TROY, Mich. (February 27, 2020) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association, the governing body for non-varsity college hockey in the United States, announces that Jason Bartek has been named the Head Coach of the Select Team from ACHA Men’s Division 3 that will travel to Europe in the 2020-2021 season.  In addition, Larry Taylor has been tabbed to be the M3 Select Team Assistant Coach.

Bartek has been the Head Coach at M3 University of Michigan for the past five seasons and has led the Wolverines to a 97-36-5-5 record in that time.  In 2019, Bartek guided the Wolverines to the ACHA M3 National Semifinals.  Under Bartek, the Wolverines have earned back-to-back auto bids to the ACHA M3 National Tournament and have made the postseason in four out his five seasons with Bartek at the helm.  Jason was named the 2019 MCHC Coach of the Year as well as the 2019 M3 North Region Coach of the Year.

“I am very proud and honored to be selected as the Head Coach of the ACHA DIII Select Team,” said Bartek.  “It has been a long-time goal to represent the ACHA and the United States on the international level. I am looking forward to putting a team together that can compete at the highest level. We will be fast, we will play a complete 200’ game and most importantly, we will play the game the right way.”

Bartek has been part of the ACHA for a total of 10 years. He was an Assistant Coach under Don Headley at Michigan State for two seasons where they won a M3 National Championship.  Bartek was also the Head Coach at M3 Detroit Mercy for one season before moving onto Michigan State.  Before joining the ACHA, Bartek made multiple coaching stops at the high school and AAA levels.

Bartek grew up in Hazel Park, MI where he played hockey for the Royal Oak and Honeybaked travel programs.  Bartek spent one season at the NCAA level before moving onto the ACHA where he would play two seasons at M2 North Carolina State University. 

Bartek holds a Bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in Business Administration and currently resides in Farmington Hills, MI with his wife, Dana, and their newborn daughter, Reagan.

M3 Select Team Assistant Coach Larry Taylor has been Head Coach for the past fifteen seasons at M3 University of Nebraska.  Taylor has been coaching hockey for over 30 years and has earned several coaching awards and honors, including ACHA M3 Pacific Region Co-Coach of the Year.  Taylor has also earned Coach of the Year honors by the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association, the M3 league in which Nebraska competes.

“I’m excited to be asked to serve the ACHA in this capacity and I expect our Select Team to be very competitive in international competition,” said Taylor.  “I have seen tremendous growth in the ACHA and the increased level of play over the past 15 years. Also important, though, is the experience of ‘team.’  I expect the players to develop life-long bonds as they share this special experience, and I’m excited to be a part of that!”

“This will be a great opportunity to contribute to the ongoing success of the ACHA,” continued Taylor. “I look forward to working with Jason and getting to know the Select Team players, both as a team and as individuals,” stated Taylor.

The ACHA is currently accepting applications from Men’s Division 3 student-athletes who wish to be considered for inclusion on the Select Team.  The ACHA M3 Select Team Player Application is now available at http://www.achaelite.com/m3select.html.  Interested players are advised that Coach Bartek, Coach Taylor and ACHA staff will be observing players for M3 Select Team consideration at the upcoming National Tournament in Frisco, Texas and at the 2020 M3 All-Star Challenge event in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania.

“Each young man that gets selected to be part of this team will represent the ACHA to the excellent standard that the organization has established throughout its 29 years of existence,” said Bartek.  “Be honored, be humbled and be prepared to make memories that will last a lifetime.”

For further information, please contact ACHA Director of Hockey Operations Mo Stroemel at mo@achahockey.org.

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About American Collegiate Hockey Association

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is a recognized 501(c)3 organization of over 500 college and university-affiliated programs which provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the quality of collegiate ice hockey throughout the United States.  Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the ACHA's primary mission is to support the growth and development of college hockey programs nationwide.  The ACHA identifies standards which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level and enters its 29th season in September 2019. For more information, visit achahockey.org.