Steve Macdonald
Photo by: Kelsey Whaley
The next chapter: Macdonald named head women’s hockey coach at SCSU
6/21/2019 11:04:00 AM | Women's Hockey
ST. CLOUD, MINN. - St. Cloud State University Athletics Director Heather Weems has announced the appointment of Steve Macdonald as the new head coach of the Huskies Women's Hockey program.
Macdonald will move into the head coaching position at SCSU after serving for the past five seasons as an assistant coach for the Huskies under former head coach Eric Rud, who recently joined the men's hockey coaching staff at Miami University.
"Throughout the search process, Steve Macdonald's passion for St. Cloud State University and our community was clear," said Heather Weems, St. Cloud State Director of Athletics. "Over the past five years, Steve has been critical to advancing our recruiting networks and finding players who make us better. He has reached out to alumni to help create greater connection and pride within the program and he has spent hours on the ice in individual and team practice sessions honing skills and building confidence amongst our student-athletes.
"I am delighted to name Steve Macdonald as our head coach and have him continue his work at St. Cloud State, and to help our student-athlete achieve their goals and aspirations."
Macdonald becomes the fifth head coach in the history of the women's hockey program, which started at St. Cloud State in 1998-99.
"The St. Cloud State Athletics programs are an important part of our University's experience," St. Cloud State President Robbyn Wacker said in a statement. "Our coaches play a significant role in the growth and development of our young men and women that impact them not only while in school, but long after they graduate to become leaders in their careers and communities. In his time with the program, Steve MacDonald has earned the respect of players, alumni, and colleagues as a mentor and teacher on and off the ice. He has his finger on the pulse of our program, and I am confident through recruitment and player development he will elevate our program."
Macdonald takes over a program that brings back six of the team's top 10 point producers from 2018-19 along with goalies Janine Alder, a two-time Olympian for Team Switzerland, and Emma Polusny, a member of the U.S. National Team at the IIHF World Championships in 2019. The Huskies finished the 2018-19 season with a 10-25-2, 5-19-0 WCHA record.
"I am tremendously humbled and honored to lead the Huskies women's hockey program," Macdonald said. "The opportunity to continue to be a part of the Huskies' tradition and build the program is one that myself, [assistant coach] Jinelle Siergiej, our staff, and the players are excited to pursue. We believe in the people and the possibilities here at St. Cloud State and can't wait to move forward."
Prior to his move to St. Cloud State in 2014-15, Macdonald served as an assistant coach for the women's hockey program at the University of Minnesota Duluth from 2011 to 2014.
Previous to his tenure in Duluth, Macdonald served as the Director of Hockey and head coach for the Balmoral Hall School for Girls hockey team in Winnipeg, Manitoba from 2010 to 2011. He also served as an assistant coach at Balmoral Hall from 2007 to 2010.
In 2010, Macdonald was an assistant coach on the Hockey Canada women's under-18 national team and also served as head coach for the Hockey Manitoba Provincial under-18 team in 2008. Additionally, Macdonald played junior hockey with the Dauphin Kings (1998-99) and the Fort Garry Twins (1999-01) and played one season of NCAA hockey with Lawrence University in Wisconsin.
He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in psychology/kinesiology and applied health from the University of Winnipeg and later earned his master of science degree with an emphasis in sports psychology from the University of Manitoba.
He currently resides in St. Cloud, Minn.
The Huskies will open play in 2019-20 with an exhibition game at home against the University of Regina on Sept. 28, 2019, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. For complete information on tickets for any SCSU home games, please visit www.scsutickets.com.
Macdonald will move into the head coaching position at SCSU after serving for the past five seasons as an assistant coach for the Huskies under former head coach Eric Rud, who recently joined the men's hockey coaching staff at Miami University.
"Throughout the search process, Steve Macdonald's passion for St. Cloud State University and our community was clear," said Heather Weems, St. Cloud State Director of Athletics. "Over the past five years, Steve has been critical to advancing our recruiting networks and finding players who make us better. He has reached out to alumni to help create greater connection and pride within the program and he has spent hours on the ice in individual and team practice sessions honing skills and building confidence amongst our student-athletes.
"I am delighted to name Steve Macdonald as our head coach and have him continue his work at St. Cloud State, and to help our student-athlete achieve their goals and aspirations."
Macdonald becomes the fifth head coach in the history of the women's hockey program, which started at St. Cloud State in 1998-99.
"The St. Cloud State Athletics programs are an important part of our University's experience," St. Cloud State President Robbyn Wacker said in a statement. "Our coaches play a significant role in the growth and development of our young men and women that impact them not only while in school, but long after they graduate to become leaders in their careers and communities. In his time with the program, Steve MacDonald has earned the respect of players, alumni, and colleagues as a mentor and teacher on and off the ice. He has his finger on the pulse of our program, and I am confident through recruitment and player development he will elevate our program."
Macdonald takes over a program that brings back six of the team's top 10 point producers from 2018-19 along with goalies Janine Alder, a two-time Olympian for Team Switzerland, and Emma Polusny, a member of the U.S. National Team at the IIHF World Championships in 2019. The Huskies finished the 2018-19 season with a 10-25-2, 5-19-0 WCHA record.
"I am tremendously humbled and honored to lead the Huskies women's hockey program," Macdonald said. "The opportunity to continue to be a part of the Huskies' tradition and build the program is one that myself, [assistant coach] Jinelle Siergiej, our staff, and the players are excited to pursue. We believe in the people and the possibilities here at St. Cloud State and can't wait to move forward."
Prior to his move to St. Cloud State in 2014-15, Macdonald served as an assistant coach for the women's hockey program at the University of Minnesota Duluth from 2011 to 2014.
Previous to his tenure in Duluth, Macdonald served as the Director of Hockey and head coach for the Balmoral Hall School for Girls hockey team in Winnipeg, Manitoba from 2010 to 2011. He also served as an assistant coach at Balmoral Hall from 2007 to 2010.
In 2010, Macdonald was an assistant coach on the Hockey Canada women's under-18 national team and also served as head coach for the Hockey Manitoba Provincial under-18 team in 2008. Additionally, Macdonald played junior hockey with the Dauphin Kings (1998-99) and the Fort Garry Twins (1999-01) and played one season of NCAA hockey with Lawrence University in Wisconsin.
He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in psychology/kinesiology and applied health from the University of Winnipeg and later earned his master of science degree with an emphasis in sports psychology from the University of Manitoba.
He currently resides in St. Cloud, Minn.
The Huskies will open play in 2019-20 with an exhibition game at home against the University of Regina on Sept. 28, 2019, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. For complete information on tickets for any SCSU home games, please visit www.scsutickets.com.
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