Salve Regina University has appointed Jay Punsky and Meghan E. Toomey as head coaches of its men’s and women’s ice hockey programs, respectively, Director of Athletics Dr. Sean Sullivan announced Wednesday.
Punsky, a 2007 Salve graduate, returns to his alma mater after serving as head coach at Worcester State University, where he led the team to back-to-back postseason appearances in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference in 2023-24 and 2024-25. During his tenure at Worcester State, he mentored four graduating players who signed professional contracts.
Before joining Worcester State, Punsky coached the Islanders Hockey Club in North Andover, Massachusetts, and the Boston Bandits, leading teams to a Premier National Championship runner-up finish, two Premier National Championship final four appearances and three Premier New England Division Championship titles. He is a four-time USPHL All Star Coach Award winner and was named NA3EHL Coach of the Year in 2015-16.
“It is always special to bring an alum back to campus, especially in a key leadership role,” Sullivan said. “Given the competitive success Jay’s teams have had year in and year out, his impressive ability to fully develop his student-athletes, and his firsthand understanding of our university, Coach Punsky is uniquely prepared to lead our men’s program to even loftier heights.”
Punsky said he is thrilled to return to Newport and contribute to the program’s continued growth.
“As a Seahawk myself, it’s an honor to return to Newport to share my experiences and knowledge in addition to being a part of Salve’s close-knit community again,” he said.
Toomey brings more than 20 years of coaching experience, including assistant and head coaching positions at three eastern prep schools. A St. Lawrence University graduate and member of the institution’s hall of fame, Toomey played professionally for the Montreal Axion when the team was a National Women’s Hockey League finalist and for Hockey Club Lugano in Switzerland, where she won a national championship.
Her coaching experience includes serving as head girls’ hockey coach at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where she helped guide a squad that finished 23-3-3 and ranked in the top five in national prep school standings. She also served as head girls’ hockey coach at Kents Hills School in Readfield, Maine, and Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire, and as assistant hockey coach at Division I Colgate University.
Most recently, Toomey served as general manager and director of girls’ hockey at Black Bear Sports Group in Princeton, New Jersey, overseeing all operations for a Tier I girls’ program.
“Meghan impressed us immediately with her unique coaching background, but also in the school-based leadership roles she has served,” Sullivan said. “Having played at the highest level and having coached and directed a variety of successful teams and programs, Meghan understands how to maintain programmatic momentum while also establishing new goals to pursue.”
Toomey said she is honored to join the Salve Regina community and lead a program with a culture of competitive success.
“The program has established a culture of competitive success and holistic growth of its student-athletes, which aligns with my values of fostering a competitive, supportive, and inclusive team culture where players can achieve their highest potential,” she said.
Both coaches will begin their Salve careers Friday, Oct. 31, when they open their 2025-26 season. The men’s ice hockey team will host the University of Southern Maine at Howard Rink, while the women’s team will travel to Elmira College.
The appointments build on momentum following Salve’s announcement last month that both ice hockey programs will return to membership in the Conference of New England, formerly known as the Commonwealth Coast Conference, beginning with the 2026-27 season.
