At Florida Gulf Coast University, there is something special about the FGCU Division II Ice Hockey team that makes players want to stay. Head coach Eric Mabie said the team’s “winning culture” stood out to him.

FGCU’s DII Ice Hockey team is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). They were previous champions in 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2019. Mabie was on the team when they secured the 2018 and 2019 titles. As he was graduating, the head coach at the time, Bob Brinkworth, approached him about the assistant coach position.

“It started off like that, just a very small role, helping out the forwards in different ways that I could, and then over the years, it’s kind of developed into being the head coach now,” Mabie said.

Mabie developed a love for hockey from a young age. He recalled some of his earliest memories of the sport being around the games he attended with his parents.

He spent his early years playing and traveling for the Florida Junior Panthers team. Unsure of what to do after high school, he weighed his options.

There were opportunities for Junior League hockey after high school, but ultimately, he decided to pursue an education at Florida State University. That was when he received a last-minute phone call.

“I got a call from the coach at FGCU, and had some discussions with them, and decided that this would be a good place to be, a great place, to go to school and play hockey,” said Mabie. “Then I came here as an 18-year-old and started playing hockey here. And now I’ve been here ever since.”

He coached his first season in 2019, alongside Brinkworth. The transition from player to coach was unique. Brinkworth offered mentorship on how to run the team and carry themselves, which Mabie valued.

Now as head coach, Mabie had to develop his coaching style into his own. He has leaned into his strengths and matured his game along the way.

“I would say he’s the borderline of a player’s coach, but also, at the same time, he’s very dialed into the x’s and o’s and does a great job. I mean, I would say the best way to put it is that he understands the pulse of the team and where the team is at that certain moment,” said assistant coach Justin Goldman.

Mabie’s head coach position with FGCU hockey is a part-time job. However, his dedication to the team doesn’t go unnoticed. As of Jan. 19, the Eagles’ record is 18-4 this season, and they are ranked No. 1 in the southeast region in the ACHA.

“He’s put in kind of every minute away from the rink, back into it, he’s always invested trying to think of ways to make our group better. And I think all the players see that and appreciate it,” FGCU Hockey captain Jack Cohen said.

Not only has his dedication been proven to drive the team’s success, but it has also cultivated authentic relationships with the assistant coaches and the athletes.

Goldman was a player, who fell in love with the game again while playing under Mabie. He was so enamored with the culture of FGCU hockey around the rink, he approached Mabie with the idea of staying around and helping out with coaching. This led to a position alongside Mabie as an assistant coach for the last three seasons.

Spence Van Tiem is another player formerly coached by Mabie, who took on the assistant coach position. He was assistant captain for two years and team captain last year.

“I always respected him [Mabie] and thought he was a great coach, but that’s just totally elevated since I’m now in a coaching role and I see all that goes into it and all that he does, he’s just a terrific coach, and he dedicates so much of his time to the boys, to the program and to FGCU as a whole,” Van Tiem said.

Over the years, Mabie has poured hours into elevating the hockey program. He emphasized its growth and bringing FGCU hockey to the next level.

“He wants everyone to love and respect the game the way he does. He puts on a lot of time and effort, and he expects a lot of time and effort from the players. And I think instilling that has been a good thing for our team,” Cohen said.

The passion that Mabie has for hockey runs deep. He has created a strong family dynamic within the team that allows them to work together and produce positive results.

“One thing that is constant is, every year at least that I’ve been here, it’s a winning culture, and it’s a great culture to be a part of. It’s family first,” said Van Tiem.