Army West Point Athletics
Zach McKelvie Inducted into Atlantic Hockey Hall of Fame
October 11, 2022 | Hockey
WINTHROP, Mass – Army West Point Hockey Associate Head Coach Zach McKelvie has been inducted into the Atlantic Hockey Association Hall of Fame, announced today by the conference.Â
Now entering his ninth season on the coaching staff, McKelvie enjoyed one of the most successful playing careers in Army Hockey and Atlantic Hockey history from 2005-09.Â
The Atlantic Hockey Association is celebrating its 20th season of competition in 2022-23 with the recognition of the top 20 players from the conference's first two decades. This distinguished group will also comprise the first class of inductees into the Atlantic Hockey Hall of Honor. The honorees will be revealed weekly during the 2022-23 regular season, as McKelvie becomes the third inductee in the inaugural class.Â
"It's special to be recognized like this by our league," said McKelvie. "The growth of Atlantic Hockey and the quality of its players has been tremendous, so to be considered in a category with some of the guys that I played against and later coached against is an honor. Coach Riley and his staff were the only program to recruit me and give me an opportunity to develop. Coach Rob Haberbusch worked with me every day at West Point and I wouldn't be the player that I was without their belief. There was nothing better than being a part of the hockey team at West Point."Â
A native of New Brighton, Minn., McKelvie was a two-time Atlantic Hockey Association First Team selection for the Black Knights on the blueline. He was the captain as a senior and an assistant captain as a junior. He finished his career with 56 points on 14 goals and 42 assists. McKelvie had back-to-back 17-point seasons in his final two years and was rewarded in 2008 as the league's Defenseman of the Year. Â One of his biggest goals came against Sacred Heart in 2008 when he netted the game-winner in a 3-2 win to secure the regular season title for Army.
Following the season, he received team MVP honors along with a significant off-ice award from the Academy – the Mike Krzyzewski Teaching Character Through Sports Award. The award is presented annually to "West Point athletes and coaches for their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership." He was honored as a member of the AHA 10th Anniversary Team, which was announced in 2013. McKelvie was signed by the Boston Bruins organization after his senior season in 2009. He then served two years of active duty as an Infantry Officer before officially starting his professional career in the Calgary Flames organization in 2011.Â
"What a great and deserving honor for one of the best defensemen to ever put on an Army hockey jersey," said Army head coach Brian Riley. "Zach possessed so many great qualities as a player that made him stand out. His skating ability was elite, and he had a passion to compete and win that was off the charts. As I look back, I think the one thing that I will always remember about Zach as a player is what an amazing leader he was. I'm so grateful for the positive impact Zach made on the program during his time here as a player."Â
Through eight seasons on the coaching staff alongside Riley, McKelvie has helped Army earn 117 wins since returning to Post ahead of the 2014-15 season.
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