BRUNSWICK

The boys and girls ice hockey programs at Brunswick High School will have new leaders heading into the upcoming season.

Bill Bodwell, who led the Dragon girls squad for all of their six years in varsity hockey, has replaced Mike Routhier, while AJ Kavanaugh takes over the Brunswick girls.

Both coaches have a huge undertaking, with graduation hitting the squads hard.

Bodwell

A Brunswick graduate, Bodwell was a hockey standout at Brunswick.

“This is in my blood,” said Bodwell, who also coaches boys lacrosse at Cheverus. “I played for BHS, and it was the most fun that I had as an athlete. For me, this is like coming full circle. Playing hockey is something I greatly enjoyed as a kid. I want to give back and am excited for the challenge.”

He will face a steep learning curve, with a large group of seniors moving on after compiling a fouryear mark of 34-33-5 in Routhier’s second stint with the Dragons, which included four straight appearances in the Eastern Maine Class A playoffs. Brunswick lost in the semifinals the past two seasons, and were knocked out in the quarterfinals the two previous years, when most of the members of the squad were freshmen and sophomores.

Despite the prospect of having a young squad, Bodwell is excited for the future. Brunswick fielded two middle school squads in the Southern Maine Middle School League last year. The Braun team (Tier III) finished 12-3-1 and advanced to the semifinals, while the non-checking Roy Division team went undefeated in the regular season (12-0) before falling to South Portland, 6-4, in the title game.

“No doubt, we are going to be young,” said the coach. “However, we have a great group of freshmen coming in, players that did well in middle school.”

Bodwell admits he will miss leading the girls. Though his coaching record was 35-67-4 with the Brunswick girls, his team reached high in 2011/12, compiling a 14-3-1 mark (No. 1 in the East) and picking up its first playoff win, a 6-1 victory over Yarmouth/Freeport. His Dragons fell in the semifinals to eventual state champion Greely, something that happened again one season later as the Rangers picked up their second consecutive state girls hockey title.

“I want to thank all the girls and their parents,” said Bodwell. “I had the opportunity to work with great people, fantastic parents and young women who gave it their all.”

Bodwell plans on working hand and hand with Kavanaugh to provide more ice time to the high school programs.

“Ice time is precious, and I want both teams to get their time, sharing instruction time and making sure we’re both doing our best to be successful,” said Bodwell, who is married to Berta and has a two-year-old son, Buddy. “Hockey has a long history in this town. We have a great relationship with (Bowdoin men’s hockey coach) Terry Meagher, and Bowdoin girls coach Marissa O’Neil was always fantastic to me. We are very lucky to have one of the best college hockey programs right in our backyard.”

Bodwell has been busy away from the ice as well, pushing to help build a rink for Midcoast Youth Hockey.

“We are doing a feasibility study in the fall, putting together a business plan and working with the Brunswick Recreation Department to make a new rink happen,” said Bodwell, who works hand-in-hand with Community Ice. “Land at the former air station has been given to the group, and I’m optimistic that we can get it done. A new rink would provide more opportunities for kids to play hockey, figure skate and public skate, something that hasn’t happened in Brunswick in a very long time.

“Midcoast Youth Hockey League president Bill Patterson has great passion for the sport. I believe the league is on an upswing. The future is bright.”

Kavanaugh

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach the Brunswick girls hockey team,” said Kavanaugh, who is no stranger to ice hockey in both Topsham and Brunswick and is a graduate of Mt. Ararat High School.

Kavanaugh has helped the Brunswick boys in the past, coached the Mt. Ararat Middle School “A” team for six years and has watched as the Mt. Ararat High School girls played its first two seasons as a varsity program under Ron Hutchins.

And, when not talking ice hockey, the Golf Academy of America graduate can be seen often at Brunswick Golf Club, where he serves as the director of golf after two years at Toddy Brook Golf Course.

“I have seen these programs grow, and I see more and more girls hockey programs starting up in the next few years,” said Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh feels the work Bodwell has done will help him.

“Bill is a huge asset,” said Kavanaugh. “He wants to see both programs succeed, and we plan on doubling up when it comes to ice time, having skating instructors come in and work with our players, along with goaltending coaches. Marissa O’Neil has offered her help, which is a great asset to have.”

The BHS girls are coming off a tough 2-15-1 season, and Kavanaugh sees a young Dragons squad in his future.

But, the coach hopes to have several freshmen entering his program in the next couple seasons. The Brunswick Junior High School squad went 12-0 in the SMMSHL Petterson Division last year, outscoring opponents, 63-14. The Huskies fell in the title game to Oyster River, 1-0.

“We will be young, just like the boys, and there will be lots of instruction early,” said the coach. “The girls game is different, but I am excited to be leading the Brunswick squad. The kids are very coachable, and I enjoy teaching hockey to players who want to learn.”

The first high school practice for the girls is scheduled for Nov. 3, while the Brunswick boys will take to the ice on Nov. 17.