When he is not teaching at WSU’s College of Education, John Lupinacci is busy leading the Cougar club hockey team, which has made three straight playoff appearances.
The Detroit native who has a doctorate in philosophy from Eastern Michigan University has a love and passion for coaching his WSU squad.
“It is good to be coaching guys who take it seriously and really balance school, social lives and being on the hockey team,” Lupinacci said. “Being there for one another, and spending all that time together playing hockey, but also getting their schoolwork done.”
His favorite memory from the 2024–25 season was when the team got to play in the Collegiate Classic in Winthrop, Washington. The Cougs came away with a 3-2 win over Western Washington University during the game, which was held outdoors last November.
Lupinacci has a special affinity for outdoor hockey.
“It was fun and it’s always great to return to the origins of the game and play outside,” Lupinacci said. “For a lot of people, pond hockey is where it all began. Being outside under the stars and the mountains over in Winthrop, it’s just great.”
Lupinacci’s career at WSU has been full of great memories, but the coach said he debates between two accomplishments: Leading the team to their first playoff appearance in 20 years in his first season and being awarded the Pacific Division Coach of the Year after the following season.
“We had a great season following the last year with a return to the playoffs and I won coach of the year, which is really a tribute to the whole team because it takes the team to get recognized like that,” Lupinacci said.
Lupinacci’s love for hockey runs deep. He has a true passion for the sport and views it as one of a kind in the world of athletics.
“It is one of the best sports in the world,” Lupinacci said. “It’s fast-paced. It’s rough. There are big hits. What other game do you play with two sharp pieces of steel flying around on ice? I love it.”
Lupinacci said the immense amount of skill and talent required to play hockey is one of the many things setting it apart from other sports. Combining stick handling, skating, passing and shooting makes it much more complicated than other games. Although it has similarities to the offensive and defensive schemes of lacrosse and basketball, there is nothing quite as fast or tough as hockey.
He said it is a sport best observed in person.
“Hockey is 100% a spectator sport in person,” Lupinacci said. “There is just an energy with these bodies flying around, the puck being whipped around. It’s loud, it’s got big energy and it’s the best live sport out there.”
Although he is a diehard Detroit Red Wings fan, Lupinacci also loves watching the Seattle Kraken. He said the growth of the league and the sport is fun to watch and seeing the hockey community in Washington start to thrive is super fun. Even though he does view former Red Wings player Gordie Howe as a hockey legend, Lupinacci could not help but admit that “The Great One,” Wayne Gretsky, is the best hockey player of all time.
Since his arrival at WSU, Lupinacci has been leading the team to repeated success. The squad rallies around his leadership and finds ways to win hockey games. No matter what challenges the team faces, Lupinacci is never disheartened. After the first-round exit from the playoffs this year, he was eager to express his excitement for next season.
“We are going to build on this good team … our seniors set the tone … and every season this team gets better,” Lupinacci said.
The team will play charity games against the University of Idaho at 7:45 p.m. on Feb. 21 and 22 at the Palouse Ice Rink. They will also hold their prospect camp on April 11 and 12 at the same location.
