Location-wise, Jim Gaudet's playing career didn't take him far. It didn't have to.
Gaudet played youth hockey in his hometown of Hanover, N.H. He followed that with a standout, three-year career at Hanover High School with all of his childhood friends. He played his senior year of high school with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs in the old Eastern Junior Hockey League, and then played another season with them before heading to Dartmouth College, playing for his father, Bob Gaudet, who coached the Big Green for 23 years and finished as the all-time wins leader for the program.
Based on that description, some might guess that Gaudet's career occurred in the 1970s or 1980s. Instead, the '89 played in the late '90s and 2000s and finished up at Dartmouth in 2012.
"I was really fortunate," Gaudet said.
While Gaudet's playing career only ended 11 years ago, that might as well be measured in dog years with how much the hockey landscape has changed, and he's well aware. It's also something he's going to fully face at his next job as the head coach of the Milton Academy boys hockey team, taking over for Paul Cannata, who stood behind Milton's bench for 20 years and announced his retirement in January.
At 34 years old, the 6-foot-1 defender from New Hampshire has already held a number of positions in hockey. He coached at the collegiate level as the head coach of the University of Maryland in the ACHA. He was the head coach of the Boston Jr. Bandits in the NCDC in 2019-20. That came after a season of being an assistant with the team and leading the charge in the weight room as the strength and conditioning coach. In 2020-21, he transitioned into the role of Director of Youth Hockey for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs.
When the 2020-21 season came to a close, Gaudet knew that despite all the experience, he needed something more.
"Something that was missing for me was that mentorship coaching under a really good head coach for a period of time," Gaudet said.
Babson had an assistant coaching job open around that time and Gaudet couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn from longtime bench boss Jamie Rice. Gaudet spent the last two seasons at Babson learning from Rice.
"Between him and my dad, I've been extremely lucky to have two of the best coaching mentors anyone could have," Gaudet said.
Gaudet recently wrapped up his second season with Rice. He began reflecting on his coaching experience and thinking about what might come next.
"I was looking for a place that could be a long-term job that I could really make an impact," Gaudet said. "I was thinking whether it's trying to be a Division 3 head coach or trying to go back to junior hockey or going to coach high school hockey or prep school hockey. In the end, working with high school-aged kids was really some of the most enjoyable years of my coaching career.
"I feel like high school is the age where you really make the biggest impact on kids. You can really help them develop as not only hockey players but as students and as people. That's something that is really fulfilling to me."
So, when Gaudet saw the job at Milton open, he jumped for it, knowing it was an environment that would foster his purpose.
Gaudet's purpose will be a north star for him as he guides Milton into the future of prep hockey, as academies and junior leagues gain more prominence. It's a future he's confident in.
"There's a lot of options out there for the players," Gaudet said. "We have to be looking for the right type of kid that is a very good hockey player but is also really interested in academics and is highly driven academically and also wants to be involved in a lot of different things that are offered at a prep school community like Milton Academy. Those types of kids are the ones that are going to thrive at Milton or some of the other prep schools.
"There's not going to be anything that can really replace that as far as junior hockey or some of the other options."
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On the ice, Gaudet has a new-school approach and one that's seen more and more in high levels of hockey.
"I like my players to have the freedom to make decisions on the ice and not be worried about making mistakes," Gaudet said. "I want them to play. We like to have the puck, we want to have the puck. I think it's enjoyable to coach and enjoy a little play when you feel free to make decisions on your own. I'm not going to tell every player where they have to be on the ice and their location in every single situation. I want them to be able to make those decisions.
"I want them to feel like they can make a play with the puck and not have to worry about me screaming at them for making a mistake because I think that's how they're going to develop as players. I think that's how we're going to develop as a team."
Gaudet is fortunate to walk into a strong team at Milton. The Mustangs earned the No. 3 seed in the NEPSAC Elite 8 tournament this past winter. While there will be roster turnover with 10 seniors graduating, pillars from the 2022-23 season team like star goalie Sam Caulfield (Needham, Mass.) and standout defenseman Dylan Hunt (Marlborough, Mass.) will be core pieces of Gaudet's first team.
The new head coach has already had a couple of meetings with the team. As for the rest of the spring and summer, it's about crafting next year's team and recruiting players for the future.
Fortunately for Gaudet, he has Cannata on his side.
"He's been a huge help in getting me up to speed," Gaudet said of Cannata. "He definitely is helping me out with some of the hockey-side things of the school that are helpful to know and getting me up to speed with the players and the recruits that were already in the system he had recruited and his assistants had recruited."
Gaudet has already hit the recruiting trail. Less than a week after being hired at Milton, the 34-year-old was at the final day of the Mass. Hockey Festival watching Caulfield and Hunt, as well as eyeing potential future Mustangs.
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The new head coach stood away from the main area, intently watching alone in the stands closest to the bench.
Soon enough, he will be behind it charting Milton's future forward.
