Coaching Background & Accomplishments

Dartmouth College | Associate Head Coach & Assistant Coach (1999–2014)

During his 15 seasons at Dartmouth College, Dave Peters established himself as one of the nation's most respected collegiate assistant coaches and recruiters, helping elevate the Big Green men's hockey program to sustained success in ECAC Hockey and the Ivy League.

Serving as Assistant Coach from 1999 to 2008 and Associate Head Coach from 2008 to 2014, Peters played an instrumental role in recruiting, player development, offensive strategy, and building a competitive NCAA Division I program.

His accomplishments at Dartmouth included:

• 2005–2006 ECAC Hockey Regular Season Championship — the program's first

• Ivy League Championship

• Multiple ECAC Hockey semifinal appearances

• 2001 — Dartmouth's first winning season in 20 years

• 2007 — Development of David Jones, Dartmouth's first Hobey Baker Award finalist

• 2004 — Three Dartmouth players selected among the top 100 picks in the NHL Entry Draft

Under Peters' guidance, Dartmouth produced All-America forwards in four consecutive seasons beginning in 2003. His recruiting efforts also contributed to the nation's highest-scoring freshman class in 2002–2003.

In recognition of his contributions to collegiate hockey, Peters received the 2008 Terry Flanagan Award from the American Hockey Coaches Association, a prestigious national honor recognizing an assistant coach's outstanding career achievements.

Throughout his collegiate coaching career, Peters helped develop numerous future NHL players, including David Jones, Lee Stempniak, Ben Lovejoy, and other athletes who advanced to professional hockey.

NHL Scouting | Columbus Blue Jackets (2017–Present)

Since 2017, Peters has served as an Amateur Scout for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League, evaluating prospective players and identifying talent for the organization's future.

His responsibilities include assessing players' technical skills, hockey intelligence, competitive instincts, development potential, and readiness for higher levels of competition.

In 2019, Peters was promoted to a full-time amateur scouting position, further expanding his role within the Blue Jackets' hockey operations department.

His NHL scouting experience provides a valuable perspective on the qualities that distinguish promising young players and the development required to advance through junior, collegiate, and professional hockey.

Providence College | Assistant Coach (1993–1998)

Before joining Dartmouth, Peters spent five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Providence College in Hockey East.

During his tenure, he helped guide the Friars to significant accomplishments, including:

• 1996 Hockey East Tournament Championship

• 1996 NCAA Tournament appearance

• Back-to-back Hockey East Championship game appearances

• Consecutive Top Four Hockey East finishes in 1996 and 1997

Peters played a significant role in recruiting and developing collegiate talent, helping bring 10 NHL draft picks and 12 Hockey East All-Academic Team selections into the program.

Among the players he recruited was future NHL forward Fernando Pisani, who went on to a successful professional career with the Edmonton Oilers.

Junior Hockey | Danville Wings, NAHL (1998–1999)

Peters served as Head Coach and General Manager of the Danville Wings in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

During his tenure, he assembled and developed a roster that went on to capture the 2000 NAHL Championship and finish third nationally.

His experience in junior hockey provided firsthand knowledge of the critical development years between youth hockey and NCAA competition, including player evaluation, recruiting, and preparation for collegiate opportunities.

Prep School Hockey | South Kent School, Selects Academy (2014–2017)

From 2014 to 2017, Peters served as Head Coach of the Selects Academy hockey program at South Kent School in Connecticut.

Working with elite prep school-age players, he focused on skill development, competitive preparation, and helping student-athletes pursue opportunities at the NCAA and professional levels.

His experience at South Kent further strengthened his understanding of the prep school hockey landscape, including the academic expectations, athletic development, and recruiting considerations facing aspiring collegiate players.

Junior Hockey Leadership | USPHL / NCDC (2017–2021)

Peters served as Deputy Commissioner of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), including its National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), from 2017 to 2021.

In this leadership role, he contributed to the administration and development of junior hockey competition, gaining additional insight into the structure of the junior hockey system and its role in preparing players for collegiate opportunities.

His experience as both a collegiate recruiter and junior hockey administrator provides a broad perspective on the different pathways available to aspiring NCAA hockey players.

USA Hockey | National Player Development Experience

Peters has contributed to USA Hockey's player development initiatives, working with elite young athletes through regional and national development programs.

His accomplishments include:

• 2000 — Gold Medal: Head Coach, New England Select-17 Team, Junior Olympic Festival

• USA Hockey Player Development Programs: Coaching and development of elite players throughout New England

His involvement with USA Hockey complements his extensive experience identifying and developing young talent for higher levels of competition.

Academic Hockey | Founder (2008–Present)

As founder of Academic Hockey, Peters has dedicated nearly two decades to helping aspiring collegiate hockey players and their families navigate the increasingly competitive recruiting landscape.

Drawing upon his extensive background in NCAA coaching, NHL scouting, prep school hockey, and junior hockey leadership, Peters brings a comprehensive understanding of the academic and athletic considerations involved in pursuing college hockey opportunities.

His experience provides valuable insight into player evaluation, recruiting expectations, college program selection, and the different development pathways available to student-athletes.

Earlier Collegiate Coaching Experience | Kent State University (1990–1993)

Peters began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Kent State University, helping establish the program as a competitive member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).

During his tenure, Kent State achieved several notable accomplishments:

• 1991–1992 — Ranked ninth nationally in scoring

• Victories over nationally recognized programs, including Michigan State, Boston College, and Providence College

• 1992–1993 — Season-series sweeps against Ohio State and Notre Dame

His early experience at Kent State helped establish the recruiting and player evaluation expertise that would become a defining strength throughout his coaching career.

Playing Background | Boston College

Before beginning his coaching career, Peters attended Boston College, where he earned a roster spot on the Eagles' men's ice hockey team.

He was a member of the 1979–1980 Boston College team that recorded 25 victories, a program milestone at the time.

His experience as an NCAA Division I student-athlete provided an early foundation for his understanding of the demands of collegiate hockey and the balance between academic and athletic commitments.

Awards & Recognition

• 2008 — Terry Flanagan Award, American Hockey Coaches Association

• 2005–2006 — ECAC Hockey Regular Season Championship, Dartmouth College

• 2000 — Gold Medal, New England Select-17 Team, Junior Olympic Festival

• 2000 — NAHL Championship, Danville Wings (team assembled during his tenure)

• 1996 — Hockey East Tournament Championship, Providence College

• 1996 — NCAA Tournament appearance, Providence College

Education

Boston College | Bachelor of Science, Marketing, 1982