Q and A with Wayland-Weston Girls' Hockey Coach Bill MacDonald

Patch: How long have you coached this team for?

MacDonald: This team started in around 2003 or 2002. I’ve been with the program from the beginning. It started as a club team, then we went to varsity. We have always been a co-op. We’ve had some good years, and we’ve had some challenging years.

Patch: What has it been like building a program?

MacDonald: Well, it takes a little bit of an effort. We do have a learn-to-skate program on Saturdays and Sundays with kindergartners through eighth graders. That’s really helped to build the program. We’ve got some kids coming through the ranks now. The program is starting to see those kids. We don’t have a youth hockey program, so we need to have the kids take the initiative and do full seasons with the club programs to get ready for this. But it’s been fun and rewarding. I have really enjoyed being with these girls.

Patch: What are some of the challenges doing a dual-town team?

MacDonald: Well, it’s just the communication. The level of communication is that you need two of everything. You have to communicate with two administrators, both athletic departments. We have a hockey association that is involved with the fundraising and supporting it that way. It’s a lot of communication.

Patch: How does this year’s squad compare to past teams?

MacDonald: They’re energetic. I don’t think they realize how good they really are. And that’s the learning part. We have some really talented kids and if they put it all together, we can do some things.