WPIAL Alum Q&A – Zac Lynch

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 | 12:25 AM

Over the past several years, the PIHL has produced an array of notable alumni who have honed their craft either at the NCAA Division I level, or the professional ranks. Often, those players left the area at a young age to pursue their dreams.

Zac Lynch has been able to play both his high school and college hockey in his hometown of Pittsburgh, however. Lynch, who is a top performer for the nationally-ranked Robert Morris University Colonials, is the focus of this week’s WPIAL Alum Q&A.

Lynch played at Shaler Area from 2006 through 2010. He made a big impact during his tenure with the Titans, including helping guide the team to the Penguins Cup Class AAA Championship in 2009, the only in school history. That contest proved to be a thriller, as Shaler notched a 3-2 victory in overtime against Seneca Valley, with Lynch recording a pair of assists.

After his time at Shaler, Lynch played for the Bay State Breakers in the Eastern Junior Hockey League, and earned a spot in the EJHL All-Star Game in 2011-12.

Following that stint, Lynch returned to the Pittsburgh area to play collegiately for RMU. In his freshman campaign in 2012-13, Lynch paced all first-year Colonials with 14 points, helping the team record 20 wins.

In his sophomore campaign, the forward drastically increased his scoring output, as he netted 47 points, the second highest total on the squad, in 42 games. In the process, Lynch put himself on the radar across the NCAA, as he ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring. His contributions extended beyond just the offense, though, as Lynch recorded the best plus/minus rating on Robert Morris, at +21. Consequently, the Colonials captured the Atlantic Hockey Association Championship with a 7-4 win against powerhouse Canisius.

Lynch produced similar numbers as a junior last season, scoring 40 points in 37 games. He ranked second on the team in points, goals and assists. He was also named the Atlantic Hockey Conference (AHC) player of the month in January 2015, and made All-AHC Third Team.

He entered the 2015-16 campaign as one of the top scorers in Robert Morris University history, and hes added to those impressive totals with a tremendous senior year. So far, Lynch has set a career best with 52 points, as well as a +24. Over the weekend, Lynch helped guide RMU past Bentley, into the AHC semifinals. With more hockey to be played, the Colonials have already garnered 23 wins and have been nationally ranked.

Despite being in the midst of the postseason, Zac took time from his schedule to discuss his development as a player at RMU, the benefits of playing in the PIHL, and what rule change he would make to NCAA hockey.

Q: Each of the past three seasons, you have been one of the top points producers for Robert Morris, and statistically you rank as one of the top players in program history. What has been the biggest key to your point production.

A: I have been given some good opportunities the past few years. Playing top minutes on the power play and penalty kill and playing on the top line with skilled players like Cody Wydo and Greg Gibson have been major reasons for my production.

Q: What aspect of your game has improved the most since you began at RMU?

A: I have developed into a much more all-around player. The past couple years, I’ve really focused on my defensive game to become a more complete player, so I’d have to say my defensive play has improved the most since I started at RMU.

Q: Did you set any team or individual goals prior to this season?

A: Our team goal has been to win the league and get back to the NCAA tournament. Individually, I just wanted to try to have my senior year be my best year on the ice.

Q: The Colonials enjoyed another strong regular season, recording 21 wins. How does this program compete at such a high level nearly every season?

A: The coaching staff has done a great job bringing in talented players, class after class, who have allowed us to stay competitive every year. Each year, the underclassmen get acclimated to our playing style very quickly and the upperclassmen have done a great job every year to make the new guys feel like part of the family as soon as they come in.

Q: What was the biggest factor that led to you attending Robert Morris?

A: Being able to play in the rink I grew up playing in and being able to have family in the stands every night was the biggest reason I chose RMU.

Q: You are one of many notable PIHL alums playing a high level of hockey now. How did high school hockey prepare you for your success now.

A: At the time, I played for the Pittsburgh Hornets and Shaler, so being able to have that extra ice time was very crucial to my development. Also, playing with friends I went to school with made the game that much more fun to me and allowed me to have a great experience playing high school hockey.

Q: What was your favorite memory with the Shaler hockey team?

A:Winning the Pens cup in 2009.

Q: You also played baseball and lacrosse. At what point did you have to give those sports up to focus on hockey?

A: I played baseball up until high school, but I was able to play lacrosse through out my high school years because the different seasons allowed for it, but around my senior year is when I chose to stop playing everything but hockey and put all my focus on that.

Q: Where do you expect your playing career to go after this season, and what is your ideal profession after hockey?

A: I plan to play hockey professionally for as long as I can, and then I will use my engineering degree as my career path after that.

Q:Aside from the hockey, what else have you most appreciated about your time at RMU?

A: The most important thing I’ve received from my time at RMU is relationships with my teammates that will last forever.

Q: Do you have a pre-game meal ritual?

A: I have nothing specific; generally chicken parm with the team.

Q: If you could make one rule chance to NCAA hockey, what would it be?

A: To wear visors, not cages.

Q: Where is your favorite vacation spot or place you would like to go that you’ve never been?

A: Hawaii