DEPARTMENTS: ATHLETICS
by bill wells
Director of Student Promotion
Boys: Reinstated hockey program will ‘embrace the challenges that lie ahead’
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Head Coach Barry Almeida, left, and Assistant Coach T.J. Syner.
he last time a Wilbraham & Monson Academy Boys’ Ice Hockey team won a title was 1986. Coaches Barry Almeida and T.J. Syner are determined to hang another championship banner for the reinstated Boys’ Hockey program, which is back after a 19-year hiatus. “Our long-term goal is to sustain a high level of competitiveness while being able to contend for a championship year in and year out,” said Almeida, who will serve as head coach. “Outside of winning a championship, our ultimate goal is to help our student-athletes achieve their dreams of playing hockey at the collegiate level. We embrace the challenges that lie ahead and are determined to gain recognition for Wilbraham & Monson Academy.” The return of hockey at the Academy was announced in February. Mr. Almeida and Mr. Syner were hired to lead the program five weeks later after an extensive search. “Barry’s passion and desire to create something special,
a competitive prep school program, is exactly what we were hoping for,” Head of School Brian Easler said. “His playing and coaching résumé speaks for itself, but his energy and drive will really help make it all happen.” “Barry has a great vision for Boys’ Hockey at WMA,” echoed Board of Trustees member Bill Guerin ’89, who serves as General Manager of the Minnesota Wild in the NHL and is a four-time Stanley Cup champion. “He is a proven winner and a person of high character. Barry is committed to developing a strong, positive culture for these young players to grow in. He’s the perfect choice for WMA.” Coach Almeida, a two-time Division I national champion at Boston College, was a unanimous selection by the Academy’s hockey committee. Following college, he played two seasons in the American Hockey League, seven in the East Coast Hockey League and one year in Europe. Coach Syner, a cousin of Almeida’s, was a two-time captain and Hobey Baker (top college player) nominee during his four-year career at the University of Massachusetts. After playing six seasons of minor league hockey, which included four with Almeida, he served as an assistant coach during a run to the NCAA Division I final by UMass. “Obviously, we were both excited and honored to be chosen to lead the newly developed program,” Coach Almeida said. “Not only to be able to affiliate ourselves with such a prestigious school but having the opportunity to restart the program from scratch is what really drew us in. We have very high expectations of ourselves and of what we feel the program can become in the future. Being from the area and working closely with various programs over the years, we’ve been able to scout and work with local talent of all ages. “Our short-term goal is to build a strong culture as a hockey team that our students, faculty and alumni can be proud of. While that might take some time, we feel it is the most important aspect in building a respectful and winning program. Forming an identity early on and upholding high standards will be critical to our success.”
