5 Minutes with... Bob Simmons

Age?  46

Occupation? Programmer for IBM.

Are you married?  No, but I might as well be.

How many years have you been coaching at Marist?  Seven years, two years as an Assistant.
 
You’re also the ACHA Northeast Regional Coordinator, correct? Yes.

What does the ACHA NERC do?  My responsibilities include: compliance issues (making sure teams/players are eligible), assisting with website issues, coordinate the rankings/ranking committee; make sure the rankings are completed on time and Tournament Director for the Northeast Regional Tournament.

Where did you attend College?  State University College at Buffalo

What was you major?  Information Systems Management

Did you graduate?  Yes, in 1982.

Did you play hockey there?  Yes, it was still club hockey when I played there

What position?  Defenseman.

Your biggest strength as a player?  I was what you’d call a “stay-at-home defenseman”, which means I was slow but I could stop a 2 on 1!

What’s the worst thing about coaching at Marist?  The amount of time involved and the travel…but I still love it!

What’s the best thing about coaching at Marist?  The kids; I enjoy being around them and coaching them.

What’s your #1 goal this year?  I have two this year: #1 make the Super East Playoffs and #2 make the Northeast Regional Tournament in Rochester.

How do you feel about the SECHL adding UNH and HC?  It’s a great thing!  We now have, in my opinion, most (if not all) of the top teams in the Northeast Region playing in the same league.  The competition is great!

What’s the toughest rink to play in?  Siena’s because of the big ice surface they play on.  It’s 15 feet wider than what we’re used to playing on.  We don’t play on the big ice much during the year.

Your biggest win at Marist was?  2-1 at Penn State after losing 8-1 (2003) the night before and a close second was beating Stony Brook in the SECHL semi-finals 4-3 (2002)

Worst place on earth?  Any place it’s hot.  I don’t like the heat.

Favorite food?  Italian

Favorite restaurant?  Mel’s Diner in Naples, Florida

Dream Car?  Corvette from the early 90’s.

If you could have dinner with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?  Scotty Bowman, I hear he’s very interesting to talk to.

Biggest athletic achievement?  Making a college hockey team.

The best thing about attending the ACHA National Meeting in Naples?  Fujiyama’s Steak House.

The worst about attending the ACHA National Meeting in Naples? The Heat!

Give me one sleeper team in the SECHL that you think might surprise people this year?  Can I say Marist?

Music or talk radio on you car stereo? Music

How do you like the new officiating in the ACHA?  So far it’s been very inconsistent but I do think it’s going to be good for the game in the long run.

Thanks Bob and good luck the rest of the way.  No problem, have fun!

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5 Minutes with... Kent Rinehart

Name: Kent Rinehart

Title: SECHL Commissioner

Age: 34

Occupation: Director of Admissions, Bentley College

Are you married? Yes.

Do you have any children? Yes.

How many? 1

Boy or Girl? Boy, Jackson

Where did you attend College? Marist College

Red Foxes - good or bad nickname? (laughing) It's not a scary mascot.

Is it true that Marist named their sports teams after that comedian? No!

Did you play hockey? Yes.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th liner? 3rd liner

Your biggest strength as a player: Penalty killing

The team you hated to play against: Siena College

The best game you've ever played in: 1999 Marist vs. Rutgers (Marist won 3-2)

Biggest athletic achievement: Completed a sprint triathlon (1/2 mile swim, 20 mile bike, 5 mile run)

The best thing about being the SECHL Commissioner is: It's great to be able to give so many college athletes the opportunity to play college hockey.

The worst thing about being the SECHL Commissioner is: Having to turn away so many teams that want to join the Super East.

Why did the Super East get a new logo this year? We're celebrating our tenth year and needed a fresh look.

What do you think about the new Super East website? I think it's terrific!

Why are the Super East playoffs in Simsbury, CT? Newburgh was unable to host the weekend we were looking to have our playoffs.

How many years have the playoffs been in Newburgh? Five years.

Favorite place on Earth: Fenway Park in Boston, MA... watching the Red Sox beat the Yankees!

Worst place on Earth: Yankees Stadium... watching the Red Sox lose to the Yankees!

Favorite food: Filet Mignon

Favorite restaurant: Capital Grill in Boston

If you found $1,000 on the street, what would you do with it? If nobody claimed it, I'd take my wife away for a nice weekend in Vermont.

If you could watch any band live, who would it be? U2

Dream car: Acura TL

The best thing about attending the ACHA annual meeting in Naples, FL: It's an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.

The worst thing about attending the ACHA annual meeting in Naples, FL: Getting there.

Do you golf? Yes.

What's your handicap? Very high!

Final Question: What two teams will be playing on Sunday, February 26, 2006 (SECHL Championship Game)? I'd have to say Stony Brook and Penn State... but there's always a surprise or two at the SECHL Playoffs.

Have a prediction? NO!