This past year was one of the most successful seasons for the Stony Brook Hockey program. Not only did the Seawolves beat #1 ranked Arizona State twice this year. Who by the way have their bags packed for NCAA Division I hockey next year. Stony Brook won their conference for the third year in a row, made it to the final four in the National Championship tournament for the second year in a row and made it to the National Championship Game for the first time since the 2003 season.
Currently in his 20th year of being a General Manager and 5th year as Head Coach of Stony Brook, Chris Garofalo has been a large reason why the team has become one of the most dominant non varsity college hockey programs in the country. Chris, also known as the “nuts and bolts” of the team, does all of the recruiting, scheduling, and organizing the team requires during the season. Chris has not only been a General Manager and Coach of the team he was also a player from 1992 to 1996. He ended his Stony Brook career with his selection to the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference all-star team in his senior year. Chris was born in Portland Maine and after only living there for one year moved to Long Island where he played Hockey at Farmingdale High School and for the Junior Islanders. Chris received his Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management from Stony Brook in May of 1996.
For the past twenty seasons Chris has dedicated himself to the Stony Brook Hockey program far more than anyone else to ensure the program exceeds all expectations. From 96” to 09” the Seawolves were an extremely reputable program making it to, two Division II final fours and one National Championship game. Manley to the doings of Chris and the many hats he wore.
Going into the 2010 season Chris decided to dedicate himself even more and take on the head coaching position for the Seawolves. Within his first five years of coaching, Chris reached his 100th career win this season as head coach and surpassed it to become 117-47-10 overall. In addition coach Garofalo was one of the final four coaches to be named coach of the year for the second year in a row this season.
Speaking to coach Garofalo after the season he was unaware of his 100th win. He stated “I never wanted to build this program on the premise to win 100 games or even 1,000 games. I built this team, to be a reputable program for the University that gave me so much, and mentor college athletes throughout school and life. However it is a true accomplishment and but I can’t take all the credit. This achievement could not have been accomplished if I didn’t have the players or my assistant coaches, Colin Brumsted which this is also his 117th win as assistant coach and Wes Hawkins.”
Although Chris is proud and honored of the personal and team accomplishments, the biggest accomplishment and most important would be to one day win the National Championship. Stony Brook’s overall record dating back to the 1999-2000 season is an impressive 402-131-20.
