Article By: Mike Giannattasio
The Suffolk University men’s hockey team has started their season with a new assistant coach. Chris Glionna, the head coach of the Rams, announced the hiring of Michael Bertoni during this past offseason.
Bertoni, 30, has plenty of coaching experience under his belt as he was the head coach of UMass Boston from 2003 to 2006. Bertoni also served as an assistant coach at Wentworth Institute of Technology and was the head coach at Somerville High School during the last two seasons.
Along with his on-ice coaching duties, Bertoni will serve as a recruiter for the Rams. He will spend a lot of his time scouting players and try to bring them to Suffolk’s Division III club.
Glionna is excited to have Bertoni as a part of his staff and looks forward to coaching with him this season.
“Michael was hired as an assistant coach because of his experience,” said Glionna, who has been the head coach of the Rams since the 04-05 season. “Michael has been both a head coach and assistant coach at the college level and he has a proven track record as a great recruiter. [He] also has a great work ethic and brings lots of energy. To be a successful college program you need good players. Michael will work very hard to get us the top players in the country.”
Bertoni is excited for the opportunity to help coach the Rams’ squad this season.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to work with the staff and I’m looking forward to coaching this season,” said Bertoni. “Chris and I are great friends and the hockey fraternity is very close.”
The new assistant coach also has many goals for himself this season.
“My focus is on recruiting, along with my duties on the ice,” said Bertoni. “I believe in teaching and learning, as both titles co-exist. I’m a believer in fundamentals and I hope the players on the team mature every day and that we progress as a team.”
Glionna has lofty goals for Bertoni this season as well.
“My goal for Mike [is] to coordinate our recruiting,” said Glionna. “We hope that [he] brings us quality student athletes that will lead us to the [GNAC] Northeast championship.”
The Rams, currently 1-3-1 on the season, started off their home slate on the right foot last night, beating Salve Regina by a score of 4-1 at Walter Brown Arena.
