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Brian Becker
Head Women's Ice Hockey Coach
Phone: (716) 926-8796 x111
E-mail: bbecker@hilbert.edu
Alma Mater: Fredonia State '12
2nd season (3rd year on staff)
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Brian Becker enters his second season as head coach of the Hilbert College women’s ice hockey program in 2026–27. Becker was officially introduced as the program’s head coach on February 26, 2025, after serving as an assistant coach during the 2024–25 season.
With more than a decade of coaching experience, Becker has developed a reputation within the Western New York hockey community for helping turn around and build programs.
Prior to Hilbert, Becker spent three seasons as the head coach of the St. Francis High School Prep Hockey program from 2021–2024. Competing in the Midwest Prep Hockey League (MPHL), Becker guided the Red Raiders to an above-.500 record, marking the program’s best MPHL finish in 16 years.
Before his time at St. Francis, Becker served as a varsity assistant coach and head junior varsity coach at Frontier High School. During the 2019–20 season, his Frontier team produced a 12-game improvement in its record and finished the season as league champions.
Becker’s coaching background also includes head coaching positions with the Lockport Express of the NA3HL and Hamburg Hawks 18U AAA, as well as coaching with the Buffalo Stars in the Empire Junior Hockey League shortly after graduating from Fredonia State in 2012.
A Hamburg native, Becker began his collegiate playing career at Fredonia State, competing in the SUNYAC as a true freshman. He later transitioned to the ACHA program, helping the Blue Devils earn consecutive appearances in the ACHA National Tournament.
Becker graduated from Fredonia State in 2012 with a double major in Business Management and American Politics. Outside of hockey, he owns and operates two businesses in Hamburg, Thryve and F45 Training Hamburg.
Becker resides in Hamburg with his wife, Lindsey, their son, and their dog, Nala.
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Matt Krug
Assistant Women's Ice Hockey Coach
Phone:
E-mail: mkrug@hilbert.edu
Alma Mater: Union, '17
2nd season
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Matthew Krug enters his second season as an Assistant Coach for the Hilbert College women’s ice hockey program, providing the team with a unique blend of elite NCAA Division I playing experience and a steadfast commitment to public service.
A native of South Buffalo, New York, Krug’s distinguished hockey career began locally, highlighted by three seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the OJHL. He was subsequently selected first overall in the 2011 NAHL Draft and competed for two seasons with the Indiana Ice of the USHL before advancing to the collegiate ranks.
At the collegiate level, Krug competed for four seasons at Union College in the ECAC. During his freshman campaign, he was a member of the historic 2013-14 National Championship team that secured the first NCAA Division I title in program history. The Dutchmen finished that season with a program-record 32 wins and a 12-game winning streak, culminating in a 7-4 victory over the University of Minnesota in the championship game. A standout student-athlete and graduate of West Seneca West Senior High School, Krug was also named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team for three consecutive seasons (2013-2016).
Beyond his collegiate and junior pedigree, Krug brings significant leadership experience to the bench. He is currently an active-duty Police Officer with the Buffalo Police Department, a role he has held since August of 2018. Furthermore, he remains a fixture in the local hockey community, having dedicated the past eight years to coaching youth hockey within the West Seneca Hockey Organization.
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Shelley Payne
Goaltender Coach
Phone:
E-mail: spayne@hilbert.edu
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Shelley Payne returns to the Hilbert College women’s ice hockey coaching staff for the 2026–27 season after previously serving as the Hawks’ goaltending coach from 2022–2024.
Payne served as an Assistant Coach and Goaltending Coach with the University at Buffalo men’s ACHA Division I program from 2021–2024 while attending law school at the University at Buffalo. During her time with the program, UB captured the 2023 NECHL Championship. Her coaching experience also includes working with the East Kootenay Zone Midget and Bantam AAA programs in British Columbia.
Payne currently provides private and group goaltending instruction through Elite Concepts Goalie Training in the Buffalo area and New Mexico. She also works alongside several goaltending coaches throughout Western New York.
A USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach, Payne is a member of the NHL Coaches’ Association Female Coaches Program and holds a Master of Sports Leadership from Northeastern University.
Payne played collegiately at Colby College before continuing her playing career in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), Western Women’s Hockey League (WWHL), and professionally in Sweden and Finland.
updated Aug 3, 2026
