Mr. Vincent Paolucci, physical education, has retired from his position as girls hockey head coach after 20 seasons coaching at HHS. He coached the boys team for five years and the girls team for 15. He will continue to be a physical education teacher at HHS.

“For the last 20 years [Paolucci] has built one of the elite girls hockey programs in the state. He does such a good job with not only developing the hockey players on the ice but also developing a good relationship with them off the ice. The overall program has done very well under his direction and we will miss him greatly but his impact will last for quite awhile,” said Dan Johnson, athletic director.

Nina Rodgers, senior, has known Paolucci since she was four years old, and was shocked by the news.

“I was so surprised. I’ve only known [Paolucci] as the Hopkins girls coach, and now he’s not going to be coaching. It’s sad,” Rodgers said.

The Royals were ranked as the number one team in the state for a portion of this season, finishing with a record 21-5.  They lost in the section semifinals to Wayzata.