Brendon Knight - Ice Hockey Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

Brendon Knight

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
bcknight@syr.edu
Phone:
2259

Brendon Knight joined the program prior to the 2012-13 season after a six-year appointment as the head coach of the Hamilton College women’s ice hockey team. During his 10 years on the Syracuse staff, the Orange have played in two NCAA Tournaments, won two College Hockey America Tournament championships, one CHA regular season title and the 2022 Battle at the Burgh championship. Knight was promoted to associate head coach before the 2019-20 season.

Knight has mentored nine Orange forwards who have earned a total of 15 All-CHA honors and six who were selected for individual CHA awards, including Player of the Year (Melissa Piacentini, 2016), Rookie of the Year (Stephanie Grossi, 2015 and Lauren Bellefontaine, 2019) and Best Defensive Forward (Margot Scharfe, 2013; Jessica Sibley, 2016; Grossi, 2018; Abby Moloughney, 2021; and Bellefontaine, 2022). The Orange have recorded at least 20 power-play goals in seven of his 10 seasons. With his assistance, the Orange celebrated their first CHA Tournament Title, and subsequently their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, in 2019. In 2022, the Orange won the program's first CHA regular season championship, the league tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Knight spent six years as the head coach of the Hamilton College women’s ice hockey team. While there he led the team to 57 wins and six postseason appearances. He coached a 2012 NESCAC women’s ice hockey all-conference team selection, four NESCAC winter all-academic team members, and a NESCAC winter all-sportsmanship honoree. His roster also included the 2010 NESAC Rookie of the Year, and Knight mentored the program’s first All-American and its first NESCAC Player of the Year in 2008-09. The 2008-09 season also featured Hamilton players who led the NESCAC in goals, points and power-play goals. In his first season with the team, Knight won his first postseason game, a first-round battle in the the NESCAC Tournament.

Knight began his time at Hamilton as an assistant men’s hockey coach for the 2005-06 season. Prior to arriving at Hamilton, Knight was an assistant at his alma mater, SUNY Potsdam, from 2002 to 2005. He helped lead the Bears to three postseason appearances and was responsible for the majority of the program’s recruiting duties; he helped recruit a conference rookie of the year and a conference player of the year.

Knight played three seasons at Potsdam (1998-2001). He scored 21 goals and registered 43 assists in 66 career games and helped the Bears reach the conference final in 2000 and 2001. Knight lettered both seasons and was selected to play in the 2001 East/West Senior All-Star game. He earned a spot on the SUNYAC Commissioner’s List for athletic and academic success that same year.

Knight went on to play in the English National Premier League for the Isle of Wight Raiders during 2001-02. He scored 27 goals and assisted on 40 others in 44 games. Knight played in the Central Junior Hockey League for the Cornwall Colts Junior “A” from 1996 to 1998. He finished in the top 10 in scoring both seasons and played in the league’s all-star game twice. Knight was a second team all-league selection his final season. He ended up with 153 points in 120 games. Knight was drafted by the Beauport Harfangs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at 16 years old.

Knight graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business economics and a minor in French from Potsdam in 2001. He completed his master’s in instructional communication and technology from the school in 2005. He and his wife, Rachael, have two daughters, Elouise and Genevieve.