Harwood grad is new hockey coach

Jacob Grout is the new boys ice hockey coach at Harwood Union High School.

“I am excited to have a Harwood graduate that has been through the program coming back to coach the next generation of Highlanders,” said Chris Langevin, Harwood athletic director. “Jacob has coached many of our current student-athletes at the Bantam level of our youth hockey program, and will now be looking to coach them again as varsity athletes.”

Grout graduated in 2008 from Harwood, where he played on the varsity hockey team for three years.

After his playing days, Grout was involved with the Harwood Youth Hockey program for six years as an assistant coach and then head coach.

“Anybody who says they don’t think about their high school sports days is lying,” Grout said. “Becoming the head coach for a team you once played for is just like going back in time. … All the preseason excitement feels the same.”

Grout’s first game as the boys hockey coach will be on Dec. 13 at Leddy Park, in the first round of Burlington High School’s Burchard Tournament. Harwood will face Mount Mansfield Union at 8 p.m.

“This is a perfect transition year,” Grout said. “The upperclassmen, the leaders of the team, have all been coached by me in the past. That’s a huge benefit in helping the guys who don’t know me get accustomed to my style. I’m hoping to light a fire under this team so they give it a good run for a title.”