By: Mark Vasey, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Story LinksSYRACUSE, N.Y. – Head coach Kevin Houle and assistant coach Julia Duquette of No. 1 Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey have been named the Northeast Women’s Hockey League (NEWHL) Coaching Staff of the Year, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday.
Houle and Duquette have guided Plattsburgh State to a 26-1-0 overall record, an 18-0-0 NEWHL regular-season record, the Cardinals’ third consecutive NEWHL Tournament title and the program’s 16th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019-20.
In his 17th season as head coach at Plattsburgh State, Houle has a 423-51-25 (.873) overall record since taking over the program in 2003-04. The 2019-20 NEWHL Tournament title is the eighth consecutive conference title under Houle, including the five Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West championships the Cardinals won in the final years of that conference. Earlier this season, he earned his 400th coaching victory in the Cardinals’ 3-1 win over then-No. 8 Norwich University on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
Houle and Duquette have coached six All-NEWHL selections (five All-NEWHL First Team selections), including the NEWHL Player of the Year and NEWHL Goaltender of the Year, this season. They have also coached two NEWHL All-Rookie Team honorees.
Earlier this season, Plattsburgh State set the record for the longest home winning streak in NCAA women’s ice hockey history as the Cardinals defeated Oswego State, 3-0, on Nov. 9, for their 29th consecutive home win. The Cardinals’ home winning streak is at 40 games entering the NCAA Tournament. Plattsburgh State also set the NCAA Division III women’s ice hockey record for the longest overall winning streak with its 26th consecutive win over then-No. 7 UW-River Falls as part of the Panther/Cardinal Classic on Nov. 30, in Middlebury, Vt.
It is the eighth time that Houle has earned a conference coach of the year or coaching staff of the year honor. He was previously named the ECAC Women’s West Coach of the Year seven times. This is Duquette’s first coaching staff of the year honor.
