There's a new look at Kent this season.
The Lions are coming off a 19-4-0 season that saw them reach the Elite 8 semifinals, falling to eventual runner-up Phillips Andover. They dominated the second half of the season, thanks to a 14-2-0 run after the holiday break. Their only two losses in that stretch came at the hands of Andover and eventual champion Williston Northampton.
But even with quite a group of returners primed for another deep run, changes are afoot for Kent with head coach Sam Ftorek entering the fold.
"Expectations are high," said Ftorek, the son of former Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek. "Nine seniors and a real veteran staff, which is awesome. They're committed to some high-powered schools, which is nice."
A strong core in place
With nine seniors as well as five juniors back for the season, Kent returns what is sure to be one of the most experienced rosters in the NEPSAC this season.
With the veteran leadership already well-established for the Lions, it makes Ftorek's life all the easier as he gets started.
"There's a culture that's been in place here for quite a while," Ftorek said. "It's the best situation to jump into, so it's been really good that way. For the rest of this year, it's a matter of watching them do their thing."
Back between the pipes is senior netminder Lauren Ferrari. Ftorek is excited to have the team's "security blanket" back in the fold.
"She's been great for us, and she's going to continue to be great for us. She's going to carry the load, basically. We've had some good conversations. She's excited about the season."
Headlining the forward group is a pair of Division 1 commits in Mia Montanari (East Hampton, Conn.; RPI) and Megan Duplantie (Dartmouth).Â
On the blue line, stout returners Sophie Rousseau (Kent, Conn.), Elizabeth Bonner and Caitlin Pierce will step into elevated roles. Pierce can play both forward and defense, too. Rousseau is a Quinnipiac commit.
"It's not going to be a one-person show. It's going to be as a team," Ftorek said. "But those girls who are committed, they've shown that they can do it. Then we got a bunch of juniors that are going to step up into that role."
He likes what he has seen out of the newcomers in captains' practices as well. They have been willing to engage with the seniors in battle drills, which is encouraging in his eyes.
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"They don't back down from anybody, which is the biggest thing," Ftorek said. "As an incoming new student, you usually are in awe a little bit. And these girls are respectful but not willing to give an inch. So, I see anybody who's on the roster, ready to step in and take up some sort of a role. Then just as we get into the season, we'll figure out what those roles are and sort it out."
A new voice
Ftorek comes to Kent in place of Shawn Rousseau. He previously served as head coach at Kimball Union for the past three seasons, where he had a 33-30-3 record.
He doesn't anticipate many big changes this season, especially systematically. As the Lions see more turnover next year, he anticipates instituting changes based off what he sees this season.
"For me, it's kind of implementing some of the things and the kinds of small details that I focus on," he said. "This year, it's kind of you know, let the seniors lead the younger girls and really kind of put their stamp on the season, but the expectations are very high."
Ftorek played pro hockey for 17 years before coaching for three more. He wants his players to be "professionals" and likes to consider himself a players' coach who loves to win and hates to lose "more than anything."
"You come to the rink, you do what we ask you to do, you do it because you love to do it and you have a lot of fun within the confines of the rink," he said. "Having competition makes each other sharp. Battling together is what what solidifies you as a team, and then push them to shove, it's you versus the other team."
Ftorek's main objective is to make sure his players get everything they need and want out of their experience to not only be successful in the short term, but more importantly in the long term. He wants to be able to teach the game in a way his players can easily learn it and implement it themselves in order to prepare for the next level.
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"All of my all of my satisfaction, it's kind of delayed," he said. "Real success for me is when these girls have come up through the system, get to college and instead of waiting until junior year to play regular shifts, they take somebody's job halfway through freshman year. For me that's a success and a victory because now they've been able to kind of master hockey, take someone's spot and help their team do better. ... If they can play three or four seasons instead of just two, they've gotten more mileage than the coach thought they would. And so that for me is the important piece."
