Tom Upton will be entering his third season on the Laker coaching staff. Upton assists all aspects of the program, with a focus on recruiting, prescout, penalty kill and player development, specifically but not limited to forwards.
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During the 2017-18 season, the Lakers won the regular season AHA title. Mercyhurst was 33rd in the country on the penalty kill with 80.65 percent. The Lakers were eighth in the country in team offense with 3.35 goals per game. Mercyhurst won five All-Conference team awards, two individual awards and Coach of the Year.
Upton, a native of Austin, Texas. spent his college career with Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2006-10. During his time with the Pointers, he appeared in 89 games while recording two goals and 11 assists for 13 points.
During his professional playing career, Upton scored one goal in five games with the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League.
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He then began his coaching career during the 2010-11 season, with his alma mater at UWSP. He served as an assistant coach for three seasons (2010-13). During that time, he recruited a team that made three straight Division III Frozen Four appearances while earning two National Championship runner-up finishes and one National Championship title.
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During the 2013-14 season, he became an assistant coach for the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders of the United States Hockey League. He spent one season with the Rough Riders before becoming the general manager and head coach of the Minnesota Magicians of the North American Hockey League. While with the Magicians, he led the team to its first post season appearance in program history. After two seasons with the Magicians, he became the assistant coach for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. During that time Upton help scout and draft a team that was named the 2017-18 Eastern Conference Champions and Runner-Up for the Clark Cup Finals.Â
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Upton, resides in Fairview, Pa., with his wife Sarah and son Briggs.
