Michael Barrett was named the eighth head coach in the history of the Nichols College women’s ice hockey program during the summer of 2021.
This past season the Bison amassed five conference wins, surpassing last season win total, while competing for a playoff spot until the final game of the year. Barrett and the Bison saw sophomore Anneliese Klein earn an All-Conference Second Team selection. Barrett's team improved in almost every category including ranking 3rd in in the conference for power-play percentage (16.7%) and fourth on the penalty kill (84.6%). Nichols saw conference wins over Curry College, Johnson & Wales (twice), Suffolk, and UNE in the final game of the season. Barrett saw four members of his team earn weekly honors as well, graduate student Grace Melanson and sophomore Ema Jaskova earned Player of the Week honors, while senior McKeznie Muir earned Goalie of the Week honors, and freshman Angalisa Caceda grabbed a Rookie of the Week nod.
In the 2023-24 season, the Bison upset #15 Endicott 2-1 in overtime on the first weekend of CCC play. Nichols saw two players earn CCC weekly honors, including Anamary Pulgar earn CCC Goalie of the Week and freshmen Victoria Khou named CCC Rookie of the Week as well.
In the 2022-23 season the Bison finished the year with five wins, with wins over CCC opponents and a win in the consolation game in the Bethel University (Minnesota) Showcase on January 6, over Concordia Wisconsin, 4-1.
In his first season behind the bench in 2021-22, the Bison established program records for wins (16), fewest losses (9), and consecutive wins (6). They won the second playoff game in program history with a 3-2 OT triumph against Salve Regina and closed the season with single-season records for goals/game (3.23), goals (84), assists (114), points (198), PP goals (22), and fewest goals against (47). Two student-athletes – Alicia Hunks and Victoria Bakopanos – received Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) All-Conference honors while 12 more were named to the academic all-conference team.
Barrett spent the better part of the last 30 years as a member of the Quinnipiac University athletic department, most recently as the Director of Athletic and School of Communications Development (2017-21). He began his tenure in Hamden as an assistant coach with the men’s ice hockey program (1985-92) and later took over the head coaching reigns of the women’s ice hockey program, where he spent six seasons. Barrett took over a women’s program in its second year of varsity competition and guided it to a pair of 10+ win seasons, highlight by 11 in 2003-04.
Barrett – who worked as a color analyst on QU women’s and men’s broadcasts from 2008-19 – began his collegiate coaching career at Sacred Heart in 2000 when he took over a women’s team that was transitioning from Division III to Division I. He later served as Vice President (2004-06) and President (2006-08) of the American Women’s Hockey Coaches Association.
Originally from Warwick, Rhode Island, Barrett cut his teeth in coaching at the high school level, making stops at Milford (1992-94), North Haven (1994-97), and Lyman Hall (1997-2000). He holds a lifetime Level 5 coaching certification from USA Hockey.
During the summer from 2002 through 2007, Barrett was a co-coach of the USA Women’s National Development Camp in Lake Placid, evaluating players and running both practices and games. Barrett also spent time coaching with the Connecticut Polar Bears women’s ice hockey program (2010-16) and, in 2017, he was the head coach for the Connecticut Shoreline Sharks U-19 squad.
A four-year member of the Bobcats men’s ice hockey team, Barrett served as captain in both his junior (1983-84) and senior (1984-85) seasons. He led QU with 38 points as a senior and was voted both Team MVP and the college’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete. Barrett finished his career with 126 points and his 62 career goals are currently 10th all-time. He was inducted into the Quinnipiac University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.
