Lichterman is new UM women’s hockey coach

Dan Lichterman observed that the University of Maine women’s hockey team allowed five or more goals in 11 of its 31 games this past season. Maine lost all 11 en route to a 10-19-2 season (5-14-2 in Hockey East).

Lichterman, who was named as the head coach of the women’s hockey team Tuesday, said that is one of the first things he intends to address.

Lichterman is replacing interim head coach Lauren Steblen, who didn’t apply. Terms of the contract are still being finalized.

“It’s too hard to win track meets,” said the 34-year-old Lichterman, who spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Minnesota State University (Mankato) where he worked primarily with the team’s defensemen and devised their defensive systems and penalty kill.

Minnesota State went 16-17-2 overall, 12-14-2 in the WCHA.

“We’re going to be a tough team to play against,” said Lichterman. “We’re going to limit Grade-A [high-percentage] scoring chances and second chances. We have some talented offensive players and we’ll certainly get after it offensively. But, still, all five players will be coming back to play defense.”

Maine left winger Pam Patterson has talked to Lichterman and said, “that’s the best way to start. We did let up too many goals. We have to work on defense before we worry about offense.

“He sounds like a real nice guy. It seems like you can talk to him but he also had a sense of authority and we need that. We need discipline,” said Patterson.

Lichterman said he intends to videotape practices as well as games “to make it a teaching and learning environment. When kids leave as seniors, they will be way better than they were as freshmen.”

He is excited about the opportunity, saying, “I wish the season started tomorrow.”

The St. Louis Park, Minn., native will recruit players with character as well as talent.

“You have to find kids who are going to fit into your philosophy,” said Lichterman. “If you have a team full of talented kids who don’t play together, it’s not going to do you a whole lot of good.”

He feels he has plenty to sell future recruits.

“There’s no better hockey name in the country than the University of Maine with all the success the men’s team has had, with all the [11] Frozen Fours. Whenever you go anywhere and mention the University of Maine, they know it’s a hockey school in a hockey-crazed area,” said Lichterman.

Lichterman played hockey at the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) and earned a journalism degree. He was the hockey director at the Fox Valley Ice Arena (Ill.) and assisted current UMaine men’s assistant Guy Perron with the North American Hockey League’s Chicago Freeze.

Lichterman also developed a five-team girls hockey organization in Chicago.

“I think people will be impressed with what he can get done,” said Perron. “He’s creative and he has a good knowledge of the game. He has always worked hard. He loves the game. He’s very personable.”

Minnesota State head coach Jeff Vizenor said Lichterman will do a “great job” at Maine.

“He’s an excellent teacher. And he’s very good with video,” added Vizenor.

Lichterman and his wife, Shari, have a son A.J.