Holy Cross Hockey player, Patrick Rissmiller, earns historical recognition with retired jersey.

Holy Cross Field Hockey and Ice Hockey Shine, Rissmiller Honoured

The Holy Cross athletic department is off to a strong start this season, with both the Women's Field Hockey team and the Men's Ice Hockey team making headlines.

The Women's Field Hockey team has started their season in fine form, currently boasting a 2-1 record. Their victories against Stonehill College and Long Island University have set a positive tone for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, the Men's Ice Hockey team has two of its seniors, Thomas Gale and Liam McLinskey, nominated for the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award. This accolade is given annually to the top NCAA hockey player, with the 2024 winner set to be announced in April. Liam McLinskey has been confirmed as a finalist for the award.

The Men's Ice Hockey team's success story is closely linked to Patrick Rissmiller '02, who had his jersey number (12) retired by the team on January 3, 2024. During his time at Holy Cross, Rissmiller was the top scorer for the Crusaders, breaking the record for the highest number of assists in a single season in program history. He scored 143 points in 53 goals and 90 assists across his career, and was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year in the 2001-2002 season.

Rissmiller's achievements did not stop at Holy Cross. He followed his North American career with 2 seasons playing for Ritten-Renon in the Italian Serie A (now the Alps Hockey League). He also had a successful career in the AHL, where he appeared twice as an All-Star player (2006 and 2010). In total, he played 13 years of professional hockey, playing 192 games in the NHL. His number 12 was retired in honour of his success during both his Holy Cross and professional careers.

Notably, Courtney McKeen '27 serves as the Sports Editor for the Holy Cross student newspaper.

At present, there is no public information about any other players from the Men's Ice Hockey team having their jersey numbers retired this year.

The Women's Field Hockey team, on the other hand, has not yet been mentioned in relation to any retired jerseys or individual player achievements.

The 2001-2002 season was a particularly memorable one for Rissmiller, as he was also named to the All-MAAC first team that year.

The Hobey Baker winner will not be announced until April 2024. Until then, the Holy Cross community will continue to cheer on their athletes, hoping for more successes to come.

Holy Cross Hockey player, Patrick Rissmiller, earns historical recognition with retired jersey.