Beginning his Catamount coaching career as a Volunteer Assistant Coach is former Colorado College player Mark Stuart. Stuart is a veteran of 673 NHL contests along with another 150 professional games across the globe. Stuart is a graduate of the USNTDP program and was a 2003 first round draft pick of the Boston Bruins. During his time with the US National Program, he served as a team captain, helping the US win its first ever World Junior Gold Medal in 2004 and another Gold Medal at the U18 level. His leadership was further recognized when he was named assistant captain of the Winnipeg Jets and team captain for the US at 2012 IIHF World Hockey Championships.
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"Often as a coach, you learn more from the players than they learn from you," stated Woodcroft. "Working with Mark in Winnipeg and watching him approach his career as if every day were his last was something that always stood out to me. When the process to hire a coaching staff began, the question started with a "what" versus a "who". Mark hit every aspect of the "what" and I know that his approach to this job will be reflective of everything I ever saw from Mark as a professional - he will earn the right to represent this team every single day. Players can expect to learn daily from Mark what it takes to be a professional - on and off the ice."