R.H. “Bob” Peters has announced his retirement as commissioner of College Hockey America effective June 30, 2008, a position he has held for seven years.
“Coach Peters is one of the pillars of college hockey and a hall of fame human being,” said Niagara director of athletics Ed McLaughlin, chairman of the CHA Men’s Executive Committee. “I feel blessed to have worked with him over the last two years and we owe him a debt of gratitude, within our conference and across the sport.”
“As a player, coach and now administrator, my relationship with Coach Peters goes back to 1985,” said Mercyhurst director of athletics Craig Barnett, chairman of the CHA Women’s Executive Committee. “He has accomplished so much for the game of hockey that his retirement is an emotional issue for me. His number one priority has always been for the student-athletes. I feel honored to have him and his wife Lou as friends.”
For the upcoming 2008-09 season, McLaughlin will serve as interim commissioner, while Alabama-Huntsville assistant sports information director Jamie Gilliam will handle media relations duties.
“This season will be one of transition for the CHA,” added McLaughlin. “We will continue the hard work we have done throughout the last two years to stabilize ourselves while maintaining our commitment to the student-athlete experience. I am excited about the challenge.”
The CHA Women’s Conference recently completed its sixth year and will have five member schools competing in 2008-09 with the recent addition of Syracuse University.
Barnett will serve as interim commissioner for the upcoming season, while Wayne State assistant athletic director Jeff Weiss will continue to handle the media relations duties.
“I look forward to the challenge of representing the commissioner’s role during this transition,” said Barnett. “I am excited about how competitive the women’s league is now and the momentum we have with the addition of Syracuse University. As we proactively map out our future, I am confident that the women’s league will continue to flourish.”
Niagara is a charter member of the league along with Mercyhurst and Wayne State. Robert Morris joined the conference for the 2005-06 campaign with Syracuse becoming the fifth member this fall.
The 2009 CHA women’s tournament will be held at Mercyhurst College the weekend of March 5-8 with all five member schools participating.
The CHA men’s regular-season trophy has been called the R.H. “Bob” Peters Cup since 2002. Peters amassed a career record of 744-313-51 coaching at Bemidji State from 1966-2001 and at North Dakota from 1964-66.
