The Houlton-Hodgdon Black Hawks, a cooperative hockey team between Houlton and Hodgdon high schools, has a new coach after 12 years.
Tony Marino of Houlton will be replacing Coach Joel Trickey for the 2013-14 season. At this time, an assistant has not been named.
“I am really looking forward to it,” said Marino. “I think it is going to be a great group of kids. I think their potential is good. The team has a good strong mix of seniors down to freshmen. I am just excited about the year. It has the potential to be a really successful year.”
Marino was hired July 9 after the RSU 29 school board approved him for the position.
“I’ve coached hockey for around 15 years,” he said. “But, I have never coached at the high school level.”
Essentially, Marino has coached numerous teams from recreational to competitive squads. He has overseen the Mites, 8 years of age and younger, to Bantams, which is 14 and under. He has worked with the Peewee and Atoms programs, as well.
His most recent coaching stint has been in the Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association (SAMHA) But, he coached in Bangor for five years at the Peewee and Bantam levels.
“The main reason for stepping up a level,” said Marino, “was I wanted the challenge that comes with being a varsity coach.”
Though high school hockey was never offered as a varsity sport when Marino was in school, he found a way to play by traveling to Canada.
“I played on a couple of different teams,” he said. “I also coached three seasons in Canada at the Spring AAA level.”
However this summer, Marino has been able to watch some of his players and is strategizing a game plan for what he would like to see accomplished this season.
“My philosophy with hockey really is trying to have a team concept of working together,” he said. When players have to learn a couple of different systems that will be used, everyone needs to work together, not only as a team, but as individuals who will outwork their opponent on the ice, too.
“My expectation for the team is not really about wins and losses,” he said. “Those will fall into place if everyone is doing their part. Essentially my hope is that each player is a good teammate.
“My job is to push everyone to their utmost potential and be the best hockey player they can be,” he said.
Even though the hockey season is still a ways off, Marino is excited for its opening.
“I think the biggest thing I will bring to the program is a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. “I am going to bring some dry land, which is essentially conditioning for the kids. I enjoy practice, as well as games. I am just happy to have a chance and I want to develop the players.”
