Skyhawk Ice Hockey on the Rise

Two head coaches with plenty of Division I (DI) experience are leading the Stonehill ice hockey programs.

Lee-J Mirasolo, hired as the Skyhawks women’s coach in May 2023, played four seasons at Boston College, including a season as captain, and was an assistant coach for four years at Princeton University and eight years at Harvard University.

David Berard, named the Stonehill men’s coach in April 2024, played at Providence College, was head coach at College of the Holy Cross, interim head coach at the University of Connecticut and an assistant for 16 years at Providence College and two seasons at Lake Superior State University. 

Mirasolo guided Stonehill to its first ever New England Women’s Hockey Alliance championship in 2024, with a 3-2 overtime victory over Franklin Pierce, which earned the Skyhawks their first invitation to the NCAA DI tournament.

“It’s a really exciting time for Stonehill athletics and the entire College,’’ says Mirasolo, whose team won the title in just its second year of existence and her first year on the job. “To have that success when we’re still in our infancy, it’s a huge credit to the players.’’

Women’s ice hockey continued to move forward in the 2024-25 season, playing nationally ranked Ohio State and Penn State and had a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2) in December and January.

Berard takes over a program that played its first full DI schedule in the 2023-24 season. "There is a process to building our program at the DI level," says Berard. "It takes time, but this season was a great example of what is possible for us to achieve."

In its second year in DI, men's ice hockey had 12 overall wins. The highlight of the 2024-25 season was a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against UMass Lowell, which was ranked No. 9 in the nation at the time. It was the program’s first win over a nationally ranked team.

Like Mirasolo, Berard credits his players for their commitment to taking the program to the next level. “We have a great group of student-athletes who are eager to learn and improve as well as driven to take the next step forward in the development of our program,” he notes. 

As Stonehill’s ice hockey programs continue to become accustomed to DI, both coaches are using their playing and coaching experiences to guide their teams.

“Just knowing what we’re up against and what’s required to be successful at this level is really important,’’ says Mirasolo. “It allows me to have a sense of where we are and where we need to go.’’ Berard is also looking ahead “to building a program at Stonehill that we can all be proud of.’’

Part of the building process will include the eventual addition of a campus rink, which will bolster both programs. “To have a place we get to call our own with the bells and whistles that we really need is going to pay dividends in recruiting and the student-athlete experience,’’ says Mirasolo.

"An on-campus facility would be a game-changer," says Berard. "It would signal an unprecedented commitment by the College to building a successful DI program, enhancing the student-athlete experience and positioning us for potential league membership. It would be a huge step forward."