SACO — Months after leading Thornton Academy to its first ever Maine state hockey title, head coach Shawn Rousseau is moving on.
Rousseau, who completed his third season at the school, is taking a job at the Kent School, a private primary school located in Kent, Conn.
“I have enjoyed three good years at Thornton Academy as an administrator, teacher and coach,” said Rousseau, who was also a guidance counselor and English teacher at Thornton. “Naturally, it is difficult to be moving on, particularly so soon after the hockey team’s great success. The move to the Kent School provides excellent professional growth opportunities, both for me and for my wife, Laurie. In addition, our two daughters will benefit tremendously from the educational opportunities available at Kent. While I am very sad to be leaving Thornton, I do see, clearly, that the move to Kent is a positive one for me and for my family.”
For Kent it will be a two-for-one deal.
Rousseau’s wife Laurie, who has been a mathmatics teacher at Thornton, will also be teaching at Kent.
A former All-American goalie for the Yale women’s hockey team, Laurie Rousseau will be involved with girls hockey and lacrosse at Kent.
Shawn Rousseau, who played on two Maine state championship teams at Lewiston, compiled an impressive 47-14-1 mark during his stay at Thornton, and took his team to the playoff each year.
His tenure was capped by the Golden Trojans’ 4-3 double overtime win over his high school alma mater at the Colisee in Lewiston on March 12, and the first state title in the 25 year history of the program.
“I deeply regret that I will not be able to coach Thornton’s hockey team next year,” Rousseau said. “I love the boys dearly, and I will miss them more than I can adequately express. I wish the team the very best of luck. I think they have an exciting year ahead of them, and I have no doubt that they will be incredibly successful.”
One of those players, forward C.J. Maksut, who scored the game winning goal against Lewiston, expressed great admiration for his former coach.
“I’m going to miss him,” said Maksut, who has decided to spurn opportunities to play junior hockey, and will return to Thornton for his senior season. “Over three years, you build a relationship. I learned a lot, but I respect his decision. I’m a better hockey player, and a better person, I think.”
Rousseau’s successor will have big shoes to fill. To that end, said Thornton Athletic Director Gary Stevens, the process of hiring a new coach will be a thorough, but timely one.
“When we hired Shawn, it was in April (2008),” said Stevens. “So we’re about three months behind where we were and our window is a little tighter.
“Ideally, we need to have someone who is committed to athletics with a strong academic basis. That’s what Shawn did.”
— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.
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