By Nathaniel Smith
For four years, Tyler Mahan learned how to balance Division I hockey and three academic programs—finance, accounting, and communication. Now, that same equation follows him after graduation as he weighs professional hockey offers in North America and Europe against a career in finance at Deloitte.
"Looking back, RIT put me in a position where I didn't have to choose too early between hockey and finance, it pushed me to seriously develop both at the same time," Mahan said. "On the hockey side, the level of competition, structure, and daily commitment made the idea of playing professionally feel real. At the same time, my finance coursework and projects gave me confidence that I could succeed in a business setting as well."
Mahan, who will graduate summa cum laude, said the co-op requirement was a big part of his success because it forced him to step into a professional environment and apply what he learned in class. He completed two co-ops with Deloitte in Calgary. He spent the first one mostly observing.
"My second term, I was running my own meetings with clients," he said. "The difference from year one to year two was substantial."
He impressed the company enough that they're willing to give him his start post-commencement, as he looks to venture into the finance realm. That's if he decides to go that route. He's not sure he is ready to give up hockey.
The hockey captain played 134 games in his career, tallying 27 goals and 20 assists for 47 points. He was a part of an RIT squad that won the Atlantic Hockey title in the 2023-2024 season, earning the program's fourth NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Tournament appearance.
Mahan, captain of the RIT Men's Hockey Team, played 134 career games, earned the Atlantic Hockey Conference title in the 2023-2024 season, and was named a 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award nominee.
He's equally as sharp in the classroom, earning American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Scholar honors in all four years and received the RIT Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award. He's also earned the RIT Excellence in Student Life award, given annually to students who effectively balance academic success and engagement.
He said balancing coursework with a demanding Division I hockey schedule took discipline but made him sharper.
"Managing that kind of pressure and still performing in both areas showed me that I was capable of handling either path at a high level," he said. "That's what RIT really gave me, the chance to build real experience in both worlds. Now whichever direction I choose, it feels like a decision based on readiness, not uncertainty."
Accounting Senior Lecturer Philip Gelsomino said Mahan has earned the respect of his teammates and faculty members, not through words but through consistent action.
"His leadership is grounded in humility and integrity, which makes it both authentic and impactful," he said.
Along with hockey and academics, Mahan also found time to give back. In Calgary, he and his brother Jarrett co-founded Pass It On YYC, an organization which collects donated hockey gear from around their community and delivers it to the Calgary Flames Sports Bank for kids who can't afford to play. They've been running equipment drives for the past three years.
During Mahan's second year at RIT, Mason Scherer, a young Rochester-area boy struggling with a stutter and a learning disability, visited the team's dressing room with his family. It began a continuing mentorship between Mahan and Scherer, with the "big brother" offering academic and social advice.
His volunteer work earned Mahan a nomination for the 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award, given annually to college hockey's finest citizen.
Whichever path he decides to take after graduation, giving back will remain a focus in his life.
"There's more to life than just hockey or sport," Mahan said. "You've got to use your ability to make other people better. Making someone's life better than it was before I came here has been the coolest experience."
Nathaniel Smith is a Senior Communication Specialist in University Communications Marketing and Communications
