Chris Czarnota was hired as the first-ever Head Coach for Rivier University Women's Ice Hockey on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. He arrives in Nashua after serving as an assistant coach for the Norwich University Men's Ice Hockey team for the previous three seasons.
While in Northfield, VT, Czarnota worked with the goalies for the men's and women's team along with assisting in all daily practice planning and drills.
He is one of the most accomplished goaltenders in Norwich history, ranking third all-time with 10 career shutouts. The 2014 Norwich University graduate posted a 31-7-3 record in 43 games played. His 1.50 career goals against average ranks as one of the best in program history.
During the 2019-20 season, he mentored the Sid Watson Award, Division III National Player of the Year winner Tom Aubrun, who went on to set five NCAA Division III goalie records. Aubrun repeated as the NEHC Goalie and Player of the Year and earned American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) First Team All-American honors. Aubrun carried a NCAA all-levels 572:31 consecutive shutout minutes streak (nine games) into the NCAA Tournament before it was canceled.
During the 2018-19 season, he mentored two NEHC Goalie of the Year selections in Aubrun and Emily Lambert. Aubrun was also named an American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Third Team All-American.
In the summer of 2019, Czarnota was selected to attend and serve as a goalie coach at the USA Hockey Select U15 Development Camp in Buffalo, NY.
He also works with the Rice Prep boy's hockey program in South Burlington and Stowe youth hockey. During the summer, he works as a goalie coach at the Elite Hockey Training Center.
