University of Massachusets Athletics
Ben Barr Named Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach At Maine
May 12, 2021 | Hockey
Barr helped take the Minutemen to new heights in his five seasons in Amherst, culminating with the program’s first NCAA National Championship and Hockey East Tournament Title in 2021.
ORONO, Maine – University of Massachusetts associate head coach Ben Barr has been named the fifth head coach of the men's ice hockey program at the University of Maine, Maine Director of Athletics Ken Ralph announced on Wednesday. As a part of Greg Carvel's staff at UMass, Barr helped take the Minutemen to new heights in his five seasons in Amherst, culminating with the program's first NCAA National Championship and Hockey East Tournament Title in 2021.
"Ben Barr has made an indelible mark on the UMass Hockey program and will forever be a National Champion," said Carvel. "Ben has been highly instrumental in helping put together multiple championship teams at the Division I level and I am excited to see him get the opportunity to serve as a head coach. Ben has found success due to his work ethic and knowledge of the game but what sets him apart, in my eyes, is that he is a high-quality individual and I will miss working with him on a daily basis. We wish him luck and thank him for everything he has given to UMass Hockey over the past five years."
In 2018-19, Barr helped the Minutemen win their first ever Hockey East Regular Season Championship and reach their first-ever NCAA Championship Game while setting a program record for wins with 31. The Minutemen followed up in 2019-20 with second-highest wins total in program history with 21 victories and were poised to make their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance before the season was cut short. This past season, Barr was part of the UMass staff that led the squad to the NCAA and Hockey East Tournament titles, both program firsts, and a record of 20-5-4.
Barr served as the recruiting coordinator and coaches the defensemen at UMass. In 2018-19 and again 2020-21, the Minutemen's defensive corps led the nation in scoring and the squad ranked in the top-five in team defense, allowing just 2.02 goals per-game and 1.66 goals per-game, respectively.
UMass' defensemen collected a host of individual accolades as well during Barr's time in Amherst, headlined by Cale Makar being named the 2019 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner as the nation's top player. Makar was also named a CCM/AHCA First Team All-American, recipient of the Leonard Fowle (New England MVP) and Bob Monahan Awards (New England's Best Defenseman), a unanimous selection for Hockey East Player of the Year and a Hockey East First Team All-Star. Marc Del Gaizo and Mario Ferraro garnered Hockey East Third Team All-Star recognition and Del Gaizo was voted to the Hockey East All Rookie Team. Following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, Makar and Ferraro both signed NHL contracts with the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, respectively.
In 2019-20, The Minutemen's defensive corps finished ninth in scoring nationally. Zac Jones was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team and ranked third nationally in scoring among freshmen defensemen. Jake McLaughlin was named a Hockey East Third Team All-Star and was third in the NCAA in plus minus with a +27, signing with the Las Vegas Golden Knights organization upon the conclusion of the season.
This past season, Jones earned Second Team All-America honors and was a Hockey East Second Team All-Star, while two more defensemen, Marc Del Gaizo and Matthew Kessel were tabbed Hockey East Third Team All-Stars. Jones and Del Gaizo both signed NHL Contracts this spring with the New York Rangers and Nashville Predators, respectively. Kessel Led all defensemen nationally in goals, goals per-game and power-play goals and was an All-Tournament Team selection at the Frozen Four.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
"Ben Barr has made an indelible mark on the UMass Hockey program and will forever be a National Champion," said Carvel. "Ben has been highly instrumental in helping put together multiple championship teams at the Division I level and I am excited to see him get the opportunity to serve as a head coach. Ben has found success due to his work ethic and knowledge of the game but what sets him apart, in my eyes, is that he is a high-quality individual and I will miss working with him on a daily basis. We wish him luck and thank him for everything he has given to UMass Hockey over the past five years."
In 2018-19, Barr helped the Minutemen win their first ever Hockey East Regular Season Championship and reach their first-ever NCAA Championship Game while setting a program record for wins with 31. The Minutemen followed up in 2019-20 with second-highest wins total in program history with 21 victories and were poised to make their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance before the season was cut short. This past season, Barr was part of the UMass staff that led the squad to the NCAA and Hockey East Tournament titles, both program firsts, and a record of 20-5-4.
Barr served as the recruiting coordinator and coaches the defensemen at UMass. In 2018-19 and again 2020-21, the Minutemen's defensive corps led the nation in scoring and the squad ranked in the top-five in team defense, allowing just 2.02 goals per-game and 1.66 goals per-game, respectively.
UMass' defensemen collected a host of individual accolades as well during Barr's time in Amherst, headlined by Cale Makar being named the 2019 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner as the nation's top player. Makar was also named a CCM/AHCA First Team All-American, recipient of the Leonard Fowle (New England MVP) and Bob Monahan Awards (New England's Best Defenseman), a unanimous selection for Hockey East Player of the Year and a Hockey East First Team All-Star. Marc Del Gaizo and Mario Ferraro garnered Hockey East Third Team All-Star recognition and Del Gaizo was voted to the Hockey East All Rookie Team. Following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, Makar and Ferraro both signed NHL contracts with the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, respectively.
In 2019-20, The Minutemen's defensive corps finished ninth in scoring nationally. Zac Jones was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team and ranked third nationally in scoring among freshmen defensemen. Jake McLaughlin was named a Hockey East Third Team All-Star and was third in the NCAA in plus minus with a +27, signing with the Las Vegas Golden Knights organization upon the conclusion of the season.
This past season, Jones earned Second Team All-America honors and was a Hockey East Second Team All-Star, while two more defensemen, Marc Del Gaizo and Matthew Kessel were tabbed Hockey East Third Team All-Stars. Jones and Del Gaizo both signed NHL Contracts this spring with the New York Rangers and Nashville Predators, respectively. Kessel Led all defensemen nationally in goals, goals per-game and power-play goals and was an All-Tournament Team selection at the Frozen Four.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
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