PEORIA – Bradley University Hockey is pleased to announce the hiring of Brian Hamilton as the new head coach for the D3 team for the 2018-19 season.

Hamilton comes to Bradley after spending the past 7 seasons as an assistant coach and goalie coach for the Peoria Mustangs of the NA3HL. During that time, he was part of a staff that helped guide the team to a 2012-13 NA3HL runner-up finish, 2013-14 divisional championship, and 6 playoff appearances. He also played a big part in helping the Mustangs advance dozens of players through the junior and college hockey ranks.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Brian to the Bradley Hockey family,” said D2 head coach JP Fitzgerald. “He brings a ton of playing and coaching experience to the program, and the connections that he’s made with players and coaches at many levels of professional and junior hockey will help us continue to recruit outstanding student-athletes to Bradley. He has been a big part of the hockey community in Peoria for years, and I think he’s the perfect fit to help us develop these young men and guide our hockey program to a higher level of sustained success.”

Hamilton brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as both a player and a coach. His professional playing career spanned 25 seasons and included stops in the IHL, ECHL, AHL, and SPHL, and he was a member of the Peoria Rivermen’s IHL Turner Cup Championship in 1991 and their ECHL Kelly Cup Championship in 2000. His coaching career has spanned 28 years across all levels – from youth teams all the way up to professional hockey.

The D3 Bradley Braves will open the 2018-19 season against University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Friday, September 14 at Owens Center in Peoria, Illinois.