Conference CCHA Colors Blue and Gold | Head coach N/A Location Kent, Ohio, United States | |
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Arena Kent State University Ice Arena | ||
Kent state ice hockey vs rochester college 12 3 2016
The Kent State Golden Flashes Men's Ice Hockey was a NCAA Division I ice hockey team that played as an Independent for seven season and in the CCHA for two seasons. Kent's club program was promoted to Division I status in 1985 and in their first season as a D-I program they played 36 exhibition games, winning 21 of them, before joining fellow independent Notre Dame in the informal American Collegiate Hockey Association (not to be confused with the current ACHA that was formed in 1991). 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.