TROY, Mich. (April 8, 2019) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association, the governing body for non-varsity college hockey in the United States, announces that Dr. Alan Murdoch and Mike Sargo have been selected to be inducted into the ACHA Hall Of Fame as the ACHA Hall of Fame Class of 2019.  Dr. Murdoch will be inducted in the Builder category while Sargo will be inducted in the Player category.

 

In addition, the ACHA will present the 2019 Don Spencer Award to Joe Augustine.

 

Dr. Alan Murdoch

 

Dr. Alan Murdoch’s commitment and contributions to the development of ACHA hockey are insurmountable and deserving of recognition in the ACHA Hall of Fame.

 

Because of Dr. Murdoch’s leadership and vision, he has been responsible for many “firsts” in the hockey community.  In 1969, Dr. Murdoch founded Iowa State University’s Men’s Hockey program and served as the team’s first Head Coach and General Manager until his retirement in 2014.  Dr. Murdoch was also responsible for founding an intercollegiate women’s team, and the addition of a men’s junior varsity team both of which who now compete at the ACHA Division-II level.

 

In 1991, Dr. Murdoch was a member of the group that founded the ACHA and became the league’s first President and first Commissioner of Women’s Hockey.  Dr. Murdoch was also a founder of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League, which continues to be one of the premier leagues in the ACHA.

 

Over his 44 years of direct involvement with Iowa State hockey, he amassed a record of 1071 wins (the most of any college hockey coach), 521 losses, and 46 ties while Iowa State helped provide stability and legitimacy to the CSCHL in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  During his time as Iowa State’s head coach and general manager, ISU won the CSCHL Tournament in 1973, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1997, 2002, and 2007.  Under Murdoch, Iowa State won the inaugural ACHA Men’s Division 1 national championship.  The team was also the National runner-up in 1996, 1997, and 2010 and a semifinalist in 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2002.  The ACHA Men’s Division 1 National Championship Trophy is named the Murdoch Cup in honor of Dr. Murdoch.

 

Dr. Murdoch was also instrumental in USA Hockey deciding to use ACHA players for the Winter World University Games, which started in 2001. As the head coach of that initial team, Murdoch’s team picked up a vital victory over Russia and he’s been a coach, general manager, or academic advisor for Team USA for every Winter World University Games team.    At the national level, Dr. Murdoch has had multiple positions with USA Hockey, serving most recently on the Adult Hockey Council, Junior Hockey Council, and Hockey Equipment Certification Council.  USA Hockey recognized him as the Adult Member of the Year in 2012, in large part for his role of bolstering USA Hockey registration numbers with the thousands of ACHA players every year and for his work with Winter World University Games teams, and in January 2019, Dr. Murdoch was awarded with the USA Hockey President’s Award for outstanding contribution to USA Hockey.

 

While Dr. Murdoch has helped to build hockey at the collegiate level, he has also worked to build hockey at the youth level.  In the city of Ames Iowa, Dr. Murdoch has been responsible for the creation of youth hockey programs, summer camps for players and officials, and for raising most of the funds needed to build the now jointly owned City of Ames/ISU Ice Arena.

 

Mike Sargo

 

Mike Sargo was a former standout for West Virginia University from 1996-2000.  He was able to most importantly lead his team to a long-awaited ACHA National Tournament appearance in 2000.  Sargo played for three different head coaches during his time at West Virginia, while amassing Back-to-Back National Goal Scoring Titles, seven ECHA conference records, and was selected as a Three-time ACHA All-American.

 

Mikes achievements are listed below:

 

West Virginia University - ACHA Division 1 from 1996-2000

 

West Virginia University records:

* Career Points (330)

* Career Goals (210)

* Points in a season (96)

* Goals in a Season (68)

* Goals in a Game (7)

* Assists in a Game (5)

* Points in a Game (11)

 

ECHA conference records:

* Goals in a game (7)

* Points in a game (11)

* Assists in a game (5)

* Goals in a season (43)

* Power play goals in a season (9)

* Shorthanded goals in a season (6)

* Hat tricks in a season (9)

 

ACHA/ECHA Awards:

* 2 Time ACHA D1- Leading Goal Scorer in the Nation (1999, 2000)

* 3 Time ACHA All American (1998, 1999, 2000)

* 3 Time ECHA Playoff All-Tournament Team

* 2000 ACHA National Tournament All-Tournament Team

 

Sargo graduated in 2001 from West Virginia University with his Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems.  He went on to achieve his Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University in 2010.  Currently, Sargo is the Founder and Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Data Ideology in Pittsburgh, PA.  He is married to his wife Becky of 12 years.  They have three children Anthony (8), Alex (8), and Addison (5).

 

Sargo has continued his love for the game though coaching and giving back to the community.  He is a USA Hockey Level 4 Certification Coach and has coached at the Amateur, High School, Junior, and Collegiate Levels.  Over the past 18 years, Sargo has coached and developed a number of players who’ve gone on to be successful college players and coaches at the ACHA level.

 

Joe Augustine

 

The American Collegiate Hockey Association has awarded University of Rhode Island Head Coach Joe Augustine the 2019 Don Spencer Award, given ‘in recognition of outstanding service and leadership for the American Collegiate Hockey Association.’

 

Coach Augustine has served as Head Coach at the University of Rhode Island for over 30 seasons and recently coached in his 1,000th game for URI in January 2019.  Under Augustine, Rhode Island has enjoyed 28 winning seasons and one ACHA National Championship in 2006.  Augustine won back-to-back ACHA Men's Division I Coach of the Year honors in 2004-05 and 2005-06, and was the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year in 2003-04.  He most recently was awarded the ESCHL Coach of the Year award for the 2014-2015 season.  He also acted as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2006 World University Games in Turin, Italy.  Coach Augustine was selected as the head coach for Team USA for the World University Games in Harbin, China in February 2009.

 

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Augustine attended and played hockey at Saint Rita High School.  In 1976, Augustine was selected by the NHL Atlanta Flames in the seventh round and by the Cleveland Crusaders of the World Hockey Association in the fifth round.  He opted for Boston College, helping the Eagles to a Beanpot Championship in 1976, an ECAC Championship and a second-place finish in the 1978 NCAA Tournament held in Providence.  In his three seasons with the Eagles, Augustine scored 27 goals and 77 assists for 104 points.  In recognition of his outstanding collegiate career, Augustine was inducted into the Boston College Hall of Fame in October 2005.

 

Augustine turned pro after his junior year and played six seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devil organizations.  Augustine earned his B.S. in public administration during the off-season.

 

Augustine began his coaching career in 1983 as an assistant at Tolman High School in Pawtucket, RI.  After two seasons, he became the head coach at Shea High School, also located in Pawtucket.  Under his tutelage, the Shea High School Raiders skated to an impressive 19-1 record, winning both division and state titles.  Augustine then went on to spend two seasons as an assistant coach at Brown University and then one year as the head coach for the Community College of Rhode Island.  Augustine joined the URI Rams in 1989.  Augustine resides in North Scituate, RI with his wife Jewell (a former Ice Capades skater). His son Jon and daughter Jaclyn both reside in Providence.

 

 

The ACHA Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be conducted on Friday, May 3, 2019 in Naples, Florida in conjunction with the ACHA 2019 Annual Meeting at a banquet honoring Dr. Murdoch, Sargo, Augustine and the 2018-2019 ACHA Coaches of the Year.

 

For further information, please visit www.achahockey.org or contact ACHA Executive Director Craig Barnett directly at cbarnett@achahockey.org.

 

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