St. Thomas men’s hockey coach Jeff Boeser will retire at the end of the 2020-21 season, St. Thomas Athletics announced Monday.
Boeser spent over 25 years as an assistant coach before being named head coach in 2010. In his 10 years as head coach, Boeser led the team to a winning record each season, while also winning six MIAC regular season championships and two MIAC tournament championships.
“I am so blessed to have been able to coach at a place that means so much to me for so many years,” Boeser said in a statement on Tommie Sports. “There are so many people who have been a part of this journey. I am proud of the players, coaches and all the other supporters who have helped sustain the program.”
Boeser attributes many of his fond memories and successes to former head coach Terry Skrypek, who coached for 23 seasons before Boeser.
“We were really close and we had a lot of really good teams,” Boeser said. “He’s just a good man, and he taught me everything I knew, and he just really helped prepare me to be a head coach.”
Boeser also played for St. Thomas from 1971-75 and Skrypek said his talent led him to become a great instructor of the game.
“He was a great player at St. Thomas and he also played on the Olympic team,” Skrypek said. “He is a great hockey player himself and set the tone for St. Thomas early on when he played there.”
Skrypek continued, “I think he kind of translated the idea that, ‘hey, I could do things as a player and had success, well, this is what I’m going to teach.’”
St. Thomas Vice President and Director of Athletics Phil Esten expressed his gratitude for Boeser’s career at St. Thomas in a statement on Tommie Sports.
“Duke (Boeser) really is a true Tommie, as he exemplifies what comprehensive excellence is all about,” Esten said. “His deep care for the overall development of our student athletes goes beyond winning hockey games as he genuinely cares about preparing them for a lifetime of success.”
Former player and current assistant coach Garrett Gruenke praised Boeser for what he has done at St. Thomas.
“The thing I always appreciated about Coach Boeser is how much he cares about his players. It didn’t matter if you were a player, a manager or even the bus driver, he always wanted to make you feel a part of the team,” Gruenke said. “He exemplifies how St. Thomas hockey should be, about developing your players and also putting wins on the board.”
Senior defender and captain Phil Fromberger upheld Boeser’s impact on St. Thomas hockey.
“He understands how Division III, MIAC games are played, and he got it down to a science and a T, and that’s partially why the University of St. Thomas has continued its tradition of winning on the ice,” Fromberger said. “He’s just a legend around St. Thomas hockey, he’s been here for so long and he’s given his heart and soul — pretty much his life — to St. Thomas hockey, so I really can’t say enough.”
Boeser reflected on his experience at St. Thomas.
“I got to be at the place I totally endear and love for all these years and it really wasn’t anything about me,” Boeser said. “It was just about seeing student athletes become men and then get out there in the real world.”
Because Boeser has been with the team for nearly 40 years, the men’s hockey team will face a culture change, not only from the loss of their leader, but also the university’s transition to Division I.
The Tommies will join the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in 2021 as the first NCAA team to move directly from Division III to Division I.
Despite this big change on the horizon, Gruenke said the team is still focused on winning this season.
“Our goal right now is to do what we did last year, win an MIAC championship and take it as far as we can especially with it being Duke’s last year here,” Gruenke said.
Scout Mason can be reached at maso7275@stthomas.edu.
Joey Swanson can be reached at swan5350@stthomas.edu.
Justin Amaker contributed to this report.
Congratulations Jeff on your retirement Jane and I just looked at the slideshow and we were impressed best of luck to you