Longtime Canisius hockey coach Dave Smith is leaving the program to take the head coaching job at RPI, 7 Eyewitness Sports Reporter Nick Filipowski has learned.
Can confirm reports of #Canisius Hockey HC Dave Smith heading to RPI men's hockey, as their next head coach. (1/) @WKBW
— Nick Filipowski (@NICK_WKBW) April 4, 2017
Hearing assistant Trevor Large will be named interim head coach for #Griffs hockey (2/) @WKBW
— Nick Filipowski (@NICK_WKBW) April 4, 2017
NHL.com's Joe Yerdon was first to report the move.
Smith had been the head coach of the Griffs the past 12 years and helped guide to a nation leading 17-game unbeaten streak before falling in the Atlantic Hockey Championship to Robert Morris.
During the 2012-2013 season, Smith and the Griffs won the AHC tournament and earned a berth to the program's first NCAA Tournament.
According to a source, assistant Trevor Large, who has been with Canisius the past three seasons, is expected to be named the interim head coach