As the weather becomes colder and fall turns to winter, a new sports season begins for the varsity boys hockey team. Right now, they are beginning to prepare for their first game with the guidance of their coaches—Mr. Di Donato, Mr. Nahr, Mr. Sinisi, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Darnley (the community coach). Here are some of the questions that we asked Mr. Nahr about this season, as well as his previous experiences:
Why do you enjoy coaching hockey every year?
“Well, I like hockey. It’s something I played when I was in high school and it’s one of my favourite sports, especially as a Canadian. It’s also just nice to see the students work in a team, learn how to play and have fun together. It’s always a rewarding experience to see the students partake in extracurricular activities–you know, activities that they choose to be a part of outside of school–and it’s nice to see how well they represent the school.”
How were tryouts? Was there a better turnout than last year?
“It was pretty much the same as every year. You know, as the old players- the grade 12s- leave, we add new people to the team and this year, we added a few new grade 9s to our team as usual.”
How do you think the boys in the team will do this season?
“I think they’re a good team. They’re a bigger, faster team and they know their stuff. Last year, we made it to the playoffs, and it’d be nice to do that again, but it’s not all about their skill set and how far they go. It’s also about the camaraderie and the experience that they get playing hockey together.”
What do you think St. Augustine has in this team that is different from other schools?
“We have a great culture here. St. Augustine has a special environment, special students. They’re polite, they’ll hold the door open for you, and they care. It’s not only the students that care, though, it’s also the teachers- all the staff really-that care a lot. Everyone cares and works together to get to the goal.”
By: Julie Chan
Titan Times 