Army West Point Athletics
Hockey
McKelvie, Zach
Zach McKelvie
- Title:
- Associate Head Hockey Coach
- Phone:
- 5527
Recruiting Questionnaire
Zach McKelvie enters his first season as head coach of the Army West Point hockey program and 12th season on staff at Army. McKelvie has made a key impact on the Army hockey program since returning to the banks of the Hudson in 2014 and was promoted to Associate Head Coach in July of 2016 where he served in that role for nine seasons.
In August 2024, with Brian Riley announcing that the upcoming campaign would be his final season at the helm of Army Hockey, McKelvie was named the next head coach of the program beginning with the 2025-26 season.
The Black Knights ended the 2024-25 season as one of the strongest teams in the nation, winning 13 of 16 games in the second half to earn the five seed in the AHA Tournament before knocking off Niagara on the road in a quarterfinal series. Sophomore defenseman Mac Gadowsky earned First Team All-American honors under the tutelage of McKelvie while leading all defensemen in the nation in goals with 16.
A legend in the Army Hockey program, McKelvie was apart of the inaugural class inducted into the Atlantic Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022, joining Colin Bilek as the lone Black Knights to receive the prestigious honor. During his playing career at West Point, he remains the lone player in program history to earn First Team All-Atlantic Hockey honors on multiple occasions.
McKelvie has made a great impact in his tenure on the bench at West Point, coaching multiple Cadets to AHA Rookie of the Year honors and an AHA Best Defenseman in Alex Wilkinson, the first since McKelvie received the honor himself in 2008. Five of his players have been First Team Atlantic Hockey All-Conference, while seven were named to the second team and third to the third. McKelvie has also mentored nine to the All-Rookie Team honors.
McKelvie came back to West Point and began his coaching career after winning the East Coast Hockey League title with the Alaska Aces in 2014.
He was originally signed by the Boston Bruins organization after his senior season in 2009. He then served two years of active duty as an Infantry Officer before officially starting his professional career in the Calgary Flames organization in 2011. McKelvie is still regarded as one of the most talented defensemen to play Army hockey.
He played a total of 29 games before skating in seven contests at the end of the season with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. He spent most of his career with the AHLs Abbotsford Heat, which is part of the Calgary Flames system. In total, he appeared in over 100 games in the AHL between the Providence Bruins and Abbotsford Heat.
McKelvie was a two-time Atlantic Hockey Association First Team selection for the Black Knights on the blueline. He was the captain as a senior and an assistant captain as a junior. He finished his career with 56 points on 14 goals and 42 assists. McKelvie had back-to-back 17-point seasons in his final two years and was rewarded in 2008 as the league's Defenseman of the Year. One of his biggest goals came against Sacred Heart in 2008 when he netted the game-winner in a 3-2 win to secure the regular season title for Army.
He was honored to be a member of the AHA 10th Anniversary Team, which was announced in 2013. He joined Owen Meyer as the two former cadet-athletes to be on the list. In 2009, McKelvie was the recipient of the Henry "Hal" Beukema Award, which is given to the team's most valuable player. He also received the 'AAA Award' in 2009, and remains the most recent hockey cadet-athlete to receive the award. The AAA is awarded annually to the male and female cadet-athletes who display the "most valuable service to intercollegiate athletics during a career as a cadet."
In addition to his on-ice awards, he was rewarded for his character. McKelvie earned the Mike Krzyzewski Teaching Character Through Sport Award in 2009. The award recognizes West Point athletes and coaches on their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership. He continued his work off the ice while with the Heat and was named the team's 2012-13 Community Man of the Year.
McKelvie spent his first of his two years of service as a graduate assistant at West Point, before being stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., as an executive officer to train soldiers in basic training. He was granted his release in the fall of 2011 to pursue his career in hockey.
He is married to the former Lauryn Wierda (USMA '09) who served as a team captain on the track & field team at West Point. They currently reside in White Plains, N.Y., with their three children - Hunter, Barrett and Savannah.
Zach McKelvie enters his first season as head coach of the Army West Point hockey program and 12th season on staff at Army. McKelvie has made a key impact on the Army hockey program since returning to the banks of the Hudson in 2014 and was promoted to Associate Head Coach in July of 2016 where he served in that role for nine seasons.
In August 2024, with Brian Riley announcing that the upcoming campaign would be his final season at the helm of Army Hockey, McKelvie was named the next head coach of the program beginning with the 2025-26 season.
The Black Knights ended the 2024-25 season as one of the strongest teams in the nation, winning 13 of 16 games in the second half to earn the five seed in the AHA Tournament before knocking off Niagara on the road in a quarterfinal series. Sophomore defenseman Mac Gadowsky earned First Team All-American honors under the tutelage of McKelvie while leading all defensemen in the nation in goals with 16.
A legend in the Army Hockey program, McKelvie was apart of the inaugural class inducted into the Atlantic Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022, joining Colin Bilek as the lone Black Knights to receive the prestigious honor. During his playing career at West Point, he remains the lone player in program history to earn First Team All-Atlantic Hockey honors on multiple occasions.
McKelvie has made a great impact in his tenure on the bench at West Point, coaching multiple Cadets to AHA Rookie of the Year honors and an AHA Best Defenseman in Alex Wilkinson, the first since McKelvie received the honor himself in 2008. Five of his players have been First Team Atlantic Hockey All-Conference, while seven were named to the second team and third to the third. McKelvie has also mentored nine to the All-Rookie Team honors.
McKelvie came back to West Point and began his coaching career after winning the East Coast Hockey League title with the Alaska Aces in 2014.
He was originally signed by the Boston Bruins organization after his senior season in 2009. He then served two years of active duty as an Infantry Officer before officially starting his professional career in the Calgary Flames organization in 2011. McKelvie is still regarded as one of the most talented defensemen to play Army hockey.
He played a total of 29 games before skating in seven contests at the end of the season with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. He spent most of his career with the AHLs Abbotsford Heat, which is part of the Calgary Flames system. In total, he appeared in over 100 games in the AHL between the Providence Bruins and Abbotsford Heat.
McKelvie was a two-time Atlantic Hockey Association First Team selection for the Black Knights on the blueline. He was the captain as a senior and an assistant captain as a junior. He finished his career with 56 points on 14 goals and 42 assists. McKelvie had back-to-back 17-point seasons in his final two years and was rewarded in 2008 as the league's Defenseman of the Year. One of his biggest goals came against Sacred Heart in 2008 when he netted the game-winner in a 3-2 win to secure the regular season title for Army.
He was honored to be a member of the AHA 10th Anniversary Team, which was announced in 2013. He joined Owen Meyer as the two former cadet-athletes to be on the list. In 2009, McKelvie was the recipient of the Henry "Hal" Beukema Award, which is given to the team's most valuable player. He also received the 'AAA Award' in 2009, and remains the most recent hockey cadet-athlete to receive the award. The AAA is awarded annually to the male and female cadet-athletes who display the "most valuable service to intercollegiate athletics during a career as a cadet."
In addition to his on-ice awards, he was rewarded for his character. McKelvie earned the Mike Krzyzewski Teaching Character Through Sport Award in 2009. The award recognizes West Point athletes and coaches on their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership. He continued his work off the ice while with the Heat and was named the team's 2012-13 Community Man of the Year.
McKelvie spent his first of his two years of service as a graduate assistant at West Point, before being stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., as an executive officer to train soldiers in basic training. He was granted his release in the fall of 2011 to pursue his career in hockey.
He is married to the former Lauryn Wierda (USMA '09) who served as a team captain on the track & field team at West Point. They currently reside in White Plains, N.Y., with their three children - Hunter, Barrett and Savannah.
vs. Sacred Heart
Saturday, November 10
Test
Wednesday, November 07
