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Nick Sfikas Father of Theo Skifas.
North Reading, Ma
Matt Smith has a passion for the game of hockey as well as coaching. The first few words that come to mind when I think of Coach Smith is passionate, energetic and enthusiastic. He is a great teacher who is able to break down the game into small skills that are innovative and challenging. On and off the ice Coach Smith shows his commitment and excitement for the game, dedicating his time towards coaching and developing new skills to teach his players. The discipline Coach Smith instilled in me on the ice carried over into my personal life, molding me into a principled young man. Coach Smith is incredibly skilled and will give 110% to help improve his players, on and off the ice. I am proud to have called him coach and wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to be behind me on the bench.
CJ Kenny (Pro Ambitions Panthers)
Former Player 1995 Birth Year
Being a coach myself, I am highly selective when deciding who I want my boys playing for and what I expect from another coach at each game, skills session, and most importantly practice. As luck would have it, last summer my son and I met Coach Smitty for the first time while playing for him in a tournament. Over the course of six games, it became apparent to both of us that he not only had ton of hockey knowledge and real passion for the game, but he also has unique ability to connect with the players. As an alternate on Smitty’s U14 team we got to see firsthand just how dedicated he is as coach. His preparation, communication with parents and players, and approach to the game is on par with some of the best coaches I know. As a result, there is not a minute of wasted ice time at practices and during games the players are constantly receiving productive feedback. Moving forward I would welcome the opportunity for both of my boys to participate in any program that Coach Smitty is part of.
Marc Griffin
Valley Jr. Warriors (U14 & 2010 Elite)
Coach Smitty is a dedicated family man as well as highly educated high school hockey coach. His strongest attributes are his overall work ethic and knowledge of the game of hockey. He brings great enthusiasm and passion to the rink. He specializes in putting together practice plans and developing innovative drills to prepare us for our opponents. He has earned the respect of the student athletes as well as his fellow coaches.
Mark Lee
Head Coach St. Mary's Hockey
There are many great hockey coaches that are X’s and O guys. Coaches that know the game of hockey. I think that being a great youth hockey coach is so much more than that. You have to be able to connect with kids, understand them, bring the great out of them. I can honestly say I don’t know of a better motivator, teacher or mentor as a youth hockey coach than Coach Smitty. The way he gets kids to play at their highest level and with passion is really 2nd to none. His passion and energy are what sets him apart from the rest! I highly recommend Coach Smitty as a Coach and Man!
Rich Avery
Coach Smitty has worked with our ’08 and ’06 sons as both a team coach and skills instructor. He whole-heartedly invests in each player - expecting their best and consistently offering feedback and reinforcement to help them reach their personal goals. His passion and pure love of the game is contagious to players, fellow coaches and families, without a doubt! As parents, we wanted our boys to continue to grow overall while improving their challenge areas, all while maintaining their love of the game. Smitty works his magic almost instantly - both boys improved their skills with his specific instruction (and repetitive practice) and more importantly, they were able to improve their decision making skills during games. Coach Smitty takes the time to explain the ‘why’s and how’s’ in a way that both our ’08 and ’06 sons understood and could execute. They consistently say he runs the ‘hardest practices ever!’ and they both can’t wait to get back to this amazing coach every chance they can. We were lucky to cross paths with Coach Smitty - and will make sure he’s a part of our hockey life moving forward!
Parents of ’08 and ’06 Hockey Players