By Matt Taylor, Contributing Writer
Southborough – Scott Young has experienced a lot of success in his life. He's a two-time Stanley Cup champion, a three-time Olympian and 2002 silver medalist, and 40-goal scorer over the course of an 18-year professional hockey career. He was also a star player in at St. Mark's High School in Southborough, alongside future NHL players Doug Jarvis and Greg Brown. Today he is using his knowledge and experience to rebuild a successful hockey program at his high school alma mater.
In just his second year as head coach, Young has already led his squad to a winning record in 2011, and is well on his way to leading the Lions to even bigger heights in 2012. After 10 total wins from 2008 to 2010, Young led St. Mark's to 14 victories in 2011, and 14 wins this year and first place in the Eberhart Division of the Independent Schools League, with seven games left to play.
Previously, content to coach his sons in youth hockey, Young wasn's looking anywhere specific for a coaching opportunity.
“I didn's know the job would open up,” Young recalled. “I received an email about the job, and I decided to put my name in. The experience has been everything I had hoped for and more. It's great to be back at St. Mark's, and I was lucky because there was already a great group of core players here.”
One of those players is captain defenseman Eric Dolan. Dolan is in his senior year and has reaped benefits from Young's coaching.
“He's so knowledgeable about the game,” Dolan said. “Whatever our opponent throws at us, he has an answer. He demands a lot of us in practice, and that translates into success on the ice.”
Junior captain Mike Pontarelli has also seen major success under Young's tutelage. The forward has tallied 41 goals in his last 23 games, and could be headed for a Division 1 program after graduating next year. He plays on a formidable first line with fellow junior Nick Buly and senior Hassani Johnson.
“It's an honor to play for coach Young,” Pontarelli said. “The players on our team really buy into his system and what he wants to accomplish.”
Young also credited the strong play of his second line, consisting of J.T. Lynch, Brett Lawson and Ryan Medeiros, as keys to the team's overall success.
“Our kids work very hard in practice,” Young said. “Mike is a sensational leader as a junior, and Eric is a great leader not only for our team, but the football and lacrosse teams as well.”
After a 7-1 thumping of Roxbury Latin Feb. 1 and with seven games remaining, the St. Mark's Lions look to continue their quest for a league championship and playoff berth.
“The turnaround happened quicker than I thought it would,” Young said. “Finishing the season over the .500 mark last year was a huge step for our program.”
Young gives credit to his players for the significant turnaround, but there is no doubt his experience and knowledge has put his players in the right positions to succeed. With fellow coaches and former NHL stars Tony Amonte and Shawn McEachern at Thayer Academy in Braintree and the Rivers School in Weston, there should be top talent entering St. Mark's as well as other schools in the Independent School League.
