Varsity Boys Hockey

Christie Serino: A Reminiscence

The scene was rather remarkable, I thought. Twenty-five tired but exhilarated teammates and four coaches entered the locker-room minutes after winning their school's first-ever Super Eight Championship. As I looked on - - out of range -- from beyond the doorway, they took a knee and said a prayer! Remarkable... but not a surprise. It had happened throughout the tournament and after 20 other games this season. The scene typified the kind of team and sort of hockey program Coach Chris Serino had put together.

When Chris assumed his position as Coach/Athletic Director at Malden Catholic he brought a powerful combination of style, discipline, skills, and character to the young men of our Hockey Team, He was a model of care, and humor, and intensity to them on and off the ice. He took a once-great program that had fallen onto hard times and within his first year had the program moving in the right direction. That year he coached the Team into the Division I North Finals, and then for the next five years, he brought the Team to the Super Eight: the Finals against Reading; Semi-Finals in 2009 and 10; and a 2011 Championship! His Team’s record in Super-Eight play for those 5 years was 17-6 (Three of those losses coming in the team’s first year at that elite level!)

But Chris was much more than just about wins and losses. He was a strong positive role model for both players and fellow coaches, teaching sportsmanship, accountability, personal responsibility, tenacity, and respect for a person. A multiple award winner through his long and distinguished playing and coaching career (Saugus HS Hall of Fame [player]; American International College Hall of Fame; Mass. HS Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame [2004]; Prep School Coach of the Year 1988/90; Mass. Youth Hockey Coach of the Year 1999 [for volunteer work]), he remained humble and ever-hard-working on behalf of his players. With his multiple college contacts from 20 years of coaching in the college ranks, Chris was eager to make calls to college coaches and set up interviews for his players. If players needed transportation to those colleges, Chris took them. He met individually with each player, asked what school they wanted to attend, then helped them discern both where they might go and where they could best hope to play. His college counseling to players was invaluable. Above all, he made sure his players stayed on track for graduation.

Chris worked closely with Malden Catholic’s Campus Ministry in charitable/service events. A cancer survivor himself, he motivated his entire Team (Fr-JV-Varsity) to participate annually in the North Shore Hospice Walk. He was regularly available to local youth hockey whenever called to clinics or speaking engagements. In the Malden Community, he worked effectively as the liaison with Malden Catholic and the City of Malden in planning public recreational facilities/fields that benefited all citizens of Malden and its surroundings. He made our fields available to youth football, soccer, and lacrosse leagues, as well as to occasional local colleges.

At Malden Catholic, we try to inspire our students to assume the spiritual values of the Xaverian charism: simplicity, humility, compassion, trust, and zeal. I am proud to recognize that Chris represented these values so well to his players. He asked that his players be selfless on the ice and off – good men and good models for those who watch them.

In the happy memory of Christie Serino and as an expression of our lasting love for him, we host this annual Christie Serino Christmas Tournament. May his spirit inspire us to good fellowship, good sportsmanship, and fun!

Brother Thomas Puccio, CFX, Ed.D.

Former Principal and Acting Headmaster while Chris was at MC