In the sport of hockey, it’s so important to have good speed on the ice.
For one local Catholic High School hockey team, they may have lost their “good speed,” but they’ll never forget the impact felt by their departing coach.
After 17 seasons, Kevin Goodspeed is hanging up his whistle as the head varsity ice hockey coach at Holy Cross H.S., Flush- ing. It’s been quite the run for Goodspeed, whose roots link back to the founding of the Knights’ hockey program.
A native of Fresh Meadows and a product of Holy Family parish, Flushing, Goodspeed played youth hockey, baseball, and football. He took a liking to hockey, though his high school choice — Holy Cross — did not have its own team.
As a junior, Goodspeed and some friends – all of whom played hockey together on week- ends – rallied support around the Knights starting their own hockey program. Administration was on board once Goodspeed provided a list with the names of 40 interested students.
Holy Cross’ first year as a varsity team was 1996-1997, when Goodspeed was a senior. The seeds of a budding ice hockey pro- gram had been planted, and sure enough, Goodspeed would soon be back to sow those seeds.
In 2002, Goodspeed became an NYPD officer assigned to Jackson Heights. He then became a detective in 2008 and specifically a homicide detective starting in 2015.
Along the way, his high school hockey coach, Mike Mitchell, asked him to join the program as an assistant coach. Unexpectedly during the 2009 season, Mitchell passed away, leading Goodspeed to be elevated immediately to the team’s head coach.
For nearly two decades, Goodspeed guided the Knights into battle on the ice. Though his work hours as a detective were challenging, his job allowed him the flexibility to still coach the team during the five-month period of November through March.
His teams won several championships over the years, yet for Goodspeed, wins and losses never mattered much. It was all about the relationships. He still enjoys watching his former players – many of whom are now in their mid-30s – suit up to play in local leagues.
“The greatest joy about it was the camaraderie I formed with the other coaches and my players,” Goodspeed said. “I don’t really look back at the championships. I’ve had great losing seasons. Even in a loss where we were competitive with the bigger schools, it stands out. Being able to compete consistently was the greatest accomplishment we had.”
Herb Mai, Goodspeed’s assistant coach for the past few seasons, is set to take over as varsity head coach. Mai’s son Jonathan played for the Knights and graduated this past school year.
In what’s been the crowning achievement of his high school hockey coaching career, Goodspeed was delighted to receive a let- ter in the mail this summer informing him that he will be inducted Nov. 12 into the Holy Cross Athletics Hall of Fame.
“I’m going to be honest…I was shocked,” he said. “The names on that list are synonymous with the athletic success of the school. To be mentioned with some of the names on that list, it still hasn’t hit me yet. It is a great honor and privilege.”
Goodspeed plans to remain in his post as an NYPD detective for a few more years. He will also be involved with the Holy Cross hockey program as much as he can. He’s ready to move on, though he said he’ll miss the preparation and game-planning the most.
“I always got joy out of the underdog story,” he said. “Competing with the team that comes in and thinks they’re going to blow the doors off you, and all of a sudden, you surprise them with a competitive game.
“I think that’s going to be the hardest part. The relationships I had with the kids on the bench…that’s the toughest part about leaving.”
The 2022-2023 Holy Cross Knights will seek to find their good speed as they prepare for another season. They likely won’t have to look too far, since their “Goodspeed” will soon take his place in the school’s Hall of Fame.
Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.