One of the new assistant coaches this year for the men’s program is Frank Bretti. Bretti is experienced at the Division-I level, having been the head coach of the now-defunct Iona Gaels, and an assistant for Iona and the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves.
Bretti has also coached at the high school level, and has been involved in USA Hockey’s Player Development Program at the national and state levels.
Ever since his hiring was announced on August 16, the pace has been frantic for the new staff, but the adjustment period has gone extremely well. “I’ve been playing catch-up for the last month,” noted Bretti, but it does not bother him. “I’m excited. This program has been everything I thought it would be...I feel fulfilled to be working here.”
The prestige and tradition associated with the men’s program is not lost on Bretti, and he knows he’s up to the task.
“We want to build off of last year’s success. This is a team that had 13 wins last year, when 14 was good for the regular season title. I feel strongly about the recruiting class, and our goal—without a doubt—is to compete for a home playoff spot and the league title,” Bretti said. “We have a good nucleus of players, which is really exciting for us.”
The move for him to Rensselaer was partially precipitated by the sudden truncation of the hockey program at Iona. When the program was cut after the 2002-2003 season, Bretti, the only head coach Iona hockey ever had at the D-I level, was suddenly without a job.
According to Bretti, the move to Rensselaer is a “positive step in [his] career,” and he is “very appreciative of the opportunity to learn from the game...and from coaching.”
Bretti is thrilled to move to a more elite conference than where he formerly was, and to know that the administration is behind the program 100 percent, even up to the President of the Institute.
He acknowledged that this was definitely evidenced in the administration’s strong support of Proposition 65-1, which enabled Rensselaer to continue giving scholarships to its D-I athletes. Having an administration that will defend the integrity of the program was a big selling point in Bretti coming here.
Looking towards the start season, Bretti is optimistic. Asked if the travel for the team’s opening weekend would affect things, he was quick to respond “No. It’s a positive,” adding that “sometimes it’s a positive to put away the distractions of home. It’s a great opportunity be together...for all the team and staff to bond.”
Bretti’s optimism about the upcoming season reflects the prevailing attitude among those in the program. For the many fans of the program, this is excellent news.
