HockeyEastOnline.com - Hockey East Staff

KATHY WYNTERS - ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER

Kathy Wynters is entering her seventh season as Associate Commissioner, eigthteenth year overall with the conference. As Joe Bertagna's chief assistant, her primary responsibilities include the day-to-day operations of both the men's and women's leagues, along with the administration of tournaments and special events, marketing and branding initiatives, and the licensing and sponsorship programs. Prior to her promotion, Wynters served Hockey East as Director of Marketing and Special Events from 2002-06.

Wynters was the driving force behind the creation of both "Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer" and the Hockey East Kids' Club. In five years, the Skating Strides program has raised almost $200,00 for breast cancer awareness and research, while at the same time increased attendance at women's hockey games and gave the student-athletes the opportunity to give back to the communities in which they study and play hockey. In 2012, the league raised a single-season record of $45,215 for breast cancer charities. "Skating Strides" was nationally recognized twice (2007 & 2009) by NACDA/NACMA with medals for "Single Day Attendance Promotion of an Olympic Sport".

During Kathy's tenure, the Hockey East corporate sponsorship program has grown to include several new partnerships, many breaking ground beyond traditional hockey companies. In addition, the Hockey East licensing program has also expanded to include many new licensees, as well as increased revenues from licensed merchandise, including an expanded offering at the conference championships. Kathy is instrumental in both the marketing efforts and logistical operations behind Hockey East's special events, including two Frozen Fenway events and the 10th Anniversary celebration.

Wynters previously served Hockey East as Assistant Commissioner during the late 80's and early 90's, before going on to work for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL, spending three years as a Marketing Director, coordinating licensing and souvenir merchandising. Wynters also spent five years as marketing manager for PictureTel Corporation. A native of Quincy, MA, the former Kathy Walsh earned a B.S. degree in marketing from Providence College in 1982. She began her career while an undergraduate, as a three-year intern with the men's hockey team. Following graduation, she served the Friars in two capacities; first as Assistant Sports Information Director and then as Director of Athletic Marketing.

While at PC, and before Hockey East had a full-time staff, Wynters worked with former PC athletic director, and then Commissioner, Lou Lamoriello on the launch of the conference in 1983, and then coordinated the first three Hockey East championship tournaments (1985-87). She also managed the 1986 NCAA Men's Frozen Four at the Providence Civic Center, co-hosted by Brown and Providence College. In 1988, Wynters left her position at PC and moved over to Hockey East on a full-time basis. Among her earlier accomplishments at Hockey East, Wynters worked with Joe Bertagna in coordinating the first and only "Hockeyfest" events, combining the ECAC and Hockey East championships into single weekend events from 1989-91.

Kathy and her husband Chuck (a retired on-ice official for Hockey East), are the parents of two: daughter Annie (20), a junior at the College of the Holy Cross, and son C.J. (19), a sophomore at Bridgewater State University. The Wynters family resides in Waltham.

PETER SOURIS - DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Pete Souris enters his sixth season with the conference office and was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in the summer of 2010.

Souris has played a key role in securing a regional radio contract with 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston and was instrumental in the signing of a national television agree with the CBS Sports Network in the fall of 2010.

He was very involved in the 25th anniversary celebration, as he oversaw the production of the league's 25th anniversary DVD and has played an integral role in the improvements to hockeyeastonline. com over the last two years.

Souris had been affiliated with the UNH athletic department for 12 years since he was a student in the mid-1990's. After earning his BS in Kinesiology: Sport Studies in December of 2001, Souris was promoted to the post of assistant director of media relations the following summer, and three years later was named associate director. In 2006, he also assumed responsibility for managing the department's web site (unhwildcats.com).

In addition to serving as the primary media contact for the UNH men's hockey team for seven seasons, Souris was the lead contact for the school's women's volleyball team for 10 years. Souris also served as primary media coordinator for the NCAA men's hockey Northeast Regionals in Manchester, NH, in 2004 and 2007. He has also worked the last 11 Frozen Fours, dating back to 1999-2000.

Souris is was a member of the New England Patriots gameday media relations staff from 2008 to 2011, working as a member of the statcrew. He also does freelance television work as a associate producer- graphics coordinator, scorebug operator and statistician. Souris is currently in his third season serving as the video replay technician for the Boston Bruins.

Souris, a 1995 graduate of Beverly High School, resides in Beverly, Mass.

KRISTEN BLAKE - 2012-2013 Intern

Blake, a 2012 graduate of Northeastern University, will assist in dayto- day operations in both the men's and women's league in the Wakefield office. Blake, a Canton, Mass. native, was a standout midfielder on the Huskies' women's soccer team for four seasons (2007- 2010), including the 2010 season as team captain. She finished her Northeastern career playing in 76 games, recording five goals and six assists. In 2010, Blake was honored as a CAA Second-Team selection and was also bestowed CAA Third-Team honors and in 2009.

While at Northeastern, Blake served on the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and was named to the Dean's List six times. She graduated in May of 2012 with a bachelors degree in Political Science. She was also named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-East Region Scholar in 2011.

In the summer of 2011, Blake was the voice behind "Huskies Unleashed", a mini series following the lives of the Northeastern women's soccer team during their two-week long preseason. The series allowed for an inside look into the different elements necessary for the team to be fully prepared for their 2011 season. Blake also served as a color commentator for two Huskies' regular season games in the fall of 2011.

History of Hockey East's Intern Program

1st – 2006-07: Scott Donnelly (Providence); now Director of Athletic Marketing at UMass-Lowell

2nd – 2007-08: Andrew Bartlett (Providence); now working at St. Sebastian's

3rd – 2008-09: Elizabeth Fierman (Boston University); worked as SID at UMass-Lowell, now working at ESPN

4th – 2009-10: Stephanie Bambury (St. Mike's grad, but worked at Vermont as a jr & sr); also did an internship with Red Sox after HE; now Interim Director of Athletic Marketing at Dartmouth

5th – 2010-11: Greg Rosa (Boston College); now Director of Marketing for Manchester (NH) Monarchs (AHL Hockey)

6th – 2011-12: Andrew Zagorianakos (Maine); now Asst Equipment Manager at Boston College

7th – 2012-13: Kristen Blake (Northeastern)

DAVE LEZENSKI - SUPERVISOR OF OFFICIALS

Dave Lezenski has worked with Hockey East for the past seven seasons, assisting the Supervisor of Officials for the first four seasons and was promoted as the Supervisor of Officials for the women¹s league in the fall of 2009. Lezenski also works for the NCAA during the men¹s and women¹s national tournaments with video replay and officials evaluation. The former NIHOA and ECAC veteran official is a native of Lynn, Mass. Professionally, he serves as a Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health in Billerica Public Schools and is actively involved with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. Lezenski resides in Lowell, Mass.