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07/27/2017 12:00 AMLuke Galvin has traveled many avenues throughout the Northeast that involve the sport of hockey. Now, Luke is geared up to get going at Hand, where he’s eager to usher in a new era in the boys’ ice hockey program.
Luke grew up in Massachusetts and coached both junior and youth teams in the state. After refereeing at various levels, including the American Hockey League, Luke took a few years off from coaching before he was asked to coach the Madison Fall League hockey club. With one foot already in the door in town, Luke is now ready to take on the high school game as he was recently named the head coach for the Tigers’ boys’ squad.
“Hockey has framed my whole life, and I have always had my teams operate like hockey teams. My experiences within the sport have allowed me to have a different point of view on things. I’ve refereed at high levels, so I like the game played a certain way and the teams to operate a certain way,” says Luke, a Wethersfield resident. “My job is to teach the kids how to play and, the vibe of playing for your own school, that is hard to recreate. For me, it’s also about teaching the guys how to make decisions and be true to themselves. I want them to be respectful and on time.”
Luke grew up around a hotbed of hockey in Massachusetts, and so when it comes to his coaching approach, Luke is always looking to find the spark that will ignite his players’ fire on the ice.
“With the environment in Boston, kids wanted to grow up and play in the Beanpot Tournament. I also learned that part of my job is to make them understand why they love hockey,” Luke says. “I’m passionate about hockey, and you can get a lot out of it. You have to be all in with hockey.”
Luke takes great pride while mentoring his athletes. Luke aspires for those moments when the kids love hockey so much that their hustle—and subsequent success—seem almost effortless.
“Above the wins and losses, it’s all about the environment and experience you create. I’m a big believer in that you have to feel hockey. With a junior team I coached, we had a 60-game regular season and, for eight to 10 games out of it, they played with no thought and just went on instinct and feel. I know most of the best players in the world just feel it,” he says. “The fun of it for me is when you get the players to see something they didn’t originally see in themselves. It’s fun to watch, and the results are great.”
Hand Athletic Director Craig Semple praises Luke’s dedication to the game and feels that his intent focus on preparation will serve the Tigers well.
“We were impressed with Coach Galvin’s level of experience in all facets of hockey in coaching, officiating, and developing kids at all levels,” says Semple. “His strengths are in developing and honing the necessary preparation to compete at a high level of high school hockey. We feel strongly [that] his work ethic and knowledge, along with his ability to motivate, will be a great fit for our kids and program for many years to come.”
Although he’s still in the early stages of the adjustment process, Luke is looking forward to getting to know his players, so they can create the quintessential example of a quality hockey squad.
“I still haven’t met all the players. I was introduced as head coach in June right before school ended,” says Luke. “It’s not about how old you are, but rather, how you want to play. It’s about trying to do things within the rules that helps it feel like a hockey team, and they have to act like a hockey team.”
Going one step further, Luke wants to create a series of preseason sessions in the fall, in addition to having the Tigers do some cross-training and drills from other sports.
“If they don’t prepare over the summer, then they won’t enjoy what happens in December through February. I have an idea to have a mini camp in July next year and then another in the fall. I’ve also thought about maybe doing some skating and skill development camps in the fall, along with a tournament each month in September, October, and November,” Luke says. “I want to allow the players to be more involved and dip their toes into see if they like the environment with these mini camps. I was at the high school and saw hitting sleds for football there. I reached out to the football coaches about maybe doing sessions in August through October that involved teaching the players more about giving and receiving contact out there.”