Shayne Toporowski has been named head coach at Worcester State, but he won’t have to move far.
Toporowski spent last season as an assistant coach at Holy Cross, also in Worcester, Mass., and Worcester State will move its home games to Holy Cross’ Hart Center.
Toporowski replaces John Guiney, who resigned last month after a 22-year career with Worcester State.
An 18-year professional player, Toporowski also is president and director of hockey operations at Competitive Goals Hockey Training in Marlboro, Mass.
He played in three NHL games to go along with stints in the AHL, CHL and European leagues.
“I am very excited for our student-athletes to have the opportunity to learn and play under Shayne,” Worcester State athletic director Michael Mudd said in a release. “Shayne’s reputation as a teacher of the game to local elite youth, high school, college and professional players is outstanding.”
The Lancers were 9-15-1 last season and have not had a winning season since 1997-98.
Guiney had a 161-340-34 record and only two winning campaigns in 22 seasons at his alma mater. He led the transition from the ECAC Northeast to the MASCAC for the 2009-10 season.
At Holy Cross, Toporowski was involved with recruiting and scouting in addition to on-ice duties.
“This is a great opportunity to take the Lancers in a new direction,” Toporowski in a release. “I am excited to be named the new head coach of the men’s ice hockey team. I am eager to share and instill some of the great concepts that I have learned throughout my professional career as a player and a coach.”
