Don Parsons has been the Head Coach of LVC's Men's Ice Hockey team since the 2011-12 season. Parsons and LVC jumped back into the NCAA Division III in 2016-17 after spending five years competing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association's Division I Conference.
In 2023-24, Parsons coached four players who were named to the All-MAC Team. Blake Tosto and Artem Mikhaylov were both selected to the First Team, while Jadon Lee and Jordan Stear were listed as Honorable Mentions. LVC also had 17 players honored on the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) All-Academic Team while two were named American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Krampade All-American Scholars. The Dutchmen finished the season 7-18-0.
In 2022-23, the Dutchmen finished 3-20-2. Blake Tosto received All-MAC Team honors, being listed as an honorable mention. Tosto also tied the program's single-game record for assists, recording three in the team's game against Manhattanville on Feb. 4. The program also had 14 players named to the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) All-Academic Team.
In 2021-22, LVC finished 6-17-1. Alex Borowiec and Blake Tosto each grabbed All-MAC Team honors, while Ty Franchi earned a spot on the UCHC All-Rookie Team.
In 2019-20, the Dutchmen finished 5-16-4. Parsons led Cole Hepler and Ziki Mroz to MAC Second-Team honors during the season.
In 2018-19, Parsons guided his squad to nine wins and a late run to earn a UCHC quarterfinal-round appearance for the second consecutive season. Brett Johnson was named the MAC's Player of the Year, while Cole Hepler, Bryan Hovanec, and Mike Straub garnered Second-Team honors. Additionally, Johnson earned an All-UCHC First Team nod.
In just his second season back in the NCAA, Parsons led the Dutchmen to a historic 2017-18 campaign. He guided LVC to a 10-4-2 UCHC mark and the third seed in the UCHC Championship Tournament, the squad's first NCAA-level conference playoff appearance since 2003-04. LVC won nine more conference games than the season before, and for his efforts, Parsons was named the inaugural UCHC Coach of the Year. Additionally, Parsons guided Brett Johnson to an All-UCHC Second Team Honor.
In their first season back in the NCAA, Parsons guided three skaters to the All-ECAC West team, including Cole Hepler, who was named the ECAC West Rookie of the Year and was put on the All-Rookie Team. Brad Nolan landed on the Second Team, while Mike Straub garnered All-Rookie recognition. LVC compiled a 4-19-2 overall record in 2016-17.
In 2015-16, the Dutchmen finished with an impressive overall record of 26-6. Led by eight seniors, the squad competed in the Elite Eight, ESCHL Championship and ACHA Division I National Championship Tournament. Accolades for the season included Bryan Hovanec being tabbed as the ESCHL Rookie of the Year and earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team. Mike Straub was also placed on the All-Rookie team. Junior Jake Thomas was voted to the All-Defensive Team, while seniors Adam Thomas, Gaige VandeZande, Andy Thurby, and PJ Hefferin earned spots on the ESCHL All-Academic Team.
In his fourth season in charge of Lebanon Valley College Ice Hockey in 2014-15, LVC finished the year with 16-12-1 overall mark and an ESCHL postseason tournament semifinal appearance. Under Parson’s watch, Andy Thurby earned ESCHL All-League Second-Team honors, junior PJ Hefferin was named to the ESCHL All-Defensive Team, and freshman Chase Wilson earned a spot on the ESCHL All-Rookie Team.
The 2013-14 season saw Parsons lead the Dutchmen to a 15-16-1 mark and earn the honor of ESCHL Coach of the Year in just his third season at the helm. Additionally, freshmen Joey LaBonte and Justin Boyd were named to the ESCHL All-Rookie Team.
In his second year at LVC, Parsons led the team to a 21-9 record and its second-straight appearance in the ECHA Championship Tournament. The 2012-13 season featured the third annual Military Appreciation Night and the Dutchmen Outdoor Classic played on outdoor ice at Hersheypark Stadium.
In his first season, the team finished 11-20 and reached the ECHA playoffs for the first time in club history. After topping Lehigh and the U.S. Naval Academy in the first two rounds of play, the Dutchmen were eliminated in the finals by Drexel.
In addition, two players earned conference individual awards. Cole Bell was selected to the All-ECHA second team, while Daniel Ramirez was named to the ACHA Division I All-Academic team.
A prolific scorer as a professional player, Parsons comes to Lebanon Valley having recently completed a 17-year playing career that saw him become the all-time leading goal scorer in minor league hockey history with 682 career goals. After spending four years playing at UMass-Lowell, Parsons spent time in various leagues including eight years in the East Coast Hockey League, six in the Central Hockey League, and four years in the International Hockey League. He also had two opportunities in the American Hockey League.
The two-time league and playoff most valuable player for the CHL, Parsons also received the Joe Burton Award in 2000-2001, given to the league's scoring champion.
Among his numerous on-ice accomplishments, Parsons spends a great deal of his time in charitable efforts. In 2002 he started Parsons Pledge, which has given over $150,000 to local charities. He also helped build an outdoor roller hockey rink with $200,000 in donations.
|
Overall |
|
|
|
Conf. |
|
|
|
|
| Year |
Won |
Loss |
Tie |
Pct. |
Won |
Loss |
Tie |
Pct. |
Accolades |
| 2011-12 |
11 |
20 |
0 |
.355 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
.429 |
ECHA Championship Game |
| 2012-13 |
21 |
9 |
0 |
.700 |
11 |
3 |
0 |
.786 |
ECHA Playoffs (Club) |
| 2013-14 |
15 |
17 |
0 |
.469 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
.429 |
ESCHL Semifinal (Club) |
| 2014-15 |
16 |
16 |
0 |
.500 |
7 |
8 |
0 |
.467 |
ESCHL Semifinal (Club) |
| 2015-16 |
26 |
7 |
0 |
.788 |
13 |
4 |
0 |
.765 |
ESCHL Championship / ACHA Elite Eight (Club) |
| 2016-17 |
4 |
21 |
0 |
.160 |
1 |
12 |
0 |
.083 |
|
| 2017-18 |
12 |
10 |
2 |
.542 |
10 |
4 |
2 |
.688 |
UCHC Quarterfinal |
| 2018-19 |
9 |
15 |
2 |
.417 |
7 |
9 |
2 |
.444 |
UCHC Quarterfinal |
| 2019-20 |
5 |
16 |
4 |
.280 |
3 |
11 |
4 |
.278 |
|
| 2020-21 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
.429 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
.429 |
|
| 2021-22 |
6 |
17 |
1 |
.292 |
5 |
12 |
1 |
.333 |
UCHC Quarterfinal |
| 2022-23 |
3 |
20 |
2 |
.200 |
2 |
17 |
1 |
.183 |
|
| 2023-24 |
7 |
18 |
0 |
.293 |
6 |
14 |
0 |
.317 |
|
| 13 Seasons |
137 |
189 |
13 |
.423 |
79 |
113 |
12 |
.417 |
