Auburn, ME – Lane Feldman, assistant hockey coach, started coaching hockey over 25 years ago at the youth level before moving onto high school hockey and finally landing here at CM. Before coming home to coach at CM, Feldman was at Cape Elizabeth High School in a very successful program. Adjusting to the quick turnaround of college served to be difficult at first. "I needed to adjust to an environment where you were recruiting athletes to play immediately and for a short time. I left the high school environment where you could take a year or two and develop players before they were thrown into the fire," explained Feldman. Entering his overall fifth season with the Mustangs, Feldman had spent the previous seasons as an assistant coach under former CM head coach, Matt Buotte.
Developing connections with your players is key to running a successful program. For Feldman those connections are through honesty. "Most of the players that have lost playing time or moved lives or even scratched in the past for various reasons; I make sure to let them know why and what they can do to get back to where they were before," added Feldman. After coaching for as long as he has, Feldman knows that it's about the right kids, not always the most talented. He explains, "You can have all the talent in the world, but if you're not coachable, willing to work hard, and able to get along with others around you then it won't work. Attitude is everything." For Feldman, the success for the student-athletes goes way beyond what happens on the ice. He's not just coaching young men for today, but he is trying to establish life lessons for tomorrow.
As the assistant coach to Jordy Knoren, he is currently working with the offensive side of the puck after serving the past four years working on the defensive side. He also works with the penalty kill scenarios in the game. With years of experience in the hockey coaching staff, there is no wonder why the team is finding success this season. Right now, the CM hockey team sits on top of the NECHA conference and ranked #33 Nationally in the ACHA with an overall record of 10-1. The Mustangs return to action when they take on WPI at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn on January 22nd at 3:30pm. For Coach Feldman, it's all about taking it one game at a time. It's that simple. "If you look behind it doesn't help and if you look too far ahead it will cloud the present." With this dedicated coaching staff and hardworking and focused student-athletes, the second half of the season looks bright for the Mustangs. As long as they keep the focus of one game at a time. Check out their remaining home game schedule and head down to the Norway Savings Bank Arena to watch the Mustangs in action!
