The St. Paul Academy boys' hockey coach resigned on the eve of the high school playoffs after leading his team to a 21-4 record this season.
St. Paul Academy hockey coach Bill Owens resigns
The decision came as playoffs are beginning.
February 14, 2015 at 6:41AM
Bill Owens resigned after the team played its final regular-season game Thursday, a 2-1 victory over Holy Angels.
Bryn Roberts, head of school, confirmed Owens' resignation but did not provide details. Roberts said he planned to address the players on Friday afternoon and their parents on Saturday.
Owens was in his third season as Spartans coach. The Class 1A, Section 4 playoffs begin Wednesday.
Assistant coach Matt Funk was named interim coach, Roberts said.
"We are focused on the playoffs, and I have every confidence the boys will play hard," Roberts said.
Efforts to reach Owens for comment on Friday were not successful.
Before joining St. Paul Academy, Owens was an assistant coach at St. Thomas Academy for eight years. During that time the Cadets won four Class 1A state championships.
Owens served as an assistant coach at St. Paul Academy in the 1998-99 season. His father and grandfather are graduates of the school.
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
