# Kent State Golden Flashes men's ice hockey

The Kent State Golden Flashes Men's Ice Hockey was an NCAA Division I ice hockey team from 1980 to 1994. Kent State hockey was promoted to Division I status by the Board of Trustees on June 12, 1980, following ten years as a club sport. The program joined fellow independent Notre Dame to form the American Collegiate Hockey Association from 1986 to 1989 (not to be confused with the ACHA formed in 1991).

## History

After a 19-win campaign in his third season with the club John Wallin left to take over the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League in 1987. After Kent State alum Tom Viggiano headed the program for the 1987–88 season, Bill Switaj was brought in once it was confirmed that the program would continue to exist beyond 1988 despite budgetary concerns. The program's entire season was cancelled that September in response to a hazing incident.
The Golden Flashes would finally debut with Switaj as their coach in 1989. After three seasons they were eventually accepted into the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) but Kent State's program ended in the spring of 1994 when university president Carol Cartwright made a recommendation to the board of trustees that the program be discontinued.

## Season-by-season results

| NAIA/NCAA D-I Champions | NAIA/NCAA Frozen Four | Conference Regular Season Champions | Conference Playoff Champions |
| Season | Conference | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Conference Tournament Results | National Tournament Results |
| Season | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | | | Conference Tournament Results | National Tournament Results |
| Season | Conference | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | 3/SW | Pts* | Finish | GP | W | L | T | % | Conference Tournament Results | National Tournament Results |
| Doug Ross (1980 — 1981) ||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–81 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 35 | 17 | 18 | 0 | .486 | | |
| Tom Newton (1981 — 1982) ||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–82 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 29 | 12 | 17 | 0 | .414 | | |
| Don Lumley (1982 — 1984) ||||||||||||||||||
| 1982–83 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 31 | 6 | 25 | 0 | .194 | | |
| 1983–84 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 27 | 16 | 11 | 0 | .593 | | |
| John Wallin (1984 — 1987) ||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–85 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 27 | 11 | 14 | 2 | .444 | | |
| 1985–86 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | 21 | 13 | 2 | .611 | | |
| 1986–87 | AHCA | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | - | - | - | 14 | 2nd | 32 | 19 | 13 | 0 | .594 | Lost AHCA Quarterfinal, 1–6 (Michigan–Dearborn) Won AHCA Third Place Game, 6–2 (Lake Forest) | |
| Tom Viggiano (1987 — 1988) ||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–88 | AHCA | 12 | 0 | 10 | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | 4th | 46 | 33 | 7 | 6 | .783 | Lost AHCA Quarterfinal, 2–9 (Michigan–Dearborn) Lost AHCA Third Place Game, 0–7 (Lake Forest) | |
| Bill Switaj (1988 — 1994) ||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–89 | AHCA | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal | Season cancelled due to hazing scandal |
| 1989–90 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 33 | 14 | 16 | 3 | .470 | | |
| 1990–91 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 35 | 10 | 22 | 3 | .329 | | |
| 1991–92 | Independent | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 31 | 15 | 14 | 2 | .516 | | |
| 1992–93 | CCHA | 30 | 10 | 19 | 1 | - | - | - | 21 | 8th | 38 | 13 | 22 | 3 | .382 | Lost CCHA First Round series, 0–2 (Michigan State) | |
| 1993–94 | CCHA | 30 | 6 | 22 | 2 | - | - | - | 14 | 11th | 39 | 11 | 26 | 2 | .308 | Lost CCHA First Round series, 0–2 (Michigan) | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | GP | W | L | T | % | Championships | Championships |
| Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | 431 | 197 | 211 | 23 | .484 | | |
| Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | Conference Post-season | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | .125 | | |
| NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | NCAA Post-season | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | | |
| Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | Regular Season and Post-season Record | 439 | 198 | 218 | 23 | .477 | | |
* ↑ Code explanation; GP—Games Played, W—Wins, L—Losses, T—Tied games, OTW—Overtime Wins, OTL—Overtime Loses, 3/SW—Win in 3 on 3 overtime or shootout, Pts—Points*

## Golden Flashes in the NHL

| Player | Position | Team(s) | Years | Games | Stanley Cups |
| Dean Sylvester | Right wing | BUF, ATL | 1998–2001 | 96 | 0 |