WESTFIELD, Mass. - Westfield State University is represented by alumnus Peter Laviolette '86 and former Athletic Director Paul Bogan in the inaugural class of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference's newly founded Hall of Fame, the league announced late last week.

Laviolette, the current head coach of the Nashville Predators of the NHL, was a four-year ice hockey standout as a defenseman for the Owls. He totaled 43 goals and 44 assists as a three year captain.

He has had a sensational coaching career after a long professional career in hockey. Inducted into the Westfield State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, Laviolette is part an elite group of coaches that have led three different teams to the Stanley Cup finals. Laviolette coached the Carolina Hurricanes to the cup in 2006, then took the Philadelphia Flyers to the cup finals in 2010, and the Predators to the Stanley Cup finals in 2017.

Laviolette was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars and had a long professional career, mostly in the minor leagues, but played a dozen games in the NHL for the New York Rangers. He has also been active with USA Hockey, playing for the United States in two Winter Olympic Games: the 1988 Calgary Games and in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway. Laviolette was the only NCAA Division 3 player on both teams and earned the prestigious honor of being named captain of the 1994 Team USA squad. He was the head coach of the US Olympic team at the 2006 Olympics and the 2014 World Championships.

Bogan, who passed away in 1997, served as the Owls athletic director from 1963-95, was selected as a founding member of the league along with state college trustee Howard C. Smith and former Boston State College athletic Director James Sullivan, as the trio who helped found the MASCAC in 1971. Bogan was inducted into the Westfield State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, served as the MASCAC commissioner from 1980-1990, and was actively involved in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. He was on the association's executive committee from 1976 to 1980; the secretary from 1980-85; and the parliamentarian from 1985 until his death in July of 1997.

"This is an exciting day for our conference as we announce our first-ever MASCAC Hall of Fame Class," MASCAC Commissioner Angela Baumann said. "The MASCAC has over 45 years of rich history and we are excited to have the opportunity to recognize the achievements of those that helped to shape our conference and help it excel."

There are five categories for nomination: student-athlete from a men's team, student-athlete from a women's team, overall team, and administrator/coach.
The inductees will be recognized with a formal MASCAC Hall of Fame induction in conjunction with an athletic event at their institution during the 2018-19 academic year.

Full MASCAC Release - http://www.mascac.com/Hall_of_Fame/2018/Hall_of_Fame_2018