Mark Lee thought 40 was a nice round number on which to conclude his illustrious career, prompting the St. Mary’s boys hockey coach to announce his retirement this week.
Lee, a 1980 graduate, has served as head coach at his alma mater the last 37 years, after three years as an assistant to Don “Buffer” Bastarache.
“It’s never really the right time,” Lee said, “but I wanted to make sure I left the program in good shape. St. Mary’s hockey has been my baby my whole adult life. I wanted to make sure the program was thriving.”
That box can be checked, as the Spartans went 13-7-3 this year and advanced to the MIAA Div. 1 Round of 16, before losing to powerhouse Catholic Memorial. With only four seniors on the roster, the future is bright.
“Everything is in line for a smooth transition,” said Lee, a member of the St. Mary’s Hall of Fame and Varsity Club (Athletic Hall of Fame). “There’s a lot of promise. I didn’t want to be that coach, who left when the well had run dry.”
Lee retires with a career record of 497-248-88 (.649 winning percentage), 10 league championships, six MIAA North sectional titles and a state championship in 2017. He had four teams qualify for the former Super 8, a double-elimination invitational tournament for the best eight teams in the state. His teams qualified for the post-season 31 times and he compiled a 46-34 record in the MIAA tournament.
“We had some success and it wasn’t by accident,” said Lee, a member of the Lynn Police Department since 1988. “A lot was put into it by so many great student-athletes and coaches. I’m really proud of what we were able to accomplish.”
“Mark Lee embodies what every school should want in a coach,” said Athletic Director Jeff Newhall. “His commitment to student-athletes and his passion for the school are second to none. He will be missed.”
Lee grew up watching his brother David play at St. Mary’s, where he served as team captain in 1975. “I knew I wanted to go to St. Mary’s,” he said.
He came in as a student in 1976 and pretty much never left, starting his coaching career at the school as an assistant in 1983. As a student at Salem State University, he was already coaching Lynn Youth Hockey.
“I got addicted to the coaching aspect of the game,” said Lee, who took over a program with about 15 players and had 52 try out this year. “We worked hard to have student-athletes put their trust in St. Mary’s.”
As for highlights, Lee said he will miss the day-to-day grind of practices and games and the culture that permeates St. Mary’s and the athletic program.
“St. Mary’s is truly a family,” he said. “There is no place around like it. Coaching there has been such a positive experience. I met lifelong friends. The winning is awesome, but the relationships built over 40 years is the biggest highlight.”
