Doug Christiansen
Commissioner
Christiansen was named Commissioner by the ECAC Hockey athletics administrators in June 2023 after serving as Deputy Commissioner of the USHL.
In his role as commissioner, Christiansen oversees the overall management and operation of ECAC Hockey, including, but not limited to league scheduling, finances, officiating, championships and sponsorship fulfillment.
Christiansen is a seasoned hockey professional, serving in a range of roles over the past two decades, including player, coach, general manager, administrator, advisor and speaker. A proven leader, he will bring a wealth of experience, a growth mindset and a vast network to ECAC Hockey.
Player development has been the cornerstone of Christiansen’s career with roles that have consistently placed him at the forefront of the ever-changing hockey landscape. He is currently a member of the USA Hockey Junior Council, which oversees Junior Hockey in the United States, and has spearheaded a series of collaborative initiatives with the NHL focused on DEI, mental health and player safety.
During his time with the USHL, Christiansen presented at the NHL Leadership Summit and has spoken to over 18,000 players, coaches, advisors and parents. As the new face of ECAC Hockey, Christiansen is well-prepared to raise the profile of the Conference through targeted speaking engagements, creative social media campaigns and strategic partnerships.
In addition to an earlier stint in the USHL as Director of Player Development and Recruitment (2014-18), Christiansen spent four seasons (2018-2022) as a General Manager and Head Coach in the ECHL, beginning with the Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings) followed by three seasons with the Indy Fuel (Chicago Blackhawks).
Following his professional hockey playing career, Christiansen served as a Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for seven seasons in the United Kingdom’s Elite League, which included a league championship in 2012, two-time Coach of the Year honors, and an appointment as Head Coach of Team Great Britain for the IIHF World Championships. Perhaps most notably, Christiansen spent three seasons coaching the Belfast Giants and looks forward to returning to Northern Ireland for the Belpot Tournament and Friendship Series.
Christiansen earned his Master's Degree in Sports Business Management from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor's Degree at Union College. His family’s ties to league member institutions run deep as his brother, Jeff, was also a hockey player at Union College (2010), his wife, Meghan, was a basketball player at Yale (2003) and his brother-in-law Brian was a basketball player at Harvard (2006). He currently resides in Carmel, Indiana with his wife Meghan and their two children and plans to relocate to the Northeast later this year.
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Nick Sczerbinski
Associate Commissioner
Sczerbinski was named Associate Commissioner in July of 2022, and oversees the conference's brand exposure, social media, and website, among other responsibilities.
Sczerbinski has spent the past six years at Quinnipiac, serving as associate athletic director for athletic communications since 2018. Prior to serving in his current role, Sczerbinski served two years as assistant director of marketing and fan engagement. A 2014 graduate of Quinnipiac, Sczerbinski also spent time at Emmanuel College (MA) and the University of Rhode Island.
Sczerbinski, who received his MBA from Quinnipiac in 2020, lives in Connecticut with his wife, Katie.
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Bryan Hicks
Director of Women's Officiating
Hicks was hired as Director of Women's Hockey Officiating in June of 2019 after a long career as an on-ice official within ECAC Hockey. He is responsible for assigning and reviewing the officiating group for the 12-team women's league.
Since starting with ECAC Hockey in 2007, Hicks has accrued over 400 men's and women's games as an on-ice official, including a number of league championship games, NCAA Tournament games, and a pair of Women's National Title games in 2013 and 2016. He's also served as the Director of Officiating for World TeamTennis since 2005, implementing instant-replay technology during his time in that role.
Hicks received his Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management from Neumann College, and has earned a Master's Degrees in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix.
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Patrick Dapuzzo
Senior Advisor
Patrick Dapuzzo, who enjoyed a very successful 24-year career as an on-ice official in the National Hockey League (NHL), provides his hockey expertise and wealth of experience to ECAC Hockey by serving as the Senior Advisor, Director of Hockey Operations for Commissioner Stephen Hagwell. He has served ECAC Hockey since 2008
A native of Hoboken, New Jersey, Dapuzzo began his officiating career at the young age of 17. He worked in the ECAC; the North American Hockey League (NAHL), which is now the ECHL; and the American Hockey League (AHL) before working his way to the highest level of the sport - the NHL. A career that commenced in 1984-85, Dapuzzo worked 1,532 NHL regular-season contests, in addition to 67 postseason games and two NHL All-Star Games (1994 and 2008). He also was assigned to the 1991 Canada Cup and worked the final game, USA versus Canada in Hamilton Ontario.
Dapuzzo’s hockey experience is not limited to officiating. He also has served as a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2010 through 2016. Dapuzzo also has a wealth of coaching experience, guiding Major-level teams for 25 years. He is also a member of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award committee.
Dapuzzo and his wife, Lisa, reside in Rutherford, New Jersey. They have three sons - Anthony, Patrick and Nicholas.