🔥🔥𝑴𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑪𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏! 𝑷𝒂𝒖𝒍 𝑶’𝑫𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒍

As we gear up for an exciting new hockey season, we’re thrilled to introduce our new Head Coach with a wealth of experience and passion for the game. 

We asked Paul a few questions to get to know his hockey journey and what drives his love for coaching. 

𝐐: 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲.

I’m not sure I want to admit how long I’ve been playing hockey! It all started about 40 years ago when I went to college in England. I was actually handed a hockey stick instead of a hurl—and that was the beginning of it all. It’s been quite the journey since then!

𝐐: 𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞?

Not continuously. After college, I took a break—about 20 years, actually. But once my own kids started playing, I found myself back at the pitch. That’s when I really got involved again, this time from the coaching side.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬?

About 15 years ago. I started with underage coaching and have been involved ever since. It’s been incredibly rewarding.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

Honestly, it’s seeing the players develop—not just their individual skills, but how they grow into team players. Watching that progress over a season or two is something really special.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?

Definitely those rare but brilliant moments when something you’ve worked on at training actually happens in a match! That’s the magic right there—it reminds you why you do it.

⸻

We’re so excited to have this experience and enthusiasm on the sideline this season. Welcome aboard, Paul we can’t wait to see what the season brings! 🏑