After the 2020-21 hockey season was canceled due to COVID-19, Fords skaters are looking to revitalize the program under new coaching and senior leadership. With alumnus Mr. Thomas Lindberg ’07 now at the helm, the hockey program is ready to take the necessary steps to become a powerhouse.
“Before taking this position, I coached for four years at Wissahickon Skating Club in Chestnut Hill for the Peewee AA team,” Mr. Lindberg said. “Because there was no season last year, a lot of parents reached out to me, because I am an alum, to see if I knew what was going on with the program because they were worried about it getting flat out canceled.”
Not wanting to see a sport and program vanish that gave him so much growing up, Lindberg knew he at least had to inquire about the opportunity.
After the former program head stepped down following the conclusion of the 2020-21 school year, Lindberg heard rumors that the Fords may cut their ice hockey program. Not wanting to see a sport and program vanish that gave him so much growing up, Lindberg knew he at least had to inquire about the opportunity.
“It would have been a shame to see something washed away that frankly brought my brother and I to Haverford,” Lindberg said. “I heard about the changes they wanted to make, I interviewed and pitched my vision for the program, and Murph gave me the ‘OK.’”
After extensive meetings and conversations between Lindberg and Athletic Director Mr. Michael Murphy, they ultimately agreed on a vision for the program.
“I told Murphy, ‘if you give me the nod [as head coach], we are going all in. We’re going to put all the chips in the middle and we’re going to build a top-tier program in the region.'”
Mr. Thomas Lindberg ’07
“I told Murph, ‘if you give me the nod [as head coach], we are going all in. We’re going to put all the chips in the middle and we’re going to build a top-tier program in the region. I don’t want to do this to stay where we’re at. I want to do this to be playing with the best teams in the region,’” Lindberg said. “I want to build the program long-term to be competing with and beating LaSalle, Malvern Prep, St. Joe’s, Holy Ghost, you name it.”
Although Lindberg knows it will take time before the program becomes top tier, he is committed to starting to build a new, winning culture this season.
“In the short term, the goal is to lay the foundations and principles of the program we want to instill. So that’s playing responsible hockey, respecting your teammates and coaches, and work ethic. If we get those three established this year, we can succeed.”
The success that Lindberg yearns for starts with his four Sixth Form leaders.
“We need to do a complete 180 on what this was program-wise into what it is, and that starts and ends with our senior leadership, and they’ve done a great job so far.”
mR. lINDBERG
“I told the seniors, ‘where this program is after you guys are gone is going to be light years from where it is now. But you four seniors determine how quickly we get there, and you do that by instilling the core principles within your teammates and ourselves… That’s carrying yourself, practicing like and acting like a top-tier program,’” Lindberg said. “We need to do a complete 180 on what this was program-wise into what it is, and that starts and ends with our senior leadership, and they’ve done a great job so far.”
Only a few games into the season, the Sixth Formers have noticed a change in culture compared to previous years.
“Coach Lindberg is really serious about the program, and he’s really into it. He’s trying to make us really committed and we’re doing a lot more work this year,” Sixth Former Ned Cutler said. “We [the seniors and Coach Lindberg] had meetings before the season. Coach told us that he needs us to be good leaders and set an example for how the program is going to be in the years to come. It all starts this year.”
“Coach Lindberg is a lot more involved and invested in finding plays and strategizing how we go about things.”
Will Morris ’22
Sixth Former Will Morris said, “Coach Lindberg is a lot more involved and invested in finding plays and strategizing how we go about things.”
One of the major points of emphasis this season is skating and playing without the puck.
“The best players in the world play with the puck on their stick 7% of the time that they are on the ice, so the other 93% of the time they play the game without the puck,” Lindberg said. “So that is a core principle we are building our program around. We need to excel while playing without the puck, and that has to do with work ethic, defensive responsibility, playing selfless hockey, and doing all of the little things really well.”
After a tough loss in their first game of the season, the Fords noticed major improvements in their second and third games.
After a tough loss in their first game of the season, the Fords noticed major improvements in their second and third games.
“In our first game, we were a lot less organized and focused than in our second game. Now, everything’s a lot cleaner and more organized, which is why we had a much better second game,” Morris said. “I feel like the change in our play from the first to second game was pretty big, so I think we will improve even more with more practice.”
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