One of the most respected college hockey leaders in the country, Joe Bertagna is in his 26th season as a Division I college hockey administrator. He became the fourth Commissioner in Hockey East history on July, 1, 1997, after serving 15 years with the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).

A native of Arlington, Massachusetts, Bertagna began working at the ECAC in 1982, when he was named Tournament Director. He was later named Executive Director of Ice Hockey and then became Ice Hockey Commissioner in 1991. His accomplishments at the ECAC included the league's first television package, the first hockey-only corporate sponsorships, and the establishment of the first U.S. women's intercollegiate ice hockey leagues.

Bertagna made his mark immediately at Hockey East, engineering a multi-year television deal in his first month on the job. Shortly thereafter, league tournament attendance rocketed forward, leading to the event's first-ever sellout in 2000.

Most recently, Bertagna was instrumental in bringing about the formation of the Hockey East Women's League, just as he initiated league play for both Division I and Division III women's programs while with the ECAC.

Nationally, Bertagna has served as the Executive Director of the American Hockey Coaches Association since 1991. In that role, he has overseen the growth of AHCA membership from just under 300 members in 1992 to over 1,300 members today. He also served a four-year term on the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee, the final two years as chairman.

The 1973 Harvard graduate has enjoyed a fruitful playing and coaching career. After starring in goal at Arlington (MA) High School, Bertagna went on to Harvard University and played for Hall of Fame coaches Ralph "Cooney" Weiland and Bill Cleary. He started every game in goal during the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons, leading the Ivy League with a 2.45 GAA in 1972.

Bertagna played professionally for both the Milwaukee Admirals and for S.G. Cortina d’Ampezzo of the Italian league

After Harvard, Bertagna played professionally for the Milwaukee Admirals and in Cortina, Italy. While in Italy, he led his S.G. Cortina d'Ampezzo squad to the 1975 Italian Championship.

He has authored a number of instructional books and videos on goaltending and edited "Crimson in Triumph", a book dedicated to Harvard athletic history. He also edited two successful issues of, "Not The Boston Globe," a newspaper parody sold throughout New England in the mid-1980's. His creative skills have also led him into video production, freelance writing and producing highlight tapes for Harvard University and the Boston Bruins. He continues to contribute to the college hockey community as a freelance writer and television commentator.

Bertagna enjoyed a brief college coaching career at Harvard University in the late 1970's, serving as Men's Junior Varsity Coach in 1976-77 and launching Harvard's women's ice hockey program in 1977-78. He served as Head Coach of Harvard Women's Hockey for two seasons.

Bertagna began his professional coaching career in 1985 with the Boston Bruins, staying with the Bruins as the goaltender coach until 1991 and rejoining the team for the 1994-95 season. He also has coached with Team USA (1991 Canada Cup and 1994 Winter Olympics) and with the Milwaukee Admirals (1994-96). Bertagna has operated his own goalie camps in the summer since 1973, attracting more than 300 goaltenders annually to the Boston area.

Bertagna and his wife Kathy reside in Gloucester with their three children, Bobby (11), Joey (9) and Grace (6).

Wynters enters her tenth year with Hockey East, and her second year as associate commissioner. Prior to her promotion in 2006, she served as director of marketing and special events for four years. As Commissioner Joe Bertagna’s chief assistant, Wynters primary responsibilities will continue to be the day-to-day operations of both the men’s and women’s leagues, marketing and branding initiatives, licensing, the solicitation and fulfi llment of corporate partnerships and the administration of tournaments and special events.

During her tenure, the Hockey East corporate sponsorship program has grown to include several new partnerships, many breaking ground beyond traditional hockey companies. Entering the 2007-08 season, Hockey East is currently partnered with more than 20 different companies, representing a wide range of industries, including Eident Sports Marketing, a Rhode Islandfi rm hired by the league to increase sponsorship opportunities. Wynters was also the driving force behind last year’s Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer event, and the Hannaford Kids’ Club in partnership with Kraft Foods. The inaugural Skating Strides event in February, 2007, raised more than $20,000 for breast cancer awareness care, and research, through Mel’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society. The effort was recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators, which awarded the league a gold medal for Single Day Attendance Promotion of an Olympic Sport. The Kids’ Club program provides free admission to selected Hockey East games, along with Meet & Greet autograph sessions, photos with mascots, and other special events throughout the college hockey season.

Wynters previously served as Hockey East’s Assistant Commissioner from 1988 to 1991, before going on to work for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. She spent three years with the Devils as Marketing Director, coordinating licensing and souvenir merchandising. Wynters also spent fi ve years as marketing manager for PictureTel Corporation. A native of Quincy, Massachusetts, she earned a B.S. degree in marketing from Providence College in 1982. She began her career as an undergraduate intern with the men’s hockey team. Following graduation, she served the Friars as both Assistant Sports Information Director and then as Director of Athletic Marketing. While at Providence, she coordinated the Hockey East championship tournaments in 1985 and 1985, as well as the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four Ice Hockey Championship in 1986. During her fi rst appointment at Hockey East, Wynters worked with Bertagna in coordinating the first and only “Hockeyfest” events, combining the ECAC and Hockey East championships into a single weekend event from 1990-92.

Wynters and her husband Chuck, a former Hockey East official, are the parents of two children, daughter Annie (15) and son C.J. (14). The family resides in Waltham.

Pete Souris, a graduate of the University of New Hampshire ’01, was named Hockey East’s new director of public relations this past summer.

Souris brings 11 years of experience to the post, and has been affi liated with the UNH athletic department since he was a student in the mid-1990s. After earning his BS in Sports Studies in December of 2001, Souris was promoted to the post of assistant director of media relations the following summer, and three years later was named associate director. In addition to serving as the primary media contact for the UNH men’s hockey team, Souris was the lead contact for the school’s women’s volleyball and women’s crew teams. Souris also served as media coordinator for the NCAA men’s hockey regionals in Manchester, NH, in 2004 and 2007. In 2006, he also assumed responsibility for managing the department’s web site (unhwildcats.com).

Souris has also worked as a communications intern for FOX sports Net New England and as a marketing intern for the Boston Celtics. From 1998 to 2001, he also served as co-commissioner for the Portsmouth (NH) Summer Basketball League.

John Gallagher enters his fifth year as the Supervisor of Officials for the Hockey East women's league.

A 1979 graduate of Boston College, Gallagher has built a rich resume in the world of college hockey officiating. A veteran of 16 years on-ice for the ECAC and four for Hockey East, he has five Beanpot tournaments to his credit, including one on the women's side. He has also served in high profile assignments with the NCAA and with the NHL.

Gallagher's experiences have naturally guided him into a development role. He served as the Director of the National Ice Hockey Officials Clinic for four years and has been supervising college hockey officials for the past eight, first with the ECAC Division-III Men's League (1998-2000) and then with Division-I (2000-03).

Gallagher's full-time job is as a sales representative for Glen Falls Lehigh Cement Company. He and his wife Christine reside in Stoneham, Mass., and have three sons - Jay, Ryan and Matthew.