Seventy-year-old Norm Gagne has coached 1,010 high school hockey games at five different schools.
“But I still get excited before every game. I even get butterflies sometimes, depending upon who we play,” said Gagne, who guided Scarborough High School to its first ever state Class A championship last weekend, when the Red Storm beat St. Dominic Academy of Auburn 2-1 in double overtime.
It was his seventh state championship in 17 state game appearances.
His teams won three state Class B crowns at Gardiner (1981, 1983 and 1985) and three A championships at Waterville (1991, 1996 and 2001).
“I still love it. I enjoy working with the kids, and I have a good rapport with them, even at my age,” Gagne, who also coached at Gorham and Lewiston, said.
“Last year, after the banquet, all the seniors lined up, shook my hand and told me what a pleasure it was to play for (me). They gave me a hug. It brought tears to my eyes,” Gagne said.
Gagne admits he has changed over the years. He has become more lenient and now allows players to use their cellphones on the bus and play music before games.
“The thing that really helps me is the young assistants I hire. They help me keep up with the times,” Gagne said.
Jake Brown, who played for Gagne at Lewiston High, has been his assistant since he took the job at Scarborough in 2009. Former Scarborough player Dan McGovern also is assisting him.
“One big thing is the kids listen to me so I’m still able to motivate them, and that’s what keeps me going,” Gagne said.
He said the players have changed over the years, especially in their approach to practice.
“There are fewer families who teach their kids the importance of having a good work ethic. It’s hard for coaches to get something out of the kids,” Gagne said. “You have to push them to bring out the best in them, and you have to tell some of them not to take (criticism) personally.”
But he said this year’s team was a throwback to earlier days, when work ethic and coachability were part of the package.
“These kids are very, very respectful and they’re goal-oriented. I never had to worry about their grades,” Gagne said.
“We didn’t have any superstars. We were average, talent-wise. But whenever we made an adjustment, these kids did it.”
Gagne has received his share of questions about why he continues to coach after retiring from teaching a few years ago.
“I just love to compete. I don’t play, but I’m tickled to death when I see the kids go out and execute the game plan. I love that,” Gagne said.
Of his seven state championships, he considers this one to be at the top of the list.
Scarborough was ravaged by injuries, including a broken collarbone sustained by captain and projected leading scorer Matt Caron, who missed 14 games but returned to give the team a boost at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs.
“Nobody gave us a shot to do this. Nobody thought we’d beat (defending state champion) Falmouth three times,” Gagne said. “I have never had a team overcome as much adversity as this one. I’ve never had a season as difficult as this in my 40 years.”
Gagne also needed to make several strategic adjustments including employing the neutral-zone trap to neutralize the speed advantage held by Falmouth and St. Dom’s over his Red Storm.
Gagne knew he needed to have a productive season from his inexperienced sophomores, who benefitted from the influence of the four captains.
Scarborough was exceptional in the defensive zone, allowing just 25 goals in 18 regular-season games.
Gagne is an Auburn native who was the goaltender for Edward Little High School’s first varsity team. He also was a quality basketball player but needed to decide between the two sports during his junior year.
“My buddies suggested that I be the goalie because they knew I was a good athlete. My father (Norm) played hockey at Lewiston High, but he was mad at me for playing hockey because I was a good basketball player,” Gagne chuckled.
His coaching career also began in an unorthodox way at Gardiner High.
“Peter Prescott, one of the owners of the (former Kennebec Ice Arena) asked me to coach the hockey team. I told him I’d do it for a year, but I really wanted to be a football coach,” Gagne said. “Here I am, 40 years later, still coaching hockey.”
And he has racked up 688 wins against 292 losses and 30 ties. The 688 wins ranks him third among the nation’s high school coaches.
“I can’t believe it,” said Gagne, an Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Famer who has no plans to retire any time soon.