C.J. Eick, a veteran of North American hockey both as a player and a coach, was announced in July as the newest assistant coach for the Colgate Red Raiders men’s hockey program.
With more than fifteen years of combined playing and coaching experience, Eick brings a deep reservoir of knowledge that the Red Raiders hope will sharpen their defensive units and elevate special‑teams performance.
His coaching journey began while he was still a student‑athlete at Michigan Tech, where he served as an instructor for the Michigan Tech Hockey School and later contributed to the staff at Trinity College during the 2022‑23 season.
Prior to joining Colgate, Eick spent two seasons in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks, helping the club to two winning campaigns and a Clark Cup Final appearance while working under head coach Brett Olson, who has since moved on to lead the Black Hawks.
Eick’s professional playing career stretched across seven years in the ECHL, where he logged over 380 games, scoring 42 goals and adding 56 assists. His final pro stint came with the Kalamazoo Wings during the 2023‑24 season, after which he transitioned fully into coaching.
A Boost for the Red Raiders’ Future
Coach Mike Harder of Colgate expressed enthusiasm about the hire, noting that Eick’s background in developing defensemen and shaping power‑play strategies aligns perfectly with the team’s objectives for the upcoming season.
The addition of a coach who has navigated both collegiate and minor‑professional circuits is expected to accelerate the growth of younger players and reinforce the program’s competitive edge in the highly contested Atlantic Hockey Association.