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 FourConference Regular Season ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results Conference OverallGPWLTOTWOTL3/SWPts*FinishGPWLT% 1980–81 Independent - - - - - - - - - 35 17 18 0 1981–82 Independent - - - - - - - - - 29 12 17 0 1982–83 Independent - - - - - - - - - 31 6 25 0 1983–84 Independent - - - - - - - - - 27 16 11 0 1984–85 Independent - - - - - - - - - 27 11 14 2 1985–86 Independent - - - - - - - - - 36 21 13 2 1986–87 AHCA 12 7 5 0 - - - 14 2nd 32 19 13 0 Lost AHCA Quarterfinal, 1–6 (Michigan–Dearborn) Won AHCA Third Place Game, 6–2 (Lake Forest) 1987–88 AHCA 12 0 10 2 - - - 2 4th 46 11 26 3 Lost AHCA Quarterfinal, 2–9 (Michigan–Dearborn) Lost AHCA Third Place Game, 0–7 (Lake Forest) 1988–89 AHCA Season cancelled due to hazing scandal 1989–90 Independent - - - - - - - - - 33 14 16 3 1990–91 Independent - - - - - - - - - 35 10 22 3 1991–92 Independent - - - - - - - - - 31 15 14 2 1992–93 CCHA 30 10 19 1 - - - 21 8th 38 13 22 3 Lost CCHA First Round series, 0–2 (Michigan State) 1993–94 CCHA 30 6 22 2 - - - 14 11th 39 11 26 2 Lost CCHA First Round series, 0–2 (Michigan) Totals GP W L T %ChampionshipsRegular Season 431 197 211 23 Conference Post-season 8 1 7 0 NCAA Post-season 0 0 0 0 Regular Season and Post-season Record 439 198 218 23
Golden Flashes in the NHL
Player Position Team(s) Years Games Dean SylvesterRight wingBUF, ATL1998–2001960
References