ROCHESTER, NY – Nazareth’s solely males’s ice hockey coach in program historical past, George Roll, introduced the 2024-25 season will likely be his final behind the benches, a profession that can have spanned 37 seasons, together with 28 as a head coach. James McDonald, a 2020 graduate of Nazareth, who has been a fixture of this system after stellar profession taking part in and having coached the Golden Flyers for the previous 4 seasons will take over this system upon Roll’s retirement.
Roll was employed in 2012-13 to construct the Nazareth males’s hockey program from the bottom up. In 12 seasons he has compiled a 110-161-32 general file.
Roll’s teaching profession started at Nazareth with an exciting 3-2 additional time victory over SUNY Geneseo on October 18, 2012 on the Sports activities Centre at MCC. The veteran coach helped the Golden Flyers to regular enchancment as they went from six wins of their first season (2012-13) to eight within the second and 12 within the third season.
Throughout his tenure for the Golden Flyers, Roll has helped coach two AHCA All-People in Henry McKinney in 2022-23 and Dominik Gabaj in 2016-17. Gabaj was named the ECAC West Participant of the 12 months as a senior in 2016-17.
In 2022-23, Roll’s squad delivered its finest season ever, because the Golden Flyers went 18-8-2 general and 14-5-1 within the UCHC to earn the second seed for the convention event. Nazareth superior all the way in which to the UCHC Remaining, falling to #1 Utica 5-3.
The Bowling Inexperienced graduate started his head teaching profession at Oswego State in 1996, teaching for seven season and going 119-77-17. He coached eight years after that at Division 1 Clarkson earlier than taking up the Nazareth program in 2012-13.
Stated Roll, “I’ve actually loved my 13 years at Nazareth to see the event, not solely of this system, however extra importantly of what the gamers have achieved upon commencement off the ice — I’m pleased with the impression they’ve made after their time at Nazareth.” “It’s arduous to stroll away as a result of it has been such a optimistic expertise for me and the kind of the folks we’ve had in this system, however it’s time for a brand new chapter of Nazareth hockey. James McDonald is the precise particular person to proceed to steer this program and it’s in nice fingers.”
McDonald was a four-year standout as a participant for the Golden Flyers who served as workforce captain in his senior season of 2019-20. He scored a team-best 16 targets that season, together with 4 in a win at Lebanon Valley in 2020.
His 105 profession video games ranks third all-time at Nazareth and his 35 profession targets is second all-time.
(Picture supplied by Nazareth Athletic/Hockey Division)
