Prior to his time at UMass, Carvel spent five years at St. Lawrence University from 2011-16, also his alma mater, where he posted a head coaching record of 86-82-18 over five seasons and was named the 2014-15 Tim Taylor Award winner as Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year. Before his return to Canton, N.Y., also his hometown, he spent 15 seasons in the professional ranks. He made two trips to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals while a member of the staff in Anaheim and Ottawa.