Hockey East stayed inside the family with its selection for the next league commissioner.
The league announced Monday that it tabbed Steve Metcalf, currently the deputy director of athletics at New Hampshire, as the fifth Hockey East commissioner, succeeding Joe Bertagna, whose contract was not renewed last year. Metcalf is currently the chair of the NCAA’s Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee and has served on the committee since 2015.
“Simply put, Steve is a connector whose knowledge of hockey and our league is outstanding,” said Boston University athletics director Drew Marrochello, who chairs the conference’s executive committee on the men’s side. “He has made strong impressions in several different circles during his time at UNH, and it was a true consensus decision to bring him on as our next commissioner.”
Metcalf played a critical role in luring NCAA regionals and championships to New England, including the 2015 and 2022 Frozen Fours at TD Garden. New Hampshire has hosted the Women’s Frozen Four three times and a men’s regional eight times during his 23 years as an administrator at the school.
“Steve Metcalf is one of the most conscientious, hard-working, and committed professionals I have ever been associated with,” New Hampshire athletics director Marty Scarano said in a statement. “UNH has benefited greatly over the years he has been a part of our leadership team and we will miss him. We are so pleased that he will become the next Hockey East commissioner, for we know he will do a fabulous job of leading our prestigious group of institutions. While Steve’s fingerprints are all over UNH, he now has a great opportunity to apply that same skill set to lead Hockey East.”
Metcalf is tasked with trying to build on Bertagna’s 23-year legacy as Hockey East commissioner and help the conference adapt to the current landscape of the sport. He will be constantly compared to National Collegiate Hockey Conference commissioner Josh Fenton, who has helped the league win the last four national championships.
Fenton said in a statement that he has a lot of respect for Metcalf and is looking forward with collaborating with him in the future.
“Steve Metcalf is a highly regarded athletics administrator who has done many good things across college athletics,” Fenton said in a statement. “I’m excited to work alongside him in his new position as Hockey East Commissioner, helping us continue to elevate college hockey to new heights.”