule allows.

 

            Everyone in the ACHA hockey program is very excited to begin the next step forward this season at Adrian College.