HARDWICK – Long-time Hazen Union boys’ varsity basketball assistant coach Adam Gann, takes over the junior varsity program this winter after Mike Baker stepped away from coaching at the end of last season.
Gann takes over the Wildcat JV program after Baker retired after 23 seasons as Vermont’s longest tenured junior varsity coach. Baker was also an assistant coach to Aaron Hill’s program in all six of their state title runs. Gann has also been a long-time assistant coach for Hill’s varsity program.
“Mike will keep busy coaching our youth programs with middle school girls and boys’ basketball after a great career supporting, mentoring, and developing players in our program. Adam will be great. He connects with kids so well and he will set high expectations for his players. We are so lucky to have him coaching in our program,” said Hill.
Gann and the Wildcats will open the season at home on Saturday afternoon against Profile, N.H.
Menard and Fortmann Hit the Ice for Vikings
LYNDONVILLE – Hazen Union’s Andrew Menard and Max Fortmann laced up their skates for the Lyndon Institute (LI) boys’ varsity hockey team last week in the Vikings season opener.
The Vikings earned their first win of the season over the weekend behind two goals, including the overtime winner from Alex Giroux. Giroux buried a feed from Menard for the game-winner and a 5-4 home win over Burr and Burton. Adam Dusek also tallied a pair of scores for the Vikings in the win. It was the third goal of the season for Giroux, who also scored a key goal in the Vikings home opener on Friday night, resulting in a 3-3 tie with Stowe.
Menard has been a fixture on the Viking roster for three seasons and the senior defenseman is off to a hot start with a game-winning assist early in LI’s season. The Hazen Union senior has also been a key contributor on the Wildcat baseball team the past two seasons as successful starting pitcher in the rotation, helping head coach Spencer Howard guide the program to back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the Division III tournament. Menard also finished up his high school golfing career for the Wildcats this past fall. Fortmann is a sophomore defenseman and forward for the Vikings this winter and is also a key member of Hazen Union’s track and field program.
Menard, Fortmann, and the Vikings will be back on the ice Wednesday night, as they host Harwood at Fenton Chester Arena.
Weather Postpones Lady Cat Opener
HARDWICK – Mother Nature didn’t cooperate last week, postponing the Hazen Union girls’ basketball season opener against Enosburg.
Head coach Randy Lumsden and the Lady Cats were scheduled to host Enosburg in their season opener on Friday night, but multiple snow days prevented both teams from getting in the VPA’s required minimum number of practices to start the season. The game has been rescheduled for February 5 at the Cat Den. Hazen Union opened their season on the road against Danville on Tuesday.
