PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Reid Lesswing, who has experience on the coaching staffs at Fredonia and Castleton University, has been named an assistant men's ice hockey coach at Plattsburgh State, as announced Thursday by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation.
 
"Reid's an up-and-coming coach," Plattsburgh State head men's ice hockey coach Steve Moffat said. "He's a real players' coach, and he's got a great eye on the recruiting trail. Reid's somebody who just connects with players on a really good level, and he's not too far removed from playing the game, so he understands what they're going through on a day-to-day basis."
 
Lesswing spent the 2018-19 season as an assistant coach at Fredonia, helping the Blue Devils achieve a 15-8-4 overall record (8-6-2 SUNYAC) and the No. 5 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. He assisted head coach Jeff Meredith in many facets of the program's day-to-day operation, including scouting and game plans; oversight of a power-play unit that ranked sixth in NCAA Division III; evaluating, engaging contact with and yielding prospective student-athletes; breaking down and presenting video to the student-athletes; running individual skill sessions for student-athletes; emphasizing academic progress and helping with team fundraising and community service efforts.
 
Prior to Fredonia, he assisted at his alma mater, Castleton, from 2016-18. During his first year on staff in 2016-17, he helped the Spartans earn an 11-10-6 overall mark and advance to the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Tournament semifinals before falling to eventual national champion Norwich University. While working with head coach Bill Silengo, he worked specifically with the defensemen with individual skill work; broke down and presented video; arranged team travel and meals; assisted in recruiting efforts and grew the footprint of Castleton men's ice hockey in the Rutland, Vt., area.
 
As a defenseman at Castleton, he competed from 2010-14, recording 15 points on two goals and 13 assists in 98 games played. He was selected as a captain during his senior season in 2013-14, leading the Spartans to a 13-11-3 overall record. An Amherst, N.Y., native, Lesswing played his junior hockey for the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League (OJAHL).
 
After college, Lesswing played professionally for the Louisiana IceGators of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) and the Thorold Athletics of the Allan Cup Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).
 
"It means a lot to me to join the coaching staff at Plattsburgh State," Lesswing said. "Cardinal Hockey has a great, rich tradition, and I am excited to help build upon the success the program has had over the years. I'm also excited to work with and learn from Coach Moffat, who I played for during my senior year at Castleton."
 
Lesswing earned his Bachelor of Science in business management in 2014 and his Master of Science in athletic administration in 2018, both from Castleton.