Tom Peffall is set to succeed Rick Gotkin as Mercyhurst University men's hockey coach after Gotkin announced his retirement following 38 seasons. Peffall, currently the top assistant, will become the program's third head coach in the 2025-26 season. Gotkin cited reasons including the university's centennial and his upcoming retirement age for stepping down. Peffall, who played junior and collegiate hockey, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from Gotkin and acknowledged the challenges of navigating NCAA athletics changes like NIL and the transfer portal.
Peffall's coaching experience includes serving as an assistant at Stevenson University, where he learned from coach Dominick Dawes. He highlighted the need for ongoing learning and adaptation in the evolving landscape of college sports. Peffall is optimistic about the NCAA's recent decision allowing Canadian Hockey League players to enroll, signaling readiness for the upcoming challenges according to Gotkin.