UMass rounds out hockey coaching staff with Barr, DeMichiel

The University of Massachusetts has rounded out its hockey staff with the addition of two assistants and a director of hockey operations, new head coach Greg Carvel announced Tuesday morning. Carvel added Ben Barr and Jared DeMichiel as the two new assistant coaches and Brennen McHugh as the director of hockey operations.

DeMichiel was on Carvel's staff at St. Lawrence the past two seasons after serving as an assistant coach at Division III Nazareth College previously. An Avon, Conn. native, DeMichiel helped guide RIT to the 2010 Frozen Four. He played for Wayne Wilson's tigers from 2006-2010.

Barr comes to Amherst following two seasons as an associate head coach at Western Michigan, serving under Andy Murray. Prior to that the 2004 RPI graduate had been an assistant to Nate Leaman at Providence (2012-2014) and Union (2008-2012). A Faribault, Minn. native, Barr brings an interesting mix of experience on both sides of the college hockey landscape. It isn't often coaches cross over from the west to east or vice versa.

McHugh is a Saranac Lake, NY native who spent the previous four seasons in a similar capacity at Cornell (2015-16) and St. Lawrence (2012-15).

Barr and DeMichiel are considered two of the better up-and-coming assistant coaches in college hockey. Both are great hires that will add a youthful energy to an already promising new staff in Amherst.