With players from a range of schools and backgrounds, the 2025 Bernardsville, Somerset, Middlesex (BSM) hockey team presents Coach Spautz with both challenges and opportunities as he works to create a cohesive group with clear goals and expectations.
As he continues to put an immense amount of effort into uniting athletes who have never played together, Spautz aims towards creating a strong team that thrives in communication, discipline, and mutual respect.
Despite the natural differences that come with blending students from multiple schools and communities, Spautz believes his contingent of players has serious potential. His goals for the season extend beyond victories and losses. Coach Spautz hopes to demonstrate a team that grows together and values competence, focusing on supporting and lifting one another to showcase the diverse strengths that form a robust foundation for the team.
Entering his second season as head coach of the BSM Co-op Varsity Hockey Team, Spautz returns with a stronger, more determined mindset for developing younger players on the ice. Last season was marked by a challenging record, with the team facing a majority of losses, and a roster made up of students from a variety of different grade levels.
Last season’s difficulties highlight the importance of the resilient qualities Coach Spautz hopes to build on as he works to unify the 2025-26 team.
Coach Spautz, has shown no hesitation to confront his own shortcomings and flaws head-on as he describes, “not having the ability to see all of your players on a regular basis can be a challenge, whether it be checking in on grades and behavior or just wanting to cover some Xs and Os maybe during lunch time. It takes a longer time during the season for the kids to bond and get on the same page.”
Not only does Spautz have an admirable capacity for patience and flexibility, he also goes on to state that, “we have been fortunate to have some great kids who really want to play hockey and understand that in order to be successful, the team is going to have to become one team, not three schools.“
Spautz takes the time to identify setbacks and embraces them as opportunities for development as a way to demonstrate physical and mental growth as a player.
Although last season may have tested the team’s camaraderie and connection, it highlighted the coach’s broader achievements and the deeper significance of a coach’s role.
His head is held high when it comes to the girls’ hockey team and speaks with pride regarding the direction they are heading.
With clear expectations and a defined vision, he explains that, “this season we are hoping to compete within our division and hopefully make the state tournament come February.” Coach Spautz’s optimism reflects both the team’s potential and the challenges of a youthful roster, as well as his excitement for what is to come.
As the 2025-26 season begins to unfold, all eyes will be on how this team responds to the challenge; with Coach Spautz at the helm, hope remains high.
