Andover Hockey Coach Not Being Asked Back

ANDOVER, MA — Andover High School has reportedly informed head hockey coach Chris Kuchar he will not be asked. Jeff Cox, a scout who also covers prospects for New England Hockey Journal, reported the move in a post of Twitter Monday afternoon.

In January 2018, Kuchar and two other coaches were accused of withholding food and water from players. Kuchar and the other two coaches were cleared in an investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, that found the accusations unfounded. Kuchar returned to lead the team to the state Super 8 tournament.

Last year the Eagle-Tribune reported that Andover Superintendent Sheldon Berman tried to have Kuchar removed in 2016. The newspaper said Berman asked the athletic director and high school principal to remove Kuchar because the way his son, Dale Haavind-Berman, who played for the team at the time, was treated.

In a six-page letter, Berman said Kuchar's coaching methods were "close to the category of abuse."

"Dale would prefer to forget it all and quit hockey so he didn't have to think about it. However, as a father and a superintendent I can't let this kind of behavior go unaddressed," Berman wrote. "It is my belief that Andover would serve students better with another coach."

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).