BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
WEST HAVEN, CT – The Connecticut public school hockey scene saw a very big change occur last month. One of the very best, and longest-serving coaches currently leading a team has decided to retire.
West Haven’s Joe Morrell stepped down to get another college degree in pursuit of other opportunities within the city’s education system. Morrell has been a Physical Education teacher at West Haven High School for 35 years. His wife Jackie Morrell also works there. At different times throughout his professional life, in addition to hockey, Morrell has coached girls softball, soccer, and tennis. Hockey though was his first true love in sports.
Last week, Steve Harris was named as his successor. Harris played his high school hockey in the mid-1990s at Notre Dame-West Haven before a PG year at Gunnery Prep (Washington, CT). He played Division II college hockey at Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island. Harris was a skills instructor coach at Notre Dame-West Haven after seven years as the Head Coach at Hamden Hall.
For Morrell, with a Blue Devil tattoed inside and out, leaving after 21 years was not an easy choice.
“I evaluate every year where I’m at, and a future opportunity may open up, and I need the administration level job and have to get the requisite degrees for it. I’m 55 now, so this was the best time to do this,” Morrell, who will be returning to Southern Connecticut State University, said.
“It’s been 32 years since I sat in a classroom as a student. For my entrance essay, I told them the last time I was here, there were no cell phones, no personal computers, or the internet. The time when I got my masters in PE that course is no longer even taught.”
His 21 years wearing his Blue Devil jacket behind the bench saw Morrell compile a winning record of 234-190-23, but a state title eluded him. His last best chance came in 2003-04 when his team lost in a double-overtime heartbreaker to Fairfield Prep, 4-3.
“I remember that game and the game against New Canaan. We’re down two goals with five minutes to go in regulation and won to get to that game.”
He was very proud of his team two years ago when the Blue Devils had just 17 skaters and made it to state Division I semifinals.
“That group was pretty special. With numbers like that, and to make it that far, was an incredible feat.”
The last West Haven Division I title was in 1994. It was also one of the best academic groups under Art Delucia. It was the school’s seventh title, a 7-4 win over local rival, Notre Dame-West Haven. Only five men have held the post since hockey program’s formation in 1948 Harold Smullen, the legendary Art Crouse Sr., Delucia, Gordie Smith, and Morrell.
Morrell recognizes the public school hockey game has changed dramatically in his 21 years and it shows. West Haven is part of the Big Four pillars of public school hockey along with their arch-rival, Hamden, Fairfield Prep, and Notre Dame-West Haven. West Haven no longer has a JV team. The schedule they developed had to reflect that change dropping some schools to get a record that would allow them to qualify for the state tournament.
There are rumors the program may be forced to merge with the other hockey resident at Bennett Ice Rink, the team’s home rink, and that’s Amity High School of Woodbridge. It is presently coached by another long-time West Haven hockey alumnist, Mike “Scooter” Riccitelli. Morrell didn’t skate away from the subject matter.
“I don’t see that happening. Both schools have challenging situations, no question. We have six new kids coming in next year, and with 24 kids in the mix, it’s not optimal, but it gives us some room.”
Morrell is confident that a remedy is possible.
“No question, the West Haven demographics have changed. The key is starting them young. We developed a program to teach early basic hockey to kids, learn to skate, get equipment, and jerseys for free, with one hour of ice time on Saturday and Sunday for free. I will still work with that program because its important for the future of West Haven hockey.”
Morrell is the next-to-last of a generation of coaches that leaves the stage. Other contemporaries, like Billy Verneris, left Hamden four years ago. Dick Gagliardi who was at Hamden passed away. Bill Gerosa (Notre Dame-West Haven and Guilford) retired six years ago. Morrell’s brother-in-law, Mike Violano, after leaving Notre Dame-West Haven went to North Haven where he has since stepped down. Peter Lavigne (Fairfield Prep/Canterbury Prep), Adolph Brink (Fairfield Prep), and Marty Roos (Notre Dame-Fairfield/Fairfield Prep), who’s the all-time winningest High School coach in Connecticut history, have all left the scene.
Matt Sather, of Fairfield Prep, is the only one remaining. The Jesuits are just one championship behind Hamden in the overall title chase with 16. West Haven and Notre Dame-West Haven are tied with seven each. They are followed by Darien who has three, Notre Dame-Fairfield with two while Enfield, Simsbury, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Greenwich, Cheshire, and Trinity Catholic (Stamford) all with one Division I title win.
“We’re coaches. We battle for our team every game, but when it’s over we’re all the same, and I have had enormous respect for my fellow coaches whether they were in the SCC, FCIAC, or CCC. It really has been a pleasure to work with all of them, and the many kind phone calls, texts, and e-mails have been simply amazing.”
One moment that still makes him proud was his involvement in the program of former New Haven police officer, the late, Robert (Bobby) Fumiatti. He survived after being shot in the face in a drug operation. He lived with the bullet within him for ten years until he finally succumbed to his injuries in 2012.
On the same date in 2012, his jersey, number eight, was retired by the school. The last player to wear number eight was Peter Riccitelli. Having Fumiatti as a volunteer coach for several years and have him impart life lessons to his team was a moment of great joy.
“He worked with us and Amity, and it was a tremendous thing he did to impart very important life lessons to the teams,” Morrell stated. “He used the time he had so very well.”
Morrell spent six years as an assistant at the other local high school, Notre Dame-West Haven with Violano and spent one year at Guilford.
That one year in Guilford was an aberration from his West Haven roots as he was promised the West Haven position by the late AD, Tom Hunt, a year in advance.
Hunt was admonished by the Board of Education when he attempted to hire, then long-time West Haven assistant coach, Steve McCarty (who went on to be an assistant coach at St. Joseph’s in Trumbull) with a basic pocket veto after Delucia quietly stepped down in 1994 submitting a formal resignation letter to Hunt.
Hunt did this by withholding Delucia’s resignation letter from public view as reported exclusively by this reporter in the West Haven News in the summer of 1994.
A controversy ensued. The position was formally and publicly opened up as required. Gordie Smith, a West Haven resident, and a former pro hockey player with the New Haven Blades and New Haven Nighthawks was hired.
Gordie Smith is the brother of Billy Smith, the NHL Hall-of-Famer and four-time Stanley Cup winner with the New York Islanders.
Hunt wanted Morrell to restore the Blue Devils legacy as a hockey power after three losing seasons under Smith’s tenure and Hunt wasn’t going to be outfoxed again.
