Relax, he’s not going anywhere.
UMass hockey coach Greg Carvel has signed a contract extension that will keep him in Amherst through the 2025-26 season, the school announced Friday. His previous contract – signed after the 2019 Frozen Four run – was set to expire in 2024.
“I want to thank Ryan Bamford, Chancellor (Kumble R.) Subbaswamy and President Meehan for displaying their trust in me and their continued support for our hockey program through this contract extension,” Carvel said in a release. “I have tremendous pride in the accomplishments of our hockey team over the past five years and I look forward to the continual elevation of our program over the life of this contract. I came to UMass because I believed the leadership and resources were in place to continually achieve national success. UMass has been a great fit for me, and my family is excited that this contract will allow us to call Amherst our home for many years to come.”
The new deal runs from April 11, 2021, through April 10, 2026, includes increased annual compensation, salary increases based on the team’s performance, new or increased academic and competitive performance bonuses and a new retirement contribution plan. An additional year will be added each year of the contract on April 11 unless the university provides Carvel notice.
“I’m fifty years old. Have never lived in the same place for more than seven years since the day I left my parents home at the age of seventeen,” Carvel tweeted. “I think it is safe for me to start using the word ‘home’ again.”
Carvel guided UMass to the program’s first national championship in April, defeating St. Cloud State 5-0 in the national championship game in Pittsburgh. The Minutemen also claimed their first Hockey East tournament title.
He has led UMass to a 94-75-10 record in his five years in Amherst, but the Minutemen have gone 72-26-6 since the 2018-19 season and reached two Frozen Fours.
“We are very pleased to grow our investment in Greg Carvel and the national championship hockey program he has built in Amherst,” UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford said in a release. “Coach Carvel’s outstanding leadership has produced remarkable results in the classroom, in competition and in the community. This new contract affirms our strong commitment to keep Greg and his family in maroon and white for years to come. Under Greg’s continued charge, we believe our nationally renowned program will remain a significant point of pride on campus and around the Commonwealth.”
Carvel credited his players and assistants for helping create the culture that has led to UMass’ success.
“It’s imperative that I thank my outstanding staff, as well as the many extraordinary young men who have made the sacrifices off of the ice and won the battles on the ice that ultimately earned a National Championship,” Carvel said. “I feel genuinely grateful for all of this and am honored to serve our university and it's exceptional student-athletes.”
TRANSFERS BRINGING EXPERIENCE – Two NCAA Tournament veterans joined the Minutemen this week. The school announced that former Denver defenseman Slava Demin and Cornell graduate transfer Cam Donaldson will play for UMass in 2021-22.
Demin played three seasons for the Pioneers and faced the Minutemen in the 2019 Frozen Four. He was a fourth-round draft pick by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in 2018, but the Chicago Blackhawks currently hold his rights. The 6-foot-3, 191-pound defenseman tallied 31 points in 96 games at Denver.
“Slava is a big body defenseman with great mobility and underrated offensive ability,” Carvel said in a release. “We hope to see his offensive side take a big step forward this year, but he will be leaned on to be a really strong two-way defenseman who will be effective at both ends of the rink.”
Donaldson reached two NCAA tournament berths and won two ECAC regular season titles with the Big Red. The Ivy League didn’t sponsor any sports competition in the 2020-21 season. He tallied 20 goals and 36 assists in 83 career games for Cornell.
“Cam is a dynamic offensive player who has tremendous vision and playmaking ability and was an extremely effective offensive threat while playing at Cornell,” Carvel said in a release. “Cam will help fill the holes left by departed forwards from our National Championship team and should be a top-six forward who is also a big part of our power play. Cam is a fun player to watch and his head for the game and his ability to execute offensively will make him a dangerous player for the Minutemen.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twtiter @kylegrbwsk.