Bay Shock resigns

• Bay Shock

Woodbury girls hockey head varsity coach Bay Shock has stepped down, according to WHS Activities Director John Soma. Bulletin File Photo.

Talk about it

While the prospect of a Woodbury/East Ridge girls hockey team is yet to be official, one thing for certain is that the team will have a new leader.

Bay Shock, the Royals coach since coming from Red Wing before the 2003-04 season, resigned last week amidst differences in opinion as to team expectations.

“I will not be returning to coach the varsity,” he said. “The option was there to come back with some stipulations that I did not agree with.”

What those stipulations were was not made known.

Shock’s Royals finished 10-15-1 last season and placed sixth in the Suburban East Conference — the team’s highest standing in the coach’s tenure.

“Expectations in some eyes were not met,” Shock said. “But we accomplished our goals and I was happy with how we performed — and character-wise, the girls represented Woodbury well.”

Woodbury Activities Director John Soma echoed Shock’s sentiments.

“Bay did a great job with the program,” he said. “Hopefully, we can find a quality coach to replace him.”

The position will be posted on the district’s website by March 27, according to Soma.

As for Shock, the Media Specialist at Middleton Elementary School, he is one class away from earning his administrative license, which would open the door for him to become a principal or activities director in the future.

“There’s options there,” Shock admitted.

The former Royals varsity honcho will also continue to coach for the Woodbury U-12 girls hockey team.

One rumor he was quick to dispel was him making a play for the still-open East Ridge boys hockey opening.

“There is — 100 percent — no chance of that happening,” he said.

In the mean time, Shock said he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and working on his bowling game.

“It was a good time to move on,” he said. “After 12 years of coaching at Red Wing and Woodbury, it’s time to relax a bit and just watch the kids play.”

Tags: sports, woodbury, shock, hockey, varsity, coach