After six years away from ice hockey, former New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro made his return to the rink in 2019.
Although his playing days are behind him, DiPietro began his first season as a coach, leading the Portledge School boys varsity ice hockey team in Locust Valley, N.Y.
The new role was something he had been considering for a few years, and he believed he could share his experience and knowledge from his hockey days to his players. What he didn’t realize is just how much he would enjoy himself.
“I knew I’d like it, but I didn’t know how much I’d like it,” he said. “I think the biggest adjustment was trying to manage my regular job and being infatuated with trying to find ways to get my team better. I loved every second of it. … I wished I could do the coaching thing full time. There’s so much you feel you can do and want to do.”