GARY ASTALOS OF ADRIAN COLLEGE AND MIKE PETRUSMA OF CALVIN UNIVERSITY NAMED HEAD COACHES FOR WORLD CUP OF UNIVERSITY HOCKEY TAKING PLACE IN CARTA, ROMANIA FROM APRIL 14-19, 2023
TROY, Mich. (November 30, 2022) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) announced today that Gary Astalos and Mike Petrusma have been tabbed as head coaches of the two ACHA teams that will compete in the 2023 World Cup of University Hockey. Astalos will guide the team representing the United States of America while Petrusma will guide the team representing Canada. The 2023 World Cup of University Hockey will take place April 14-19, 2023, in Cârța, Romania.
Gary Astalos (Monroe, Mich.) is currently in his seventh year as the head coach of the Adrian College Men’s Division I program. Astalos has guided Adrian College to two ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships, winning the Murdoch Cup in both 2018 and 2021. Under Astalos’ leadership, Adrian College has also won six Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL) Regular Season Championships and four GLCHL Playoff Championships. Astalos was named the 2017-2018 ACHA Men’s Division I Coach of the Year and has also earned three GLCHL Coach of the Year awards during his tenure at Adrian College.
“It is an honor to represent the United States and the ACHA at the World Cup of University Hockey,” said Astalos. “This is an exciting opportunity for our players to compete on an international stage. I look forward to working together with our staff to prepare to the best of our abilities for this event.”
Mike Petrusma (St. Thomas, Ont.) is in his 26th year at the helm of the Calvin University Men’s Division I program. Under Petrusma’s tutelage, Calvin College, which became Calvin University on July 10, 2019, won the 2004 ACHA Men’s Division III National Championship and appeared in the ACHA Men’s Division II National Semi-Finals once (1993) and the Division III National Semi-Finals five times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, and 2017). Petrusma was the 2006 Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference Coach of the Year, the 2020 GLCHL Coach of the Year, as well as the head coach for the 2014 ACHA Division III National Select Team. Petrusma was instrumental in Calvin University’s move from Men’s Division III to Men’s Division I beginning with the 2017-2018 season.
“I am truly humbled, honored and looking forward to representing Canada and the ACHA at the World Cup of University Hockey next April in Romania,” said Petrusma. “It is a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for coaches and players to compete representing their countries and universities.”
When asked about the ACHA’s participation in the 2023 World Cup of University Hockey, President Paul Hebert stated, “We want to provide ACHA student-athletes with opportunities to go to different places around the globe where they can experience something new.”
“The World Cup of University Hockey is much more than just hockey,” said Hebert. “Of course, the goal is to win games and bring home some hardware. But we also want the players to get a taste of the local cuisine, to learn about the culture, and return with new experiences they can share with others.”
Interested players that wish to be considered should fill out the interest form located on the ACHA website main page at achahockey.org
For more information, please contact Executive Director Craig Barnett at cbarnett@achahockey.org.
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