A Fond Farewell at the Rec

From his coach’s box on the far side of the ice Tuesday night at the St. Louis Park Rec Center, Tim Donahue started noticing familiar faces in the stands.

But he wasn’t just recognizing people he sees everyday. Instead, the longtime St. Louis Park boys hockey coach started spotting former players from the many teams he’s led over the years. When the game was over — a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss to Chisago Lakes — all of those players took the ice to bid farewell to the only head coach the Orioles have known for the past 14 seasons.

“I was completely shocked by that,” Donahue said after coaching his last home game. “There’s a player here from every year I’ve coached.”

Donahue announced last month that his 14th season would be his last, as he wants to spend more time with his family. In all, he’s been a head or assistant coach with the program since 1992, and before that, Donahue was a St. Louis Park hockey player himself.

Asked afterward whether the reality of coaching his last home game had sunk in, Donahue said it had, but he admitted he really hadn’t thought about it much until he and his wife started talking earlier Tuesday about all the great memories they have had.

The coach said going to the state tournament after the 1998 and 2003 seasons, as well as sweeping rival Edina in 2004, were some of his fondest memories. But what does he cherish most?

“It’s the relationships,” Donahue said. “That’ll be the part I miss the most.”

If the post-game ceremony was any indication, Donahue certainly established many great relationships during his career. A number of his former players gave him warm embraces, and every member of the 2010-11 Orioles squad shook his hand as they entered the locker room.

For these Orioles, it’s been a rough season, and Tuesday’s game epitomized their struggles. They played hard against Chisago Lakes, and had a number of chances to tie the game late, but came up just short. The team is now 2-21.

Donahue said despite the struggles, he sees a lot of young talent on the roster, adding that it’s just a matter of putting everything together.

“They’re getting better,” he said. “It’s just the little things.”

In all likelihood, it will be former NHL player and St. Louis Park resident Shjon Podein next year, though nothing has been finalized. Both Donahue and assistant coach Paul Olson said they believe the program will be in great hands next year. Podein was at Tuesday’s game, taking in the action from the stands.

For Olson as well as the team’s other assistant coach, Donnie Williams, Tuesday night was equally bittersweet. Both are stepping down with Donahue.

“It’s hard to walk away,” Olson said.

The two have been with the program in some capacity since the early 1990s, joining Donahue on the varsity bench when he took the head job in 1997. While Olson said he's in a similar boat as Donahue — looking to step away from coaching to concentrate on family — Williams said he would like to continue coaching at the high school level next year. On Tuesday, he said he didn’t know where that would lead him.

One thing is for certain — collectively, the three coaches had quite the ride, forming a bond that will be hard to replace next season. But as he started to leave the Rec Center for a final time Tuesday, with the game puck in his pocket, Donahue said he knows it’s the right thing to do.

“It’s just time,” he said. “My family is calling.”

UP NEXT

The Orioles end their regular season on Saturday with a road game against Robbinsdale Cooper. Sectional playoffs then begin next week.