Fans and former players celebrate legendary hockey coach Bill Belisle

By Jordan Mazza

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Bill Belisle is the winningest high school hockey coach in America, and he’s been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

But now the 89-year-old Mount St. Charles Academy coach is retiring.

Fans and former players — including NHL greats — attended his last home game Friday night to show their support.

“You can name all the great coaches from Bill Belichick to Vince Lombardi,” said Frank Fede of Barrington, “and Bill Belisle has to be right there on the top of Mount Rushmore with any of them.”

Or perhaps on the top of Mount St. Charles: under Bill Belisle the Woonsocket school was the undefeated state high school hockey champion for 26 years in a row.

He even coached several players who went on to the NHL, like Brian Boucher.

“Whether it was playing college hockey or eventually getting to pro hockey, the lessons that you learned here helped you be ready for those battles down the road,” Boucher said. “And for me personally, I know I’d never play in the National Hockey League without stepping through these doors.”

Belisle’s more than 40 years of coaching and 1,000-plus wins means he’s molded multiple generations.

“It’s still something that brings people my age, younger than me, and then people that are twice my age, three times my age,” said Zach Samborsky of North Smithfield. Belisle also coached Samborksy’s father.

“It brings so many people together, just by one man and what he’s done for everybody,” he said. “So I don’t think there’s much out there that really fits that.”

And those former players say Belisle taught them more than hockey, he taught them how to be adults.

“It wasn’t just about the wins and the banners,” said Chris Chaput of Boston. “It was about building character.”

“Not just hockey but a lot of life lessons,” said Josh Lanni of Warwick. “And part of who I am today. I’ll always carry the legacy with me.”

Belisle’s son Dave has also coached with him for years and will move to an advisory role in the program.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019