From the moment he put skate to ice in the ’80s, St. John’s varsity ice hockey coach Kristian Hanson ’94 P’26 says he knew coaching was in his future.
After playing varsity at the Prep for four years and serving as captain for the latter two, Hanson went on to skate for the University of New Hampshire until an injury in 1998 led him to support the Wildcats in a student-manager role. “I began to see the game in a whole new way,” he remembers. “It allowed me to see the big picture, and it gave me a whole new love of the game.”
Nineteen seasons after taking the helm at St. John’s Prep, Hanson says that every year presents him and his coaches with new players and team dynamics to navigate. “The staff adapts to the kids—how much we can push versus how much we have to teach varies from year to year.”
His first official gig behind the boards was as an assistant coach at Salem High School, where he wound up meeting Scott Hentosh P’17, who joined Hanson in moving to the Prep and is still an assistant with the team. In fact, the whole coaching staff—Hanson, Hentosh, David Hennessey ’83 P’16, and Jeff Tache—have been together for all 19 years. “We were learning about our team and our players together at the same time,” says Hanson.
A graduate of the Prep and the hockey program, Hanson leans into the rich legacy that the sport has to offer. “As an alumnus, tradition and team history means a lot to me,” he says, noting it’s something he hopes to instill in his players. “There are two people from the program’s history that I want the team to be present with: Derek Hines ’99 and Pete Frates ’03.”
Each year, Hanson and his team participate in the 1st Lt. Derek Hines ’99 Memorial Game and in the Pete Frates Winter Classic, two events that have continued to grow over the years, with last season’s Hines game being played at West Point, where the late alumnus was a graduate. “They were both great players because they played for the right reasons,” says Hanson. “They played the game the right way and were men of good character outside the rink. That memory is incredibly important for me to keep alive for my players and show them a model of what a good player is.”
He also gives special kudos to his own coach at the Prep, John Zimini. “Coach Zim has been an integral part of our team culture and success. He made my job stepping into the position of coach incredibly easy.”
This year’s squad showed remarkable buy-in and pulled off an 11-game win streak, including big upsets against some of the best teams in the conference. “I give massive credit to my team this year,” he says. “This whole process is a collaboration, and they’ve pulled their weight and then some in terms of showing up. For example, I had two brothers on the varsity team, a junior and a senior. Before an away game, the older brother forgot his jersey, but the younger had his. Either could wear it, but only one could play. Faced with the choice, the senior let his younger brother play—the junior scored his first varsity goal while his brother cheered him on.”
Most fulfilling to Hanson was the opportunity to coach his son, Owen. “He graduated this year. Beyond being a coach, it’s been remarkable for me as a father to get to spend this year with him. It’s given me a whole new perspective on the game. I think it’s a memory we’re both going to hold onto dearly for a very long time.”
P.S. It's Memorial Dining Hall's 100th Birthday! Explore a century's worth of history for this iconic St. John's Prep space.
Alumni, didn't get your Prep Magazine? Make sure the alumni office has your most up-to-date contact information.