This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Notre Dame-Fairfield Hockeys Begins Post-Roos Era

Lancers fall to Hamden 5-1 on Thursday in first game since their legendary coach stepped down

There was an eerie feeling permeating the Milford Ice Pavilion, the House That Marty Built, on Thursday night.

Anyone connected with the Notre Dame of Fairfield boys hockey program had a hard time accepting the fact that legendary coach Marty Roos was no longer behind the bench for the Lancers.

"It was shocking to all of us," said captain Dave Canfarotta, who scored Notre Dame's only goal late in the third period of the Lancers' 5-1 loss to Hamden. "It kind of came out of nowhere. I guess it was just his time to step away. He felt it was the best for us and for himself and we respect his decision."

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The school announced Roos' decision to step down on Wednesday night. In a 40-year career, the 75-year-old Roos won 536 games - more than any other high school hockey coach in state history - and six state championships with Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame of Fairfield.

Thursday marked the first time the Lancers played a game when Roos wasn't behind the bench since the end of the 1990-91 season.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We didn't know how to react because it was all out of the blue," said Frank Zumbo, another Notre Dame captain. "We actually came together more as a team."

Hamden coach Bill Verneris, who waged some epic battles with Roos over the years, said his first impulse was to think Roos' retirement was health-related, something it was not.

"Like all of us, I was shocked," Verneris said. "He's an original, he's an icon. He's done more for schoolboy hockey than a lot of guys and he'll be greatly missed.

"Half of me was sad, but the other half that got his butt kicked all those times wasn't too sad. He's just a terrific man and his teams worked so hard, (a) first-class program."

Assistant Steve Hetherman was named Notre Dame's interim head coach for the remainder of the season, although he wasn't in attendance Thursday because he was in Chicago on business. The Lancers were coached by another assistant, J.R. Bria. Hetherman will take over for Notre Dame's next game against New Canaan on Jan. 26.

According to Notre Dame athletic director Rog Bleggi, Roos' decision caught everyone off guard because as the players indicated, there was no indication he was ready to call it quits.

Roos informed Bleggi, also an assistant hockey coach, of his decision via telephone call on Monday.

Since school was closed on Monday and there was no practice scheduled for Tuesday, Notre Dame waited until Wednesday evening  to release the news. The players were told of the stunning development earlier in the day.

"There was no inkling," Bleggi said. "I was speechless there for a little while. I was in my car, actually, with my son."

Bleggi added that Roos offer no specific reasons for his decision other than that it was just time.

"It was a tough three days," Bleggi said. "I've known Marty half my life. It was weird being on the bench today. I've been on the bench with him since the 1994-95 season, so it was definitely a little strange."

Bill Reilly scored a hat trick to lead the Green Dragons, who improved to 6-3, while Notre Dame dropped to 3-7.

The Lancers seemed flat for most of Thursday's game, managing only eight shots through two periods. The generated more chances in the third, outshooting Hamden, 13-7, and Canfarotta scored with 40 seconds left to spoil Andy Varga's shutout bid.

Notre Dame also took eight penalties, two of which the Green Dragons cashed in for power-play goals.

"I think we all matured enough to see that we're able to work as a team and as long as we take the information that (Roos) taught us, we'll be fine in the future," Zumbo said. "Even though we lost today, we showed a lot of improvement."

And as the Lancers embark on a new era, Zumbo was asked what he will remember most about his legendary former coach.

"My best memory was probably his work ethic with the kids," Zumbo said. "He made everyone want to be better and if you didn't want to be better, you weren't going to play."

Now the Lancers will try to make the state tournament without Roos, who led Notre Dame to state championships in 1999 and 2006. Notre Dame needs to win five of its remaining 10 games to accomplish that goal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?