It's a new era for Pingree boys hockey. Pingree announced on Monday that Shawn Bates is the next head coach. It comes after Dan Gordon stepped down as head coach after five seasons. Bates' playing career ended after the 2021-22 season. Since then, he's been an assistant at Pingree. The Vermilion, Alberta, native played his...
It's a new era for Pingree boys hockey.
Pingree announced on Monday that Shawn Bates is the next head coach. It comes after Dan Gordon stepped down as head coach after five seasons.
Bates' playing career ended after the 2021-22 season. Since then, he's been an assistant at Pingree.
The Vermilion, Alberta, native played his junior hockey with the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) from 2007-10, before heading to Merrimack for a four-year career from 2010-14. The 5-foot-9 centerman's best season came as a junior in 2012-13 when he notched eight goals and 18 points in 32 games.
From 2014-22, Bates played professionally in multiple leagues. He most notably played in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) with the Atlanta Gladiators, Tulsa Oilers and Florida Everblades.
Bates is elevated to head coach at an interesting time for Pingree.
The Highlanders are fresh off of going 17-9-4 en route to winning the Holt Conference title over North Yarmouth Academy.
Why is it so interesting? Because prior to this past season, the Highlanders hadn't had a season over .500 since 2007-08. Since 2003, Pingree has only been over .500 three times.
Bates will get to work with a team that won't lose all of its talent. While star goalie Nick Hubbard (Lynnfield, Mass.) will graduate along with forwards Ryan Kavanagh (Wakefield, Mass.) and Quinn Moses (Ipswich, Mass.), lots of scoring should return next season in Joe Gaffney (Wakefield, Mass.), Max Guertin (Lynnfield, Mass.), Nick Moulison (Georgetown, Mass.) and Trey Hanson (Boxford, Mass.). Defenseman Max Kirianov (Marblehead, Mass.), an '06, had another strong season this past winter and Danny Patch (Melrose, Mass.), an '09, showed promise on offense.
