Yep- the Brian Kaufman, the same one who captained the ‘Hawks to the Frozen Four two years ago. It was announced on Monday that Kaufy will be joining the Miami coaching staff this season as a volunteer assistant, after a disappointing stint (mainly due to injury) in professional hockey. Here’s Rico on what he believes Kaufman will bring to the table:

“Brian was a big part of our program as a player and we’re excited to have him as one of the staff members. I think he’ll bring a lot to the table. He’s well-respected and understands the game and the leadership aspect. All of those qualities that he possesses will help our program continue to evolve into a consistent program where we’re playing at a high level.” (MURedHawks.com)

Gotta agree with that. Those who knew Brian know of the great hockey mind he possesses, after all he was a high school quarterback in Minnesota before attending Miami. I personally feel that Brian will make a great coach because of this and that the Miami hockey program will only benefit from his presence. It’s always nice when former players return and make the program all that much better and Kaufman is most certainly on the right path to following the footsteps of some Miami alums who have made their way behind the bench.