McGuane: the soul behind RPI hockey

Katie Hoffman Staff Writer

Next time you attend a men’s hockey game, look beyond the game and look towards the bench. Behind the relentless dedication of the players, beside the coaches’ acute focus, stands Dana McGuane, the man who holds the team together. Here is a guy who puts his heart and soul into RPI hockey—into the players, into the game, and into the program as a whole.

In his fourth year as Rensselaer’s hockey equipment manager, McGuane can best be described as a “mom” for both the men’s and women’s hockey teams. His roll carries over to the coaching staff, the rink staff, and even the work-study students. From equipment procurement, to equipment repair, skate sharpening, and every aspect of travel planning, McGuane does it all. Like a nurturing parent, he is there for the players and staff at every turn. Assistant Coach Jim Montgomery says, “[McGuane] is one of the best, most professional, and most organized equipment managers I have ever seen. He makes life easy for the players and for the coaches. If you need something, he has it in your locker or desk before you even ask for it. He is the glue that keeps the team together, and he keeps us sane around here.”

McGuane has had a fulfilling career in hockey. He started out as the student trainer and manager for his college hockey team, and also worked in the minor leagues in Roanoke, Virginia, for the Roanoke Express. He was there for three seasons. In 1995, he was picked up by the New Jersey Devils and assigned to the Albany River Rats, their AHL affiliate, to be equipment manager. In the spring of 1999, McGuane was pulled up to the New Jersey Devils, the same year the team won the Stanley Cup. The team was the first to receive a platinum ring for winning the cup. Even though it was an amazing experience, the major league experience came with a lot of sacrifice, and with a new family, McGuane wanted to spend more time at home. He returned to Albany to work for the lacrosse company deBeer as a purchase manager for three years.

In 2003, he became the part-time equipment manager for RPI hockey. His skills quickly revealed themselves. He proved to be irreplaceable and was offered a full-time position.

Reed Kipp, who is a sophomore defenseman on the Rensselaer hockey team, can best describe the dedication and love McGuane has for RPI hockey and the players. “There’s so much you can say about [McGuane], it’s hard to know where to start. A class act from start to finish; here is a guy who could still be working with professional hockey players, but has made a decision to be with our program, and as players we’re extremely lucky to have him. He puts in countless hours for us, [he’s] the first guy at the rink in the morning and the last to leave at night. He looks after our equipment, plans our team meals, and even finds time to make up jokes and one-liners that he pulls on us during the week. [McGuane] has a great knowledge of the game and has some pretty amazing stories from his years in the pros—from working with the likes of future hall of fame inductees Scott Stevens and Martin Brodeur, to winning a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils. But the one story you won’t hear from [McGuane] is the one about him getting the players back for stealing his car last semester ... because he still doesn’t know who did it.”

McGuane enjoys watching hockey and spending time with his two children, Emma and Patrick. He is constantly joking with the team. In one instance last year, a few unknown team members moved his car to the top of the hill on Peoples Avenue. With all pranks aside, when he was asked what it is like to work with the guys on the team, he said, “There are a lot of great kids on the team. It’s enjoyable to meet smart guys that work hard both on and off the field.” His respect for the players and staff is only rivaled by the respect and appreciation they have for him in return.