WAKEFIELD, Mass. - The Hockey East Association announced today that Kate McAfee has been named Associate Commissioner. McAfee currently serves as Associate Athletic Director for Event Management at the University of New Hampshire. She was appointed a member of the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Committee in November 2019.
"I'm thrilled to have Kate join the Hockey East staff. She brings great experience with all facets of college hockey as well as strong relationships throughout the league and the entire NCAA," said incoming Hockey East Commissioner Steve Metcalf. "Kate brings plenty of championship acumen, having been the championship director of numerous NCAA Regional and Frozen Four championships."
"I'd like to thank Steve Metcalf for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a strong and successful league," said McAfee. "I'm excited to utilize my passion of the game for the betterment of Hockey East, its member institutions, and especially the student-athletes, and to have the opportunity to continue to make impactful changes in the college hockey landscape."
She will begin her Hockey East duties later this spring. In her current role, McAfee is the on-site administrator for multiple intercollegiate athletics events at UNH, including men's and women's ice hockey, football, field hockey, men's soccer, and women's lacrosse.
McAfee has extensive experience managing high-visibility hockey collegiate tournaments, as she served as the Tournament Manager for the 2016 NCAA Women's Frozen Four Tournament, Assistant Tournament Manager for the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Regional five times between 2011 and 2019, and was a Quarterfinal Site Representative for the National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament in 2018 and 2019.
"I am excited for Kate to join the leadership group at Hockey East," said Katie Crowley, Head Coach of the Boston College women's ice hockey team "She already has an intimate knowledge of the league, and that, coupled with her administrative experience, ability to connect with people, and her passion for the game will help take our league to new levels."
In addition to her role on the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Committee, McAfee was previously a member of the NCAA Lacrosse Rules Committee from February 2013 to September 2017. She was awarded the President's Cup by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association in November 2018 for her work to promote, develop, and enhance intercollegiate women's lacrosse.
Further, McAfee serves as Chair of the Athletics Committee on Mutual Respect at New Hampshire.
"Kate will be a valuable addition to Hockey East and I am extremely excited that the league has brought her on board," said Scott Borek, Head Coach of the Merrimack men's ice hockey team. "She brings a great enthusiasm to every project she is involved with, and I am certain that her infectious 'can do' perspective will bring that same enthusiasm to the league office."
The Hampton Falls, New Hampshire native was a field hockey and lacrosse letter-winner at Western New England College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in May 2000.
McAfee earned a Master of Science: Kinesiology Sport Studies degree from the University of New Hampshire in May 2017. Since then, she has been an adjunct instructor for the Department of Recreation Management and Policy.
She currently resides in Hampton Falls with her husband Bryan and their children Amelia and Fiona.
