Again in 2008, Milton women hockey head coach Matt Lodi received a training gig with Natick’s boys junior varsity program.
It was his introduction to teaching highschool athletics. And from 12 months to 12 months since – and in his case, program to program – there’s rather a lot to soak up. Many particulars would possibly fade.
However after 17 years, he by no means forgot what it was like when he first began teaching in opposition to Ken Assad, who, earlier than he took the King Philip women head teaching position, coached the Franklin boys JV workforce.
“In the beginning, Kenny was at all times a top-notch individual,” Lodi stated. “It was actually my first expertise teaching highschool athletics. I bear in mind even again then how welcoming he was, passionate concerning the recreation. … He at all times cared a lot (about his groups), regardless of the degree it was.”
Hearts broke all through the hockey group on Dec. 21, when the information broke that Assad – who had simply coached his King Philip women to a 6-0 win over Stoughton the evening earlier than – unexpectedly handed within the morning.
He advised Stoughton women head coach Chad Kelley the evening of the sport that he wasn’t feeling properly, but it surely didn’t appear to Kelley that it at actually affected his angle or power. Kelley was devastated when he discovered the following day.
It grew to become clear in a short time how crushed the Franklin and King Philip communities had been over Assad’s passing. He had a well-decorated profession as a participant for the Panthers earlier than teaching within the Franklin youth and highschool packages. He converted to teach women at King Philip, and over seven years, turned a little bit of a rocky program right into a respectable menace within the Div. 2 area this season.
Final 12 months, the group received its first Hockomock League title. Assad raved concerning the Warriors’ potential, and it’s displaying early on in a 7-0 begin getting into Wednesday. His pleasure, ardour, dedication and mentorship are simply a number of the many issues that made him beloved in these communities.
They’re additionally the traits that any coach that ever got here throughout him admired. Assad’s relationship with gamers, who he saved involved with year-round and would present curiosity of their different sports activities, particularly stands proud.
“The factor that lots of people don’t find out about Kenny is, off the ice, he supported all the women such as you wouldn’t consider,” stated Medfield women head coach John Summers. “It’s wonderful what he’s achieved with the (gamers) he’s coached for years. He’s their largest supporter. … I sort of mirror what Kenny’s achieved all these years.”
“He’s simply achieved such a superb job creating gamers in his program, and he’s simply properly favored,” Kelley added. “He’d at all times make it a degree to even (help) our youngsters.”
Each workforce within the Hockomock League performs King Philip yearly, in addition to groups out of the Tri-Valley League in what’s been a notable collaboration.
Franklin women coach Brendan LaMarre helped give you the thought to make skilled stickers in honor of Assad for gamers to put on on their helmets. Groups in each leagues, together with Milton as quickly as Lodi heard about it, are carrying the stickers for a minimum of a couple of video games in a easy however emotional gesture.
A boys participant from Stoughton was even in a position to make some “rush-order” stickers till these had been accessible, which Kelley and his gamers wore on Dec. 23 in a 3-2 win over Cambridge.
“I’m getting calls and texts from coaches out of our convention that wish to be concerned, too,” Summers added. “Kenny had an affect on all of the coaches round.”
Alongside along with his normal kindness was Assad’s willingness to share info and promote the sport.
Lodi, Summers and Kelley talked in nice size about his preparation, and the way he was in a position to break down opponents for his groups to be as prepared as doable. Lodi even reached out to Assad to get some info on Medfield forward of the Div. 2 state championship in March – and Assad was in a position to determine many particulars he was positive to light-heartedly remind Lodi of after Medfield beat his Milton workforce.
“He’s what I’d describe as a hockey junkie,” Kelley stated.
Duxbury coach Dan Najarian was trying ahead to teaching in opposition to Assad for the primary time this 12 months, lastly having the ability to add King Philip to the Dragons’ schedule. He didn’t know him personally, however he at all times thought extremely of his affect on his program and the sport.
And again when Canton and Duxbury had been chief rivals in 2022 and confronted one another within the 2023 Div. 2 state ultimate, Najarian requested Assad for some notes on the Bulldogs. They had been in depth, and really useful towards a 5-2 win for the state title.
“We’ve shared a ton of knowledge,” Najarian stated. “Simply the generosity and the willingness to achieve out and assist one other coach. I’m most likely only a pebble within the lengthy street of all of the folks that he helped alongside the way in which. … He’s only a man that loves to speak hockey and is prepared to share info.”
Surging St. John’s
The St. John’s of Shrewsbury boys have simply two blemishes this 12 months — an time beyond regulation loss to Pope Francis and a penalty-ridden upset loss to Arlington Catholic.
Each got here in its first three video games.
The Pioneers (7-2) have received six straight since, beginning the daunting Catholic Convention schedule at 3-0. A 3rd-period comeback win over defending state champion Catholic Memorial confirmed off their late-game composure. So did a 2-1 time beyond regulation win over beforehand unbeaten Xaverian, which had scored a minimum of three objectives in all however one recreation prior.
One timer
New Waltham boys head coach Chris Maguire is giving father John Maguire loads to be pleased with, main this system to its greatest begin (9-0) within the energy rankings period in his first 12 months taking on for the retired Corridor of Famer.
