Feature: Union Associate Coach on Familiar Ice

The following feature article on Union associate head coach Rick Bennett appeared in the December 7 issue of the Schenectady Gazette.

By Ken Schott
Gazette Reporter

SCHENECTADY -- The phone calls from friends at Providence College have been coming into Union College associate head coach Rick Bennett this week, knowing that he will be coming to Schneider Arena tonight.

Bennett, a former Friars player and assistant coach, is trying his best to concentrate on helping the Dutchmen beat his alma mater for the first time since Nov. 1, 1996. But when he walks into the building for the first time since he was not retained by Providence coach Tim Army in 2005, the memories will quickly be coming back.

"It's been so chaotic around here that I haven't had a chance to think about it," Bennett said. "Nothing's been said. I don't think it will hit me until we actually get ready and 7 o'clock hits. A few friends have called, that's about it.

"I figured that it would be a little more emotional than this, but it's not."

There probably were some special feelings when he walked into Schneider for Union's late-afternoon practice Thursday. But Bennett is doing his best to keep the focus away from him.

"Sure, there's going to be a lot of feelings, and seeing a lot of people I haven't seen [in a while]," Bennett said. "I've always wanted to make this about the players. The players play the game. This isn't about Rick Bennett coming back to Providence College, that's for sure. We're looking for a win, that's all we care about."

Bennett was a standout player for the Friars from 1986-90. He ranks 24th on their all-time scoring list with 134 points. Bennett was named to the Hockey East all-rookie team in 1987, and was a second-team All-Hockey East member in 1990. Bennett was also a two-time team MVP.

Also in 1990, Bennett was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

"To be honest, I didn't get caught up in those awards," Bennett said. "I always tell people when they fire off the Hobey Baker stuff that it was a bad year. They had to pick someone from the East."

After playing three seasons in the New York Rangers organization, Bennett joined the Friars as an assistant coach in the 2000-01 season and worked under Paul Pooley for five years. Pooley left Providence after the 2004-05 season to become associate head coach at Notre Dame. When Army was hired, he decided not to retain Bennett.

"I had a great experience at Providence as a player," Bennett said. "Going back there and working with Paul Pooley and [assoc­iate head coach] David Berard was a phenomenal experience. They brought me along very slowly, and that's really helped me in my college career. I can not say enough about Providence College."

Union coach Nate Leaman hired Bennett shortly after his previous hire, Utica College head coach Gary Heenan, resigned a week after he had joined the Dutchmen.

Leaman understands the emot­ions Bennett is going through. He had similar feelings when he returned to Harvard, where he had been an assistant coach, during his first season as Union's head coach.

"The one thing that may sep­arate it is a lot of the players he coached are no longer there," Leaman said.

Providence just posted an 8-0 rout of crosstown rival Brown in the annual Mayor's Cup game. The Friars (5-6-2) scored five goals in the second period and outshot the Bears, 55-18.

The last time the Dutchmen (3-6-2) faced a Hockey East school, they were outshot, 55-27, by Massach­usetts and lost, 5-2, on Nov. 25.

"[The Friars] are a dangerous, offensive team that likes to shoot the puck a lot from all angles," Leaman said. "They're very similar to UMass. You have to play a smart game. Their transition to offense is excellent. They have four guys on the offense. We have to make sure that we're being smart with the puck."

Union will host Northeastern at 7 p.m. Saturday. It will be the Dutchmen's first game at Messa Rink since a 3-3 tie against Yale Nov. 3.