ACHA TO INDUCT THREE INTO HALL OF FAME

Wilk and Powers selected in Builders Category

Tibaudo selected in Players Category

 

UNION LAKE, Mich. – (April 12, 2023) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association, the governing body for non-varsity college hockey across the United States, has announced that Christian Wilk, Greg Powers, and Jonathan Tibaudo have been elected to the ACHA Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

 

The Hall of Fame inductees were selected from a field of eligible nominees reviewed by the ACHA Hall of Fame Committee and recommended to the ACHA’s Board of Directors.  Nominations to the Hall of Fame are made in two categories: Players and Builders.  Wilk and Powers will be enshrined in the Builders Category.  Tibaudo will be inducted in the Players Category.

 

CHRISTIAN WILK (Brecksville, OH) – ACHA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 (BUILDER)

 

Christian Wilk has over 25 years of Head Coaching experience at the ACHA Men’s Division 1 level.  Wilk was the Head Coach at Kent State University from 1991 through 2004 where his team earned three appearances at the ACHA Men’s Division 1 National Championships.  From 2005 through 2018, Wilk was the Head Coach at John Carroll University.  During his tenure at JCU, the Blue Streaks were a strong contender in the College Hockey Mid-America conference and the ACHA Men’s Division 1 picture. With Wilk at the helm, the Blue Streaks won back-to-back CHMA Playoff Championships in 2017 and 2018 and earned an ACHA Men’s Division 1 National Championships appearance.  Wilk was also twice named CHMA Coach of the Year.  Wilk has a combined 324 wins at Kent State University and John Carroll University.

 

Wilk also served as Executive Director of the ACHA for 14 years, from 2001 until 2015.  In 2010, Wilk received the ACHA’s Don Spencer Award in recognition of his dedication and service to the ACHA.  While serving as Executive Director, Wilk used his background in business and sports management to the benefit of the ACHA, resulting in extensive growth and development of the organization during his tenure.  Wilk also served on the Board of Directors for the American Hockey Coaches Association.

 

GREG POWERS (Scottsdale, AZ) – ACHA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 (BUILDER)

 

Greg Powers just completed his 15th overall season on the Arizona State University Hockey Coaching Staff and his eighth as head coach of ASU’s NCAA Division I Hockey program. In 2013-14, Powers helped guide the Sun Devils to their first-ever ACHA Men’s Division 1 National Championship.  He holds a 270-167-25 career record and a 164-27-9 ACHA record, and his team ended the 2014-2015 season ranked #3 in the ACHA with a 35-4-1 record qualifying for ASU’s third straight ACHA Men’s Division 1 Final Four. Since taking the reigns as head coach, Powers has also coached eight ACHA Men’s Division 1 All-Americans and 15 ACHA Academic All-Americans.

 

Powers helped lead Sun Devil Hockey to five consecutive ACHA Men’s Division 1 National Tournament appearances, starting with his first year as Head Coach in 2010.  In 2012-13, Powers led ASU to a new program best record and first ever 30 plus win season with a record of 35-8-1, its first ever Final Four Appearance, first ever National Ranking of #1, and a benchmark win over NCAA DI Penn State. During the 2013-2014 season, ASU Hockey won the ACHA DI National Championship, with Powers named ACHA DI National Coach of the Year. The Sun Devils were also named Western Collegiate Hockey League Conference Champions both for 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, and Powers was named WCHL Coach of the Year for 2013-2014. Powers was also named an ACHA Men’s Division 1 National Coach of the Year finalist in 2012-13, and 2014-15.

 

Himself a Sun Devil, Powers graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in 1999 and was inducted into the ASU ACHA Hockey Player Hall of Fame in in 2009. Collegiately, Powers was a three-time ACHA Men’s Division 1 All-American Goaltender while playing for the Sun Devils under the tutelage of Hall of Fame Head Coach Gene Hammett. The Sun Devils qualified for three national championships during Powers’ four-season collegiate career, and he was named Team MVP for the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons.

 

JONATHAN TIBAUDO (Ortonville, MI) – ACHA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 (PLAYER)

 

Tibaudo had an incredible career at Saginaw Valley State University from 2006 to 2012, winning the ACHA Men’s Division 3 Player of the Year Award three times, in 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012.  Tibaudo was also named to the ACHA All American First Team during those seasons after making the Second Team in 2007-2008, and was named as an ACHA Academic All-American in the 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012 seasons.

 

Tibaudo was also a Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference All Conference First Team selection for five seasons (2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012) and was named MVP of the MCHC three times (2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012).  Tibaudo was an MCHC All Star Selection four times and represented the MCHC at the 2009-2010 ACHA Men’s Division 3 All Star Challenge.  Tibaudo was also a member of the 2010-2011 ACHA Men’s Division 3 Select Team but did not play due to injury.  Tibaudo scored 234 goals and 176 assists for a total of 410 points over 145 games for Saginaw Valley State, an average of 2.82 points per game.

 

 

 

Powers and Tibaudo will be honored at the upcoming 2023 ACHA Annual Meeting in Bonita Springs, Florida.  Wilk will be honored at the 2024 ACHA Annual Meeting.

 

For more information, please contact ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett at cbarnett@achahockey.org.

 

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About American Collegiate Hockey Association

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is a recognized 501(c)3 organization of nearly 500 college and university-affiliated programs which provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the quality of collegiate ice hockey throughout the United States.  Headquartered in Troy, Mich., the ACHA’s primary mission is to support the growth and development of college hockey programs nationwide.  The ACHA identifies standards which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level and completed its 32nd season in March 2023. For more information, visit www.achahockey.org.