Lindenwood Lions men's ice hockey

Lindenwood Hockey Game vs. Illinois

Lindenwood founded its men's program as a club team in 2003. From its inception, the Lions performed well on the ice, winning 25 out of 29 games in its first year. As the team's schedule increased in difficult, head coach Derek Schaub was able to keep the program in good standing and got the Lions to post a 30-win season 2008. That season saw the team reach the championship game but it was only the beginning for the Lions. The following year Lindenwood was a juggernaut, going 42–4 and winning their first championship while outscoring opponents 313 to 77. After a second dominating championship in 2010, Schaub stepped down and turned the team over to assistant coach and former NHL player, Rick Zombo.[3]

Under Zombo's leadership the Lions continued to be a national contender, reaching the championship in his first season and eventually winning their third title in 2016.[4] While the men's team was achieving those heights, they were overshadowed by the women's team, which had won three consecutive ACHA championships and been promoted to Division I in 2011. In 2021 the school announced its plan to have the men's team finally follow the Lady Lions into the varsity ranks and the program began to transition in that direction.

While the school did not officially state that the team would be a Division I program in 2022, multiple news reports indicate the program was on track to secure the needed funding.[5][6] Critically, the COVID-19 pandemic did not appear to have hampered plans for the program's promotion. Furthering the potential viability of the team is its current home, the Centene Community Ice Center. With a seating capacity of 2,500, the building is comparable to other Division I programs, particularly for a school that only boasts a student body of approximately 7,500.[7]

In the 2021 offseason, the team also began seeing its first transfers into the program from Division I programs (Kyle Jeffers), demonstrating the confidence that some have in Lindenwood's progress.[8] Lindenwood's promotion made the Lions the first Division I program in the St. Louis area since Saint Louis University discontinued their program in 1979.[9]

On March 23, 2022, Lindenwood officially announced that its men's ice hockey team would join Division I in the fall.[10] The team finished its final club season with a 22–3 record and won their fourth ACHA National Championship.

Lindenwood will be eligible for postseason participation in 2026–27, its first full season of D-I membership.[11]

[12]

Rick Zombo was retained as the team's head coach when it transitioned to Division I status in 2022.[13]

As of the completion of 2022–23 season

As of August 16, 2022.[14]

No.	S/P/C	Player	Class	Pos	Height	Weight	DoB	Hometown	Previous team	NHL rights
1		Trent Burnham	Sophomore	G	6' 0" (1.83 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	2000-03-27	Eagle River, Alaska	Sioux Falls (USHL)	—
3		Kieran Ruscheinski	Freshman	D	6' 6" (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	2001-03-05	Calgary, Alberta	Salmon Arm (BCHL)	MTL, 206th overall 2019
5		Aiden Yakimchuk	Sophomore	D	6' 4" (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	2000-05-14	St. Albert, Alberta	Drumheller (AJHL)	—
6		Cade DeStefani	Freshman	F	6' 2" (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2001-06-21	Bedford, New Hampshire	Janesville (NAHL)	—
7		Drew Kuzma	Freshman	F	6' 6" (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	2002-11-13	St. Albert, Alberta	Flin Flon (SJHL)	—
8		Kyle Jeffers	Freshman	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	1999-01-06	Oviedo, Florida	American International (AHA)	—
9		Andy Willis	Senior	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1998-01-22	Ballwin, Missouri	St. Thomas (MIAC)	—
10		Mitch Allard	Sophomore	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	2000-01-27	Shelby Township, Michigan	Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)	—
11		Jackson Wozniak	Sophomore	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	176 lb (80 kg)	2000-02-22	Cypress, California	Wichita Falls (NAHL)	—
12		Mason Kruger	Junior	D	5' 8" (1.73 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	1999-02-26	Alpharetta, Georgia	St. Louis (NA3HL)	—
13		Zach Aughe	Junior	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	2000-02-18	Clarkston, Michigan	Maine (HEA)	—
14		Coltan Wilkie	Freshman	D	5' 8" (1.73 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	2000-04-03	Gretna, Nebraska	Okotoks (AJHL)	—
15		Joe Prouty	Freshman	D	6' 0" (1.83 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	2001-11-29	Burnsville, Minnesota	New Mexico (NAHL)	—
16		Caleb Price	Sophomore	D	5' 10" (1.78 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	2000-03-31	Hooksett, New Hampshire	New Jersey (NAHL)	—
17		Ryan Finnegan	Graduate	F	5' 9" (1.75 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	1997-05-08	Tecumseh, Kansas	Jersey (NCDC)	—
18		Jack Anderson	Freshman	D	6' 6" (1.98 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	2002-11-14	St. Louis, Missouri	El Paso (NAHL)	—
19		Caige Sterzer	Sophomore	F	6' 5" (1.96 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	2000-08-08	Kimberley, British Columbia	Lone Star (NAHL)	—
21		Hunter Johannes	Junior	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1998-07-24	Eden Prairie, Minnesota	American International (AHA)	—
22		Max Neill	Freshman	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2001-01-31	Portage la Prairie, Manitoba	Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)	—
23		Shane LaVelle	Freshman	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2001-08-16	Chaska, Minnesota	Cowichan Valley (BCHL)	—
24		Adam Conquest	Senior	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	2000-05-10	Brighton, Michigan	Bowling Green (CCHA)	—
25		Sam Watson	Junior	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2000-08-24	St. Peters, Missouri	Burlington (OJHL)	—
26		Adisen Brueck	Freshman	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2001-08-27	St. Louis, Missouri	Wichita Falls (NAHL)	—
27		David Gagnon	Sophomore	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	2000-04-19	Halifax, Nova Scotia	Truro (MHL)	—
28		Kabore Dunn	Freshman	D	6' 2" (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2001-11-10	Mill Bay, British Columbia	Trail (BCHL)	—
30		Roni Salmenkangas	Graduate	G	6' 0" (1.83 m)	177 lb (80 kg)	1999-03-28	Tampere, Finland	Ferris State (CCHA)	—
31		Matt Ladd	Graduate	G	6' 3" (1.91 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	1998-07-11	Getzville, New York	Canisius (AHA)	—

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