Men's Ice Hockey



Chris Davidson
Ice Hockey (M) - Head Coach

Saint Michael's '99
first season
cdavidson@smcvt.edu
802.654.2551


Chris Davidson enters his ninth season in collegiate hockey and his first as the Head Coach for the Purple Knights. In eight consecutive years at Saint Michael's, Davidson served as an assistant to long time coach Lou DiMasi for seven years before being named Head Coach. A Clinton, New York-native, Davidson graduated from Saint Michael's in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature and a Master's degree in Business in 2006.

Davidson has been instrumental in delivering a number of talented players to Saint Michael's over his tenure. During this time, one Purple Knight was named an All-American, 19 have earned All-ECAC accolades and 12 have received Northeast-10 honors. He has recruited two 'Players of the Year', and one 'Goaltender of the Year'. Four of Davidson's recruits have signed professional contracts, while another has represented Canada at the Maccabiah Olympic Games.

The 31-year-old Davidson returned to Saint Michael's before the start of the 2000-01 season, after serving as the top assistant for one year at Manhattanville College of the ECAC West. At Manhattanville, Davidson's primary duty was as the recruiting coordinator. After a successful year, Davidson returned to his alma mater to serve as the top assistant to Coach DiMasi. He helped guide the Purple Knights to three consecutive Division-II Championships (2002-04). In his eight years at Saint Michael's, the Purple Knights have qualified for the playoffs each year.

In addition to his work at the collegiate level, Davidson has worked at various USA Hockey Select Regional Camps. Since 2002, Davidson has been a member of the Player Development and Select Coaching Staff for the New England District. In the summer of 2007, Davidson served as a coach for the USA Under-17 Select Festival in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. In April of 2007, Davidson was elected to the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Board of Governors.

A former forward for the Saint Michael's, Davidson was a four year letter winner and voted captain of the 1998-99 team that captured the NCAA Division II National Championship by defeating New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University). In Saint Michael's only national championship in school history, Davidson was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team for scoring a goal and an assist in the Championship game. As a member of one of the most successful teams to ever wear the Purple Knight uniform, Davidson and his classmates amassed a total of 65 wins over their career. Davidson and his classmates were members of four teams that reached the ECAC Championships during their time. In recent years, Davidson has been a call up in the Southern Professional Hockey League for Macon (GA) and Pee Dee (SC).

Davidson has also completed his fourth season as the Saint Michael's golf coach.




Brian Bova
Ice Hockey (M) - Assistant Coach

UMass Lowell '07
first season
bbova@smcvt.edu
802.654.2504


Brian Bova, a former NCAA Division I student-athlete, has been named the top assistant coach for the Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey program, it was announced on June 7. Bova will be the first full-time assistant coach for interim head coach Chris Davidson '99, and will begin his duties in August of 2006.

"I am real excited for the opportunity to coach at Saint Michael's," said Bova. "This program is moving in a positive direction, and Saint Michael's appears to be a real tight-knit community. I am looking forward to the challenge."

"I am thrilled for Brian to be a part of the Saint Michael's community," said Davidson. "His experience through playing and coaching will be a tremendous asset to our program, and I can't wait for him to start working with our student-athletes in the fall."

Bova played four years of ice hockey at the University of Massachusetts Lowell from 2002-06, earning All-Academic honors from the Hockey East Association following the 2004-05 season. Bova was also named the squad's Most Improved Player that same season, when he tallied a career-high six goals and 33 games played for a squad that won 20 games. After a career-ending injury as a senior, Bova served as an undergraduate assistant hockey coach for the 2006-07 season before earning his bachelor's degree in sociology in June. Among other things, Bova assisted during team practices, participated in all coaches' meetings, coordinated video programs, and helped with opponent preparation and the production of scouting reports.

Bova also has worked as a hockey instructor at PHD, The Hockey Academy in Tyngsboro, Mass., since 2005, where he has developed and conducted 90-minute practice sessions. In addition, he was a head coach at Boot Camp Hockey in Morrisville, N.Y., in the summer of 2006, and a camp counselor at the River Hawk Hockey School for three summers as an undergraduate. This summer, Bova will again work at Boot Camp Hockey, and is also serving as an assistant coach at the USA Hockey Select Player Development Camp in Saint Cloud, Minn.

Bova is a native of North Andover, Mass.