Rick Bennett

---

title: "Rick Bennett" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1967-births", "living-people", "ahca-division-i-men's-ice-hockey-all-americans", "albany-river-rats-players", "american-men's-ice-hockey-left-wingers", "binghamton-rangers-players", "cincinnati-cyclones-(ihl)-players", "hershey-bears-players", "ice-hockey-coaches-from-massachusetts", "ice-hockey-players-from-massachusetts", "jacksonville-lizard-kings-players", "minnesota-north-stars-draft-picks", "new-jersey-rockin'-rollers-players", "new-york-rangers-players", "orlando-jackals-players", "pee-dee-pride-players", "providence-friars-men's-ice-hockey-players", "sportspeople-from-springfield,-massachusetts", "springfield-indians-players", "union-garnet-chargers-men's-ice-hockey-coaches", "american-inline-hockey-players", "20th-century-american-sportsmen"] description: "American ice hockey player and coach" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Bennett" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American ice hockey player and coach ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox ice hockey player"]

Field	Value
name	Rick Bennett
image	Rick Bennett (13776916135) (cropped).jpg
caption	Bennett with Union in 2014
image_size	230px
position	Left wing
shoots	Left
height_ft	6
height_in	3
weight_lb	218
played_for	New York Rangers
birth_date
birth_place	Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
draft	54th overall
draft_year	1986
draft_team	Minnesota North Stars
career_start	1990
career_end	1999
module	{{Infobox college coach
current_title	Assistant coach
current_team	Maine
current_conference	Hockey East
alma_mater	Providence College
coach_years1	2000–2005
coach_team1	Providence (asst.)
coach_years2	2005–2007
coach_team2	Union (asst.)
coach_years3	2007–2011
coach_team3	Union (asso. head coach)
coach_years4	2011–2022
coach_team4	Union
coach_years5	2022–2024
coach_team5	Savannah Ghost Pirates
coach_years6	2024–2025
coach_team6	Quinnipiac (asst.)
coach_years7	2025–Present
coach_team7	Maine (asst.)
overall_record	192–133–45 ()
championships	2014 NCAA Champion
3× ECAC regular season champion (2011-12, 2013-14, 2016-17),
3× ECAC Tournament Champion (2012, 2013, 2014)
awards	2014 Spencer Penrose Award
2014 College Hockey News Coach of the Year
2014 USCHO Coach of the Year
2012 Tim Taylor Award
2017 Tim Taylor Award
::

| name = Rick Bennett | image = Rick Bennett (13776916135) (cropped).jpg | caption = Bennett with Union in 2014 | image_size = 230px | position = Left wing | shoots = Left | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 218 | played_for = New York Rangers | ntl_team = | birth_date = | birth_place = Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | draft = 54th overall | draft_year = 1986 | draft_team = Minnesota North Stars | career_start = 1990 | career_end = 1999 | module = {{Infobox college coach|embed=yes | name = | image = | alt = | caption = | current_title = Assistant coach | current_team = Maine | current_conference = Hockey East | current_record = | contract = | alma_mater = Providence College | coach_years1 = 2000–2005 | coach_team1 = Providence (asst.) | coach_years2 = 2005–2007 | coach_team2 = Union (asst.) | coach_years3 = 2007–2011 | coach_team3 = Union (asso. head coach) | coach_years4 = 2011–2022 | coach_team4 = Union | coach_years5 = 2022–2024 | coach_team5 = Savannah Ghost Pirates | coach_years6 = 2024–2025 | coach_team6 = Quinnipiac (asst.) | coach_years7 = 2025–Present | coach_team7 = Maine (asst.) | overall_record = 192–133–45 () | tournament_record = | championships = 2014 NCAA Champion 3× ECAC regular season champion (2011-12, 2013-14, 2016-17), 3× ECAC Tournament Champion (2012, 2013, 2014) | awards = 2014 Spencer Penrose Award 2014 College Hockey News Coach of the Year 2014 USCHO Coach of the Year 2012 Tim Taylor Award 2017 Tim Taylor Award | coaching_records =

Eric John "Rick" Bennett (born July 24, 1967) is an American former ice hockey left winger and former head coach of the Savannah Ghost Pirates. He is the former head coach of the Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey team of Union College, where he coached from 2011 until 2022. He played 15 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers over three seasons from 1990 to 1991. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1990 to 1999, was spent in the minor leagues.

Playing career

Bennett was a four-year letterwinner (1986–90) and co-captain at Providence, where he was recognized as a Hobey Baker finalist (1990) and two-time winner of the Lou Lamoriello Trophy as team MVP. He was named an All-American during the 1988-89 season and earned All-Hockey East Second Team honors in 1990. A left-winger, Bennett finished with 134 points (50 goals, 84 assists) in 128 career games. Bennett skated on the famed B-B-G line, along with center Mike Boback and right wing Robbie Gaudreau. Rick, who graduated with a B.A. in general studies, was inducted into the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

Bennett was a third-round draft pick (54th overall) of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. His draft rights were later traded to the New York Rangers. Bennett appeared in 15 games with the Rangers over three seasons (1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92). Bennett's 10-year professional career also included stints with the Binghamton Rangers (AHL), Springfield Indians (AHL), Hershey Bears (AHL), Springfield Falcons (AHL), Albany River Rats (AHL), Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL), Jacksonville Lizard Kings (ECHL) and Pee Dee Pride (ECHL). Bennett served as a player assistant coach for the Jacksonville Lizard Kings and Pee Dee Pride.

Coaching career

Bennett served as head coach at Union College from 2011 to 2022, leading the Dutchmen to three ECAC Hockey regular season titles (2011–12, 2014-14 & 2016-17), three ECAC Hockey tournament titles (2012, 2013 & 2014), four NCAA Tournament appearances (2012, 2013, 2014 & 2017), two Frozen Fours (2012 & 2014) and one NCAA championship title (2014) by defeating Minnesota. Bennett won ECAC Hockey's Tim Taylor Award for conference coach of the year twice (2012 & 2017), and won the American Hockey Coaches Association's Spencer Penrose Award for NCAA Division I coach of the year in 2014. Bennett resigned in 2022 following an allegation about his coaching style and practices that was substantiated through an investigation by Union College.

On May 19, 2022, Bennett was announced to be the first head coach of the ECHL expansion team Savannah Ghost Pirates.

On February 1, 2024, it was announced that Bennett would be relieved from his duties as head coach of the Savannah Ghost Pirates.

Personal life

Bennett and his wife, Karyn have five children together. The family resides in Clifton Park, New York.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

::data[format=table]

Regular season	Playoffs	Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	AHL totals	351	76	105	181	628	40	5	3	8	125	NHL totals	15	1	1	2	13	—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Wilbraham & Monson Academy	HS-MA	20	30	69	99	25	—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Providence College	HE	32	15	12	27	34	—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Providence College	HE	33	9	16	25	70	—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Providence College	HE	32	14	32	46	74	—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Providence College	HE	31	12	24	36	74	—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	New York Rangers	NHL	6	1	0	1	5	—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	New York Rangers	NHL	6	0	0	0	6	—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Binghamton Rangers	AHL	71	27	32	59	206	10	2	1	3	27
1991–92	New York Rangers	NHL	3	0	1	1	2	—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Binghamton Rangers	AHL	69	19	23	42	112	11	0	1	1	23
1992–93	Binghamton Rangers	AHL	76	15	22	37	114	10	0	0	0	30
1993–94	Springfield Indians	AHL	67	9	19	28	82	6	1	0	1	31
1994–95	Springfield Falcons	AHL	34	3	5	8	74	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Hershey Bears	AHL	30	3	4	7	40	3	2	1	3	14
1995–96	Jacksonville Lizard Kings	ECHL	67	28	34	62	182	18	5	10	15	30
1995–96	Cincinnati Cyclones	IHL	4	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	2
1996–97	Jacksonville Lizard Kings	ECHL	64	23	33	56	120	—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Albany River Rats	AHL	4	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Pee Dee Pride	ECHL	68	12	30	42	137	8	3	2	5	14
1998–99	Pee Dee Pride	ECHL	66	21	18	39	103	11	3	1	4	33
::

Head coaching record

|type=coach |conference= |postseason= |poll= |name = |color = color:white; background:#822433 |startyear = 2011 |conference = ECAC Hockey |endyear = 2022 |}} | championship = confboth | season = 2011–12 | name = Union | overall = 26–8–7 | conference = 14–4–4 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA Frozen Four | poll = 3rd (USCHO) | championship = conference tournament | season = 2012–13 | name = Union | overall = 22–13–5 | conference = 10–8–4 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = NCAA Regional finals | poll = 10th (USCHO) | championship = national | season = 2013–14 | name = Union | overall = 32–6–4 | conference = 18–3–1 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = NCAA Champions | ranking = 1st (USCHO) | championship = | season = 2014–15 | name = Union | overall = 19–18–2 | conference = 8–13–1 | confstanding = 10th | postseason = ECAC quarterfinals | poll = | championship = | season = 2015–16 | name = Union | overall = 13–14–9 | conference = 6–10–6 | confstanding = 9th | postseason = ECAC first round | poll = | championship = conference | season = 2016–17 | name = Union | overall = 25–10–3 | conference = 16–4–2 | confstanding = T-1st | postseason = NCAA regional semifinals | poll = 11th (USCHO) | championship = | season = 2017–18 | name = Union | overall = 21–15–2 | conference = 16–5–1 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = ECAC quarterfinals | poll = | championship = | season = 2018–19 | name = Union | overall = 20–13–6 | conference = 10–10–2 | confstanding = 7th | postseason = ECAC quarterfinals | poll = | championship = | season = 2019–20 | name = Union | overall = 8–25–4 | conference = 5–15–2 | confstanding = 10th | postseason = ECAC first round | poll = | championship = | season = 2021–22 | name = Union | overall = 6–11–3 † | conference = 4–6–1 † | confstanding = - | postseason = N/A | poll = | name = Union | overall = 192–133–45 | confrecord = 107–78–24 | overall = 192–133–45 † Bennet resigned mid-season.

Awards and honors

::data[format=table]

Award	Year
All-Hockey East Rookie Team	1986–87
AHCA East Second-Team All-American	1988–89
All-Hockey East Second team	1989–90
::

References

References

1. (January 28, 2022). "Bennett Steps Down as Union Head Men's Hockey Coach". Union College.
2. "Rick Bennett - Head Men's Hockey Coach - Men's Ice Hockey Coaches".
3. "Rick Bennett - Head Men's Hockey Coach - Men's Ice Hockey Coaches".
4. (June 6, 2012). "College hockey: Dutchmen reward Bennett". [[The Daily Gazette]].
5. (August 25, 2017). "Union gives Bennett contract extension to stay behind bench through 2022-23".
6. Dilks, Chris. (April 9, 2014). "Union's Rick Bennett Wins Spencer Penrose Award". [[SB Nation]] College Hockey.
7. (January 29, 2022). "Union hockey coach Rick Bennett resigns after investigation". [[The Associated Press]].
8. (May 19, 2022). "VGK Announce ECHL Affiliation Relationship With Savannah Ghost Pirates".
9. "2011-12 Standings".
10. "2012-13 Standings".
11. "2013-14 Standings".
12. "2014-15 Standings".
13. "2015-16 Standings".
14. "2016-17 Standings".
15. "2017-18 Standings Presented by U.S. Army ROTC".
16. "2018-19 Standings".
17. "2019-20 Standings".
18. (January 29, 2022). "Union men's hockey coach Bennett steps down after 'an allegation about his coaching style and practices that was substantiated through an investigation by the college'". USCHO.
19. "Hockey East All-Rookie Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives.
20. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners". NCAA.org.
21. "Hockey East All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::