"You guys aren't even supposed to be in States. You're playing with house money, so go out there and just play the game." These were the words said to us by our head coach before our State playoff game against Newtown my junior year. After hearing these words, our team was unmotivated to play for our coach. He gave up on us in our time of need. Our coach is supposed to be the one person who believes in his players through thick and thin, and shouldn't be emotionless before a game.

I contemplated quitting during the offseason, and realized that I would have been content with ending my playing career with a blowout loss, since the next season didn't look too bright. But before the season started, our coach was fired, and my outlook on the season changed from grim and bleak to upbeat and optimistic. Bobby Stearns was announced as our head coach, a former power skating instructor who had great credentials. He played for University of Connecticut and Western Connecticut, and he coached at Western Connecticut and New Fairfield. Going into the season, I knew that this team was going to turn around. Going into the season, I knew that our team would be focused on winning and making some noise in the SWC's.

Our coach had one of the best hockey I.Q.'s that I had ever seen, he saw things that nobody would have ever noticed. During our first game, our coach took the defenseman out before the game, and explained to us how since the glass was extremely short, we could chip the puck off the glass, and have it die right in the middle of the ice, the perfect outlet pass. I shrugged his idea away at first, thinking that he didn't know what he was talking about and was trying to impress us since he was stressed. We found ourselves down 3-0 at the start of the third period, and during that time I knew that Coach Stearns was set on winning. Our old coach would have thrown in the freshman and considered it to be a loss, but he kept in the starters and was focused on beating this FCIAC team and making a statement. We were able to tie the game up, and with 18 seconds left, I had the puck on my stick, and remembered my coach's words of wisdom. I chipped the puck off the glass, and saw it land right on Charlie Berry's stick, and pass it to his brother, Billy, who one-timed it over the blocker of the goalie. It was the happiest moment of my career, we stole a win from Stamford, and made a statement in our first game of the season.

But what separated you the most, was the way you handled your players off the ice too, which showed how compassionate you were about this team. During our State playoff game, I fired a slap shot with two minutes left, and it flew up on the last second, and rang off the crossbar and out. One minute and 42 seconds later, I saw the Staples center tie up our man, have his winger take the puck, and

fire a shot over the glove of our goalie to to win the game as I watched from the bench.

I'll never forget what you said after, "I know you were only two inches off from being the hero for this team, and it may haunt you, but you need to keep your head up. This has been a great season for you, and I know that you will learn from this".

The ability to calm a player down during an emotional time and care for their team even when out of uniform speaks volumes about their character and morals. I can honestly say that the best choice I made my senior year was playing hockey one more time, and no, that is not an understatement. Coach, I think I can speak for the other seniors, this was a season like no other that we were thrilled to be apart of. We couldn't have asked for a better send off to college than such an eventful season, where for once, winning was actually expected of us. I wish I could play for you for three more years, but I realize now my time's up. Although I didn't get the luck of the draw, I played with the hand I was dealt, and I was able to have one memorable season, and I'm thankful for that. I know that as long as you are leading this team, then the players are in good hands coach. Good luck next year and I'll see you at the alumni game. Go Barlow.