Scout Bio
Bryan Vines was hired as the head coach for the women's hockey program in June of 2017. Previously, he was an assistant coach for the men's team for eight seasons.
In his first year as head coach, Vines led the Engineers to a 9-19-6 record that featured 11 games decided by one goal. Instilling a mentality of toughness throughout the lineup, his first year was highlighted by a winning record against Ivy League competition in which RPI recorded series wins against Princeton, Yale and Brown. Rensselaer hoisted the inaugural Mayor’s Cup after defeating Union 2-1 and goaltender Lovisa Selander was named to the All-ECAC Hockey Second Team.
In 2018-19, Rensselaer posted the most conference wins in over a decade, finishing 14-18-5 overall (10-11-1 ECAC Hockey) and clinching a spot in the league quarterfinals with a road win over No. 5 Princeton. RPI then made history by becoming the first No. 8 seed to earn an ECAC Hockey playoff game win, battling top-seeded and fourth-ranked Cornell to a third and decisive third game.
Forward Blake Orosz established the program's Division I single-season record with 17 goals, while Selander, a senior captain, capped an illustrious career by setting the NCAA career saves record (4,167) and becoming the first from RPI to be named a Top 10 Finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. She was also named the conference's Goaltender of the Year, All-League First Team and CCM/AHCA All-America First Team. Along with making her international debut with the Swedish National Team, she became the first Vines-era player drafted to professional hockey as a fourth round pick by the NWHL’s Boston Pride. Prior to stepping behind the bench of the women’s program, Vines oversaw the defensive and penalty killing units for Rensselaer's men’s team from 2009-17. Among his accomplishments were recruiting and developing five All-Americans, six NHL players, two ECAC Hockey Players of the Year, eight All-ECAC Hockey players and two ECAC Hockey Rookies of the Year.
Vines contributed to RPI’s highest ECAC Hockey finish in 20 years in 2013. Additionally, Rensselaer won three conference playoff series and returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2011 for the first time in 16 years, finishing with a 20-13-5 record.
Vines’ NCAA coaching success began in his first position as a volunteer assistant with the men’s program at Miami (Ohio) in 2008-09. The Red Hawks posted the best season in program history, posting 23 wins en route to its first NCAA Frozen Four appearance. The team’s run ended in the NCAA Championship game, falling in an overtime thriller Bryan Vinesto Boston University. Vines spent three years with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL as a video coach. In that role he was responsible for video analysis, scouting, and on-ice development, working with NHL Hall of Famers Joe Sakic, Rob Blake and Peter Forsberg as well as greats Pierre Turgeon and Milan Hejduk. Serving on the staff of Joel Quenneville, Vines helped the Avalanche reach the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in two seasons.
As a defenseman at the University of Denver, Vines captained the team in the 2001-02 season when it won the WCHA regular season championship, the playoff championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. He was the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award — the third of his career — as well as the Most Inspirational Player Award and the Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year for all DU student-athletes.
A multiple WCHA All-Academic selection, Vines graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with an emphasis in public relations. He went on to play in both the WCHL and the ECHL, winning the Taylor Cup with the San Diego Gulls in his rookie year.