'It was calling me back': Chris Spillane returns at Franklin boys hockey coach
He was behind the glass instead of the bench.
Where else would Chris Spillane be during winter than a hockey rink?
The man who played youth and high school hockey before coaching in town for 21 years is returning for a second stint as head coach of the Franklin High School boys hockey team.
“It was calling me back,” Spillane said Wednesday afternoon in a phone interview.
His first run with the Panthers included 14 Hockomock League titles, the 2016 Division 1 state championship and an appearance in the 2015 Super 8 tournament, a first for a Hock. team. Spillane won his 300th career game after a 4-3 victory over North Attleborough on Jan. 10, 2018.
Why Spillane stepped down
A year later, however, he stepped down in order to free up time to watch his three children play college hockey: Kaitlyn and Ryan at St. Anselm; and C.J. at UMass, where he is currently a senior on the club team.
“I was burning it at both ends, trying to fulfill my commitment to Franklin High School and watch some of their games,” Spillane said. “I just felt it was time to focus on my own kids and enjoy their college experience.
“It was fantastic. Instead of racing back and forth. ... The cost of that was me not coaching, and I was willing to give it up because I really wanted to enjoy watching my children play the sport that they loved that they’ve played their entire lives.”
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But his life has since opened up.
'I love watching Franklin High School hockey'
Spillane retired in July as a sergeant with the Franklin Police Dept., closing a 30-year career with the force. Two of his children have graduated from college and C.J. will soon follow.
And the Franklin hockey job was vacated when Anthony Sarno stepped down after last season.
“I love watching Franklin High School hockey,” said Spillane, who regularly attended home games last winter. “When the opportunity arose, I figured I’d throw my name in the hat and see if I could help the program.”
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The Panthers finished 13-8 during last year’s regular season before defeating Wellesley in the postseason tournament. Hingham ended Franklin’s playoff run with a 4-2 victory in the Round of 16.
Spillane has not coached any of the players who will skate this winter, but senior Ryan Sicchio has two older brothers – Thomas, a member of the ‘16 state champs; and Brendan, a 2019 FHS grad – who played for him.
“I’m really looking forward to playing for him,” Ryan Sicchio said in a text. “I think everyone is excited to have him back knowing his history with Franklin.”
“Having coach Spillane back as our coach will be a great opportunity for the team,” added senior Ben Jarosz. “Having him back for my senior year knowing his past success is very exciting.”
Spillane made two appearances at the Boston Garden as a player with Franklin High, winning the Division 2 title in 1983. He played four seasons at UMass Boston, where he remains fifth in career scoring with 129 points.
He began playing hockey at the age of 4 and learned the sport within Franklin’s youth program.
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“Playing in college was exciting, but it just wasn’t the same experience as playing for your own town, your school and filling up that building,” he said.
Spillane said Franklin has 18 games on its schedule and would like to add at least two more.
Non-league opponents include extra games against Hock. foes Canton, a Division 2 state finalist that went 22-3 last year, and King Philip. Also on the schedule are defending Div. 1 state champ St. John’s Prep, Falmouth, Archbishop Williams, St. John’s of Shrewsbury, Newburyport and a tournament at Malden Catholic that also includes St. Mary’s (Lynn) and Weymouth.
“I think it brings out the best in our team,” Spillane said. “I’d much rather play a stronger schedule and maybe go a little bit above .500 than to play a lighter schedule and go .800. I’d rather challenge the kids. It’s worked for me in the past and I don’t think we’re going to change that philosophy.”
Despite saying he’s “way behind the eight ball” as far as preparing for the coming season, Spillane has more time than his previous stint when he took over early in the 1998-99 season. The Panthers did reach the sectional championship game, however.
There are no longer sectional and Super 8 (for now) tournaments, but Spillane has proven he can get results fast.
“I’ve never coached any of these kids before, so it’s like a new challenge like my first time around,” he said. “You evaluate the kids, you coach them and you lead them as best you can.”
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Consider Jarosz among those ready to be led.
“I think we are all looking forward,” he said, “to seeing what our team can do with him on the bench this year.”
Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. He can be reached at tdumas@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimDumas.
This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Chris Spillane returns as Franklin hockey coach after 3-year hiatus
