Meet the Hockey Coaches

Boys: Reinstated hockey program will ‘embrace the challenges that lie ahead’

Head Coach Barry Almeida, left, and Assistant Coach T.J. Syner. T 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 a liate 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.”

Girls: Titans prepping to join ‘world of girls’ prep school hockey’

Sara Ugalde is looking for girls who want to make history. Specifically, she’s looking for girls who want to make history while wearing skates and a WMA hockey jersey.

Named head coach of the inaugural Wilbraham & Monson Academy Girls’ Ice Hockey team following a national search, Coach Ugalde is wasting no time in building a program.

“I am eager to find the founding members of the team and look forward to getting on the ice with them,” Coach Ugalde said.

And Coach Ugalde has plenty of ice experience. After an MVP career at the Westminster School in Connecticut, she helped Middlebury College in Vermont reach the New England Small Colleges Athletic Conference Championship in 2011 and 2012.

After college she served as an assistant coach at three NESCAC schools—Trinity College in Connecticut, Williams College in Massachusetts and Colby College in Maine. She was also a director and coach for the Connecticut Junior Rangers, and an assistant coach for the Connecticut Whale of the National Women’s Hockey League.

“We feel incredibly fortunate to have found Sara,” Head of School Brian Easler said. “With her depth of playing and coaching experience in youth leagues, prep school hockey, collegiate and professional hockey, combined with her passion to build this program and grow the sport for girls, we look forward to Sara’s impact as the founding Head Coach of this new program for female WMA scholar-athletes.”

Coach Ugalde was hired in May. On July 1 she began her role as head coach for Girls’ Hockey and Softball, as well as Assistant Director of Admission.

“I am so grateful to be a part of WMA and for the opportunity to build the Girls’ Hockey program,” she said. “My favorite part of WMA so far is definitely its community. Since Day One, I have received endless support from everyone on campus.

“My short-term goals for the program include finding student-athletes who will contribute to the WMA community and being prepared to compete in (games during) the 2022–2023 season. With support from the WMA community and alumni, I hope to become a competitive program in the world of girls’

Girls’ Ice Hockey Head Coach Sara Ugalde

prep school hockey. I want the program to be a consistent gateway for our athletes to continue to play at the next level.”

The start of the program for Girls’ Hockey coincided with the return of Boys’ Hockey, which is back after a 19-year break. That announcement came after a committee, which included four-time Stanley Cup winner Bill Guerin ’89 and three-time Olympian Kacey Bellamy, thought the time was right to bring hockey back to WMA.

The girls’ team, as well as the boys’ team, will practice at Enfield Twin Rinks in Connecticut.