Hockey East Staff - Hockey East Association

BRIAN SMITH - ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER

Smith enters his 10th season with the Hockey East Association and seventh as Associate Commissioner in 2023-24 after spending three years as Director of Communications. In his role, he is responsible for external operations from the league office, including public and media relations efforts.

During the summer of 2019, Smith engineered and negotiated Hockey East’s first-ever multi-media rights deal, aggregating all Hockey East content within the linear television and digital space. The landmark agreement lead the most comprehensive media rights agreements in college hockey in 2022, when Hockey East partnered with ESPN and NESN for linear and digital rights for both the men’s and women’s leagues. With Hockey East’s rights centralized, live and on-demand content from the league’s 12 member institutions became more accessible to fans across the league, and North America, than ever before.

During his time with Hockey East, Smith has revitalized the digital presence of the conference by revamping the league website, HockeyEastOnline.com, multiple times and growing its social media channels to develop the most heavily followed accounts in all of college hockey. Smith also served as the main media contact for the 2015 and 2022 Frozen Fours, hosted by Hockey East and the TD Garden, and has assisted in the successful execution of the Friendship Four Tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Frozen Fenway events.

Smith has been involved with numerous other endeavors during his time with Hockey East, including assisting with NCAA Ice Hockey Officiating Department programs, serving on the media relations team at multiple Frozen Fours, directing the 2015 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, aiding with the media operations of the American Hockey Coaches Association, and serving as Assistant Venue Press Officer for Gillette Stadium during the 2016 Copa América Centenario.

Prior to joining the conference in July 2014, Smith spent two years with USA Hockey as the Brian Fishman Intern, a prestigious program that develops young professionals in the athletic communications business. Dividing his time with USA Hockey between the national office in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the National Team Development Program, then located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Smith traveled extensively while assisting in numerous international tournaments as the main media contact for U.S. national teams. While with the NTDP, Smith served as the main media contact for both the U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 teams. Additionally, Smith played an integral role in the execution of the 2012 and 2013 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies.

Smith also has spent time working with the Boston Bruins and New England Revolution in various roles. With the Bruins from 2010-12, Smith worked alongside a communications staff that received the Dick Dillman Award and was charged with media relations duties during the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. With the New England Revolution, Smith oversaw all aspects of the New England Revolution Charitable Foundation and assisted with all match day operations, including international friendlies at Gillette Stadium.

A former high school hockey player at Woburn Memorial High School, Smith is a 2012 graduate of Boston College with a degree in English and Communications. He earned four varsity letters in track and field while competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference during his time with the Eagles.

KATE MCAFEE - ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER

McAfee enters her fourth season as the Associate Commissioner of the Hockey East Association in 2023-24.

McAfee serves as the conference’s senior women’s administrator and chief financial officer and works closely in support of the officiating program. In her short time at the conference, she has played an instrumental role improving the student-athlete experience and improving attendance at both men’s and women’s championships. McAfee has also been a leadership member of the College Hockey for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion group since its inception.

In her first two seasons with the conference, she aided in the development of comprehensive Covid-19 protocols which helped the league successfully play more games than any other college hockey conference.

McAfee came to Hockey East from the University of New Hampshire where she had served as Associate Athletic Director, working in operations. She served as a member of the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Committee from 2019 to 2021 and as the Committee Chair during the 2020-21 season. She had previously served as a member of the NCAA Lacrosse Rules Committee from 2013 - 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.

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'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 Hockey East Commissioner Steve Metcalf, when her hire was announced. "Kate brings plenty of championship acumen, having been the championship director of numerous NCAA Regional and Frozen Four championships.”

"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."

"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. She served as an adjunct instructor for the Department of Recreation Management and Policy and co-authored “Understanding the Interface Between Security and Customer Service at NCAA Division I FCS football venues” in the Journal of Contemporary Athletics.

She currently resides in Hampton Falls with her spouse Bryan and their children Amelia and Fiona.

BRIAN MURPHY - SUPERVISOR OF MEN'S OFFICIALS

In the spring of 2020, Brian Murphy was named Supervisor of Men's Officials. Murphy, who served as an official in Hockey East from 1986-88, has 32 years of experience as an official in the National Hockey League and is one of just two Americans to have officiated over 2,000 NHL regular season games.

"I'm thrilled to welcome Brian back to Hockey East, where he started his long career as an official," said Hockey East Commissioner Steve Metcalf. "I know I also speak for the coaches when I say I'm excited to have his expertise and passion for officiating rejoin our league."

"I would like to thank Steve Metcalf for the opportunity to return to Hockey East, the best collegiate ice hockey league in the country," said Murphy. "I look forward to sharing my passion for officiating development with the officiating staff, the student athletes, coaches, administrators and member institutions. I would also like to thank Dan Schachte for all his efforts to develop the current Hockey East officiating staff to what it is today."

On March 16, 2019, Murphy became the eighth individual and only the second American to officiate 2,000 NHL regular season games after former Hockey East Supervisor of Men's Officials Dan Schachte reached that milestone in 2012. Murphy has also worked over 300 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including nine Stanley Cup Final series, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, the 2004 and 2016 World Cups of Hockey, and the 1999 NHL All-Star Game.

"Brian Murphy has been one of the most respected officials in the National Hockey League for over 30 years," said Lou Lamoriello, former Commissioner of Hockey East and current President of Hockey Operations for the NHL's New York Islanders. "His appointment as Supervisor of Officials brings unquestioned experience and knowledge of the game along with exceptional people skills. There is no doubt in my mind that Brian will be a decided asset to the present and future of Hockey East."

In addition to his on-ice duties, Murphy served as the President of the NHL Officiating Association from 2008-15. In that role, he was responsible for establishing the Association's agenda, communications, and direction for the executive board. He also led all collective bargaining, insurance, labor relations, negotiations and pension duties for NHL officials. Murphy began his officiating career in 1983 while at the University of New Hampshire. He was accepted into the USA Hockey development program and officiated New Hampshire high school hockey before working for two years as an official in the American Hockey League and Hockey East. Murphy excelled and, in 1988, was selected to work the Hockey East Championship Game, the Beanpot title game, and the NCAA Division 1 Championship Game.

In the summer of 1988, Murphy was hired by the NHL under a minor league linesman contract and made his NHL debut on October 7, 1988. He was promoted to a full-time NHL linesman status in the summer of 1990, and is one of only a few officials to have worked NHL games both as a referee and linesman after serving as a referee during the NHL's transition to a four-man on-ice officiating crew.

In addition to his work with the NHL, Murphy has contributed to the Officiating Program of Merit, USA Hockey's highest- level officiating development program, for the past nine years and has been involved in the governing body's officiating development program for over three decades.

Murphy is a native of Dover, New Hampshire and graduated with a business degree from the University of New Hampshire before earning his master's degree in business administration in 2018 from Southern New Hampshire University. Murphy resides in Dover with his wife, Lisa. They have two adult daughters, Casey and Shayna.

DR. DEREK ZUCKERMAN - SUPERVISOR OF WOMEN'S OFFICIALS

Dr. Derek Zuckerman has been named Supervisor of Women’s Officials. In his role, Zuckerman will oversee all aspects of the officiating program of the women’s league, including the recruitment and assignment of all game officials. He began his duties with Hockey East in July.

Zuckerman has enjoyed an illustrious career as an NCAA on-ice official over the past 20 years, including the honor of refereeing the women’s National Collegiate Championship Game four times (2009, 2010, 2016, 2021) to go along with six Frozen Four assignments. Over the past 17 seasons, he has worked both Hockey East and ECAC Hockey contests, earning postseason assignments in each of those seasons. He also served on the NCAA Rules Committee as the women’s referee representative in 2019.

He started as an ECAC Hockey Division III official in 1995 before joining ECAC Hockey’s men’s league for seven seasons from 1998-2005. He began refereeing ECAC Hockey’s women’s league in 2004 and rose to Hockey East women’s league in 2010. With the ECAC, he worked the women’s championship game five times (2006, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2020) and nine semifinal contests. He served as an official in the Hockey East women’s semifinals in 2011 and 2012.

Prior to his career as an NCAA official, Zuckerman was invited to join USA Hockey’s national training staff for officials in 1995, earning the inaugural Milt Kaufman Award, given to the outstanding USA Hockey officiating camp attendee. Since then, he has served in various roles within USA Hockey’s officiating program, including as an instructor for officials’ development and training camps. In 2021, New York-native participated in USA Hockey’s Advanced Officiating Symposium in Providence, Rhode Island where he established relationships with a wide pool of officials from across the country. Additionally, Zuckerman has served as the Assistant Commissioner of both the Bay State and Hockomock Conferences, high school leagues in Massachusetts from 1996-98.

Internationally, Zuckerman has worked in both the United Kingdom and Mexico in various roles, including serving as an instructor and official at the Mexican National Hockey Championship.

Outside of Hockey, Zuckerman serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Roger Williams University, Bristol, R.I. In this role, he oversees the offices of Residence Life, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, and Student Programs, Leadership, and Orientation. Prior to this appointment, he worked at Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., as a Class Dean, helping students navigate their experience with shared responsibilities between student and academic affairs. Before that, Zuckerman served Hockey East-member Holy Cross as the Associate Dean for Student Life. He has also worked at Iona University, Quinnipiac University, and Bentley University over his career in student affairs.

Zuckerman graduated from Le Moyne College in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations and human resource management. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Bentley University in 1998 and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fordham University in 2010. He has been an adjunct professor of Marketing and General Business courses and has presented nationally on various topics including financial management, negotiation, safety, and learning outcomes.

ELLIOT JENNER - CREATIVE COORDINATOR AND DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER

Elliot Jenner joined the Hockey East Association as the league’s first-ever Creative Coordinator and Digital Content Manager in the summer of 2022. Elliot became part of the league office after spending time at two member schools, including stints at Providence College (G ‘22) and the University of Massachusetts (‘20).

At Providence, he served for two years as an athletic video services graduate assistant, working closely with the men’s and women’s hockey teams on linear broadcasts and digital content creation. Prior to his stint in Friartown, Elliot worked as a video assistant for the Minutemen Football Program in 2018 and as a broadcast assistant on the UMass Sports Network in 2019-20.

During his first season in 2022-23, Jenner elevated the league’s digital presence immensely, establishing Hockey East as the premier content creators in college hockey. In addition to growing the league’s social media and digital footprint, Jenner produced television and streaming content for the league, including production elements in NESN broadcasts and segments aired both on its linear channels and on ESPN+ broadcasts.

In his brand-new role, Elliot brings a unified and consistent creative look to the conference moving forward and raises engagement with fans across social platforms by developing content that keeps fans talking about the toughest conference in college hockey.

Jenner, 25, was born and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey. He finds the most joy from his work when he feels like part of the action filming at games and live events.

ALLISON OUELLETTE - GRADUATE INTERN

Ouellette recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Political Science, along with studies in Statistics and Sports Management. During her time at UVM, she gained valuable experience working in various roles within the athletic department.

As a Junior, she served as a Graphic Design Intern for Vermont Sports Properties and the UVM Athletics Marketing & Fan Engagement teams, honing her skills in media production, content creation, and project management. In her Senior year, Ouellette worked as a Social Media and Operations Intern for UVM Men’s Hockey, where she managed multimedia content, promoted players and community efforts, and collaborated with sponsors to enhance brand exposure.

Ouellette is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Sport Leadership at Endicott College and is excited to bring her passion for sports media and communications to Hockey East.