Kevin Hess knows what it’s like to be a state champion.
Now Brandon hopes he can bring some of that same good fortune to their hockey program.
Brandon Athletic Director Larry Lamphere said July 18 that Hess, an assistant coach with the Division 3 state champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s hockey team, has been hired as the new Brandon varsity hockey coach.
He replaces Brian Moore, who coached the team for the first five years of its existence. Moore stepped down after leading the Blackhawks to their third straight Division 3 quarterfinal appearance in the 2004-05 season.
Ironically, the Blackhawks were eliminated by St. Mary’s in the state quarterfinals this year, losing 10-0 to the Eaglets in a March 9 contest.
Hess comes to Brandon after serving three years as an assistant at St. Mary’s under head coach Brian Klanow. The Eaglets won their first-ever state hockey championship March 12 by defeating Flint Powers 3-1 at Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth, capping off a 20-6-3 season.
In Hess? other two years at St. Mary’s as an assistant, the Eaglets went 22-4-1 in the 2003-04 season and 20-3-3 in the 2002-03 season.
Lamphere said Hess also played hockey in Ohio and is ‘very active? with USA Hockey and the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA).
Hess could not be reached for comment as of press time.