By KEN HAMWEY

Staff Sports Writer

When Bill Link replaced Derek Harrington as Medway High’s hockey coach last October, he listed four objectives for his players and none of them involved winning a league title or qualifying for the state tourney.

“I told our kids I wanted them to have fun, be better players at the end of the season, become better human beings and to be integrated into the Medway community,’’ said Link who’s coaching his first high school varsity squad. “I didn’t mention anything about winning the Tri Valley League Small Division title or making a deep run in the state tourney.’’

The 45-year-old Link should be commended for his high-caliber goals that should build character and lead to future success. He’s comfortable leaving playoff berths to a pair of hypotheticals. 

“If you win the shifts, then you win the period,’’ he offered. “And, if you win the periods, you win the game.’’

So far, Link’s forces have struggled, posting a 1-7-1 record at Local Town Pages’ deadline. 

“Although we’re not off to an ideal start, the team continues to build its identity and gain confidence in each other,’’ Link said. “While varsity hockey may be a new experience to the majority of this team, they’re all hockey players who’ve competed at high levels. Once we settle in and get more reps together, the results will take care of themselves.’’

When Harrington decided to leave coaching, the Mustangs turned to Link, who spent two years coaching in the King Philip/Walpole youth league and seven seasons coaching club hockey.

A native of Acton, he played two varsity seasons at forward and defense for Acton-Boxboro High where he was a captain and earned all-star honors from the Boston Globe and Boston Herald. He also was a two-time all-league choice in the Metro Valley and Dual County Conferences. Playing three varsity seasons at Holy Cross, he was selected Athlete of the Year as a freshman for excelling in hockey and golf. And, as a freshman in hockey, he tied for the lead in scoring.

“When I graduated from Holy Cross (2001), I played professional golf on a variety of tours in Florida,’’ he noted. “I later worked in the golf industry. Currently, I own a hockey business (High Performance Skills) that schedules camps and clinics and offers private sessions and consulting services.’’

Link’s on-ice style combines an up-tempo offense with puck possession and an active defense. “We’re about capitalizing on turnovers and being effective in transition,’’ he emphasized.

Relying on a competitive philosophy that stresses learning from mistakes and having fun, Link says “winning will be the by-product of progressing and our hockey IQs will improve by learning from mistakes.’’

The team’s captain, senior Luke Frauton, is an appropriate starting point when listing Medway’s key components.

“A first-line center, Frauton is the prototypical three-zone player who is positionally responsible and has the ability to create instant offense by how well he sees the ice and reads the flow of the game,’’ Link said. “He’s the glue that holds this first line together. Luke is a captain who leads by example with his attitude, effort, and support of his teammates.’’

A pair of first-line wings — senior Alex Rudnicki and junior Henry Eaton — complement Frauton.

 “Rudnicki is a pure goal scorer,’’ Link said.  “He’s big (6-feet) and is a smooth skater whose quick release will lead to goals. Rudnicki has the ability to play heavy in the dirty areas creating second and third scoring chances, and he uses his size and skill to cleanly beat defenders on one-on-one battles.

“Eaton has the top end speed and finishing ability around the goal to be a top league scorer this year. Usually the fastest player on the ice, his north-south speed creates offensive opportunities that can change the outcome of a game.  Eaton can play equally heavy during board battles and has become stronger at winning one-on-one battles.” Through eight games, he led the team in goals with nine.

Junior Cam Condlin, a second-line center, and senior wing Jackson Bridges are competitors Link will be counting on.

“Condlin’s hockey IQ and vision are what allow him to be such a good passer and playmaker,” Link noted. “Winning defensive zone faceoffs is becoming a specialty, and he is one of the most reliable forwards we have in the defensive zone. His compete level is always high, and his positive attitude during tough games helps the team.”

“Bridges has shown offensive prowess in practice. A speedster like Eaton, Bridges is another north-south player who can tilt the ice offensively for an entire shift.  With offense in short supply early in the season, we’ve relied on him to add an instant spark to the lineup.’’

Seniors Thomas Creonte and Kaweh Bahery are alternate captains who’ll handle much of the chores on defense. 

“Creonte is one of the toughest defenders to play against due to his physicality and vision,’’ Link offered. “He has the ability to make a momentum-swinging hit in a tight game and he anchors our penalty kill.  He’s also one of our most vocal players, and holds everyone accountable for their play, especially himself.

“Bahery returns to Medway for his senior year after playing last season at the American Hockey Academy. Bahery is the prototypical, puck-carrying, strong-skating defenseman who can go from defense to offense in a split second. Bahery will be relied on for heavy minutes with Creonte because our defensive core is unproven and inexperienced.’’ Through eight games, Bahery led the team in assists with eight. 

Because Link has no returning goalie with varsity experience, his roster includes two sophomores — Trevor Walmsley and Shawn Frauton. “Both are aggressive, athletic, and have solid puck-tracking ability,’’ Link said. Walmsley has been the Mustangs’ starter. Through the team’s first eight games, Walmsley had a save percentage of .903 and a goals-against average of 3.13.

Life lessons can always be learned from athletics and Link believes that the most important one his players can learn is accountability. “Our players will be accountable for what they do, what they say, how they prepare and how they treat each other,’’ said Link who lives in Walpole with his wife (Robyn) and two children (Will (15) and Brynn (13)).

Medway finished last season with a 17-3 record then lost in the tourney quarterfinals, 2-1, to Hanover, the eventual Division 3 state champion. 

The transition to a new coach is taking time and Medway’s team chemistry is still developing. The new coach and his players will be striving for successful results this month and hopefully get the program into a winning groove.