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Canisius University Athletics

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Trevor Large 2021-22 headshot

Trevor Large

Trevor Large, a 17-year coaching veteran in Atlantic Hockey, is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Golden Griffin hockey program after being promoted to the position in April 2017.

The seventh head coach in school history, and the fourth at the Division I level, Large took over the reins of the Canisius program after serving as an assistant on former head coach Dave Smith’s staff for three seasons.

During his time on Main Street, Large has been instrumental in the program’s ascension within the Atlantic Hockey Association, helping guide the squad to five appearances in the semifinal round of the AHA Tournament and two championship game appearances. He also helped the program claim its first AHA Regular-Season Championship in 2016-17 and its second AHA Tournament crown in 2022-23.

Individually, Canisius has also thrived over the past nine seasons, with 14 players earning a total of 23 all-conference accolades. Large was influential in the arrival of Charles Williams, who became the program’s first All-American selection and first finalist for both the Hobey Baker and Mike Richter Awards during the 2016-17 campaign.
 
The 2022-23 season saw the Griffs claim its second Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament crown with a 3-0 victory over Holy Cross in the AHA Championship Game at LECOM Harborcenter. The Griffs finished the campaign with an overall record of 20-19-3, marking the fourth time in six seasons under Large where the Griffs have posted a winning percentage .500 or better. The Griffs also recorded 20 wins in a season for the third time in the Division I era of the program and the first since 2016-17.
 
Goaltender Jacob Barczewski was an All-AHA Third team selection during the regular season before adding to his trophy case by being named the AHA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and to the AHA All-Tournament Team. Forward Keaton Mastrodonato was also recognized as an All-AHA Third Team pick and joined Barczewski on the AHA All-Tournament Team.

Canisius posted a 16-16-3 overall record and a 13-11-2 league mark in 2021-22, finishing the regular season in second place. Three players - Barczewski (first team), Mastrodonato (second team) and defenseman David Melaragni (third team) - were recognized as All-AHA performers.

Large navigated the Griffs to an 11-6-0 overall record during a pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, highlighted by the program’s third appearance in the championship game of the AHA Tournament. Barczewski and Mastrodonato were both named an All-AHA Western Pod First Team while Barczewski was tabbed as the pod’s Goaltending Champion. Large’s squad was also honored as the division’s Team Sportsmanship Award honoree after being whistled for the fewest penalties of any team during the regular season.

Large was at the helm of one of the youngest teams in the nation for the 2019-20 campaign, with 10 first-year players on the roster. Seniors Matt Hoover, Nick Hutchison and Matt Stief all garnered All-Atlantic Hockey honors after all three posted career highs in points, giving the Griffs three all-league selections for the second time in a four-year span.

The 2018-19 season saw the Griffs become the first Atlantic Hockey school to defeat perennial power North Dakota as it swept the Fighting Hawks in a non-conference series at LECOM Harborcenter. Canisius also posted victories against NCAA Tournament participants Clarkson and AIC, as well as a tie at nationally-ranked Union.

Forward Dylan McLaughlin was named an All-Atlantic Hockey First Team selection for the second consecutive season and was recognized as the program’s first recipient of the league’s Individual Sportsmanship Award.

In his first season as head coach, Large guided Canisius to a 19-17-2 overall record and a second-place finish in Atlantic Hockey with a 17-11 mark in conference play.

McLaughlin was named a Top 10 Finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, giving Canisius a candidate for the most prestigious award in college hockey for a second consecutive season. McLaughlin was also selected as the Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year, becoming the second Griff to earn the league’s top honor in as many seasons and just the third in program history.

Defenseman Cameron Heath joined McLaughlin on the All-AHA First Team while forward Ryan Schmelzer was an All-AHA Third Team selection. Schmelzer was also tabbed a Senior CLASS Award All American First Team selection, the fourth Canisius player in program history to earn the distinction.

Prior to joining Smith’s staff at Canisius, Large spent six seasons at Army West Point (2008-14), serving as the program’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under head coach Brian Riley. During his time with the Black Knights, Large worked with all facets of the program – forwards, defensemen, power play and penalty kill – helping coach six all-conference performers and three selections to the league’s all-rookie team. He also served as the team’s video coordinator.

Large began his coaching career as an assistant at American International College (2006-08) for long-time head coach Gary Wright. With the Yellow Jackets, Large helped coach a pair of all-conference honorees. He recruited the program’s first players from the prestigious United States Hockey League, as well as a three-time Atlantic Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

A four-year letterwinner at Ferris State (2000-04), Large totaled 19 goals and 14 assists in 129 career games under the guidance of veteran head coach Bob Daniels. The team’s Most Improved Player in 2001, he helped the Bulldogs capture the 2003 CCHA regular-season championship and first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

A native of Brampton, Ontario, Large earned his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Ferris State in 2004 and his MBA from AIC in 2008.

Large and his wife, Molly, have one son, Broderick, and one daughter, Harper.