Chris Brooks (ice hockey) explained

Chris Brooks
Played For:Amarillo Rattlers (WPHL)
Springfield Falcons (AHL)
Mobile Mysticks (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings (UHL)
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:192
Birth Date:19 September 1972
Birth Place:Stratford, Ontario, Canada
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:1996
Career End:2003
Module:
Embed:yes
Current Title:Assistant coach
Current Team:Clarkson
Current Conference:ECAC Hockey
Alma Mater:Western Michigan University
Coach Years1:1999–2008
Coach Team1:Western Michigan (assistant)
Coach Years2:2008–2011
Coach Team2:Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Coach Years3:2011–2017
Coach Team3:Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Coach Years4:2017–2022
Coach Team4:Michigan Tech (assistant)
Coach Years5:2022–Present
Coach Team5:Clarkson (assistant)
Overall Record:119–45–13 [College]
Tournament Record:7–3
Championships:2016 D–III National Championship

Chris Brooks (born September 19, 1972) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. In June 2022, he became an assistant coach for the Clarkson Golden Knights men's ice hockey program.[1]

College career

Brooks attended Western Michigan University where he played four seasons of NCAA Division I hockey with the Western Michigan Broncos, then of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). During his freshman season his outstanding play was recognized when he was selected as the CCHA Rookie of the Year for the 1992–93 season.

Professional career

He turned professional in 1996, joining the Amarillo Rattlers of the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) for the league's inaugural 1996–97 season. In his rookie season Brooks led the league in points with 110, and was named the WPHL's most valuable player. He played the 1997–98 season with the Mobile Mysticks of the ECHL, but also skated in four American Hockey League games (including two playoff games) with the Springfield Falcons. Brooks rejoined the Amarillo Rattlers for the 1998–99 season where he led the league by scoring 48 goals. During the 2002–03 season he skated in 11 games with the Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League.

Coaching career

Brooks commenced his coaching career in 1999 when he returned to the Western Michigan Broncos as an assistant coach.[2] He remained with Western Michigan for nine seasons before accepting the position of head coach for the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League starting with the 2008–09 season,[3] a position he held for three seasons.[4] He then became the head coach of the ice hockey program for University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, a position he held from 2010–2011 to 2016–2017. During his tenure, he led the Pointers to three straight NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship appearances, finishing as runner-ups in 2014 and 2015 and winning the national championship in 2016. He held a 119-45-13 record in his 6 seasons with the team.[5] In June 2017, Brooks was named an assistant coach for the Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey program by head coach Joe Shawhan.[6]

Awards and honours

HonoursYear
All-CCHA Rookie Team1992–93
CCHA Rookie of the Year 1992–93[7]
WPHL Most Points (110)[8]
WPHL Most Valuable Player[9]
WPHL Most Goals (48)[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clarkson Hires Chris Brooks to Men's Staff . August 13, 2023.
  2. Web site: WMU News.
  3. Web site: Chris Brooks named RGV Head Coach. July 28, 2008 . August 11, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812202717/http://centralhockeyleague.com/news/index.html?article_id=2513&content_type=printable&plugin_id=news.front.system&block_id=5001 . August 12, 2014 . mdy .
  4. Web site: Brooks steps down as Killer Bees coach | Pro Hockey News . August 11, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812212117/http://prohockeynews.com/brooks-steps-down-as-killer-bees-coach/ . August 12, 2014 . mdy .
  5. Web site: UW-Stevens Point hires Brooks - NCAA.com . www.ncaa.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111108164914/http://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey-men/2011-05-15/uw-stevens-point-hires-brooks . 2011-11-08.
  6. Web site: Chris Brooks Named Assistant Hockey Coach. June 26, 2017.
  7. Web site: Awards | Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
  8. Web site: Brooks buzzes off to Texas for opportunity to c... | Sarnia Observer . August 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812205713/http://www.theobserver.ca/2008/08/16/brooks-buzzes-off-to-texas-for-opportunity-to-coach-pro-club . August 12, 2014 . dead .
  9. News: Gove . Chris . December 24, 1998 . Two Rattlers will play in WPHL All-Star tilt . Amarillo Globe-News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140814054020/http://amarillo.com/stories/1998/12/24/spo_163-6471.shtml . August 14, 2014.
  10. Web site: UW-Stevens Point Athletics . August 11, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812205438/http://www.ncaa.com/taxonomy/term/3253 . August 12, 2014 . mdy .