The Lake Superior State University (LSSU) hockey program has added Vincent Pietrangelo as an assistant coach, as announced by Head Coach Damon Whitten on Thursday.
“We want to welcome Vinny to Laker hockey,” said Whitten. We are looking forward to his addition to our staff and program.”
Pietrangelo, a native of Traverse City, Mich., has spent the past two seasons as the head coach of NCAA Division III Arcadia University where he led the Knights to an 11-37-3 overall record.
Prior to his time with Arcadia, Pietrangelo served as the lead assistant coach for the State University of New York (SUNY) at Canton hockey program. While with SUNY Canton, he helped lead the Kangaroos to a 14-9-2 overall record in the 2018-19 season, the program’s most wins since 2012. He would also contribute to key victories over then No. 14 Fredonia and No. 3 Adrian College, marking the program’s highest ranked victory in school history.
Pietrangelo has also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Ferris State University (FSU) during the 2015-16 season, working with skill development, video breakdown, statistical analysis, and practice planning. While with FSU, the Bulldogs would go on to finish the season with a 20-15-6 overall record, capture the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Final Five Championship, and earn the program’s most recent bid to the NCAA National Tournament.
As a player, Pietrangelo competed in collegiate hockey as a defenseman at Finlandia University where he was one of only two freshmen to dress every game during the 2010-11 season, and he was drafted second overall in the 2009 CSHL Draft by the Metro Jets.
“We’ve been fortunate to get to know Vinny, working with him the last few summers,” Whitten said. “He brings tremendous passion and energy to the game. Among his greatest strengths are his ability to relate and connect with players, allowing for maximum development, and as a former head coach, he will bring a unique perspective to our staff as well.”
Pietrangelo graduated with a bachelor of science in healthcare services administration from Ferris State University in 2015, and he earned a masters degree in sport management from SUNY Cortland in 2021.
With the Jets in 2009-10, Pietrangelo tallied a goal and eight assists for nine points in 47 games.
