The Westfield School Committee, friends and family honor retired Westfield High School Hockey Coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews.
Photo credit: Westfield Community TV
WESTFIELD — School Committee member Timothy O’Connor took time at the start of its Dec. 2 meeting to honor Westfield High School Hockey Coach C. B. “Moose” Matthews, who retired quietly a few years ago after a 30-year career.
“It’s a privilege for me personally and professionally on behalf of the Westfield School Committee to be honoring Moose Matthews here this evening, for all he accomplished for the Westfield Public Schools as hockey coach of the Westfield Bombers,” O’Connor said.
Running down his career accomplishments, O’Connor said Matthews attended Westfield Vocational High School where he played soccer and hockey for the Berkshire Blades, a Junior B hockey team out of Lenox. He said Matthews also played semi-professional hockey for the Bristol Champions in South Windsor, Connecticut, from 1970 to 1973.
After school, Matthews enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a loadmaster on C-130 and C-141 aircrafts. “Moose, I can tell you our Westfield Tech Academy Aviation Maintenance Program is very proud of your service in the United State Air Force,” he said.
At the end of 2019-2020 WHS hockey season, in the midst of COVID-19, Matthews retired. “In Moose fashion, he skated quietly off the ice, ending a 30-plus coaching career with no fanfare — maybe some celebration with family and close friends — but he wanted to stay under the radar. That final skate off the ice marked a coaching career that included 13 Western Mass. titles during a 17-year stretch; three state championships and three others as runner-up, and a 30 plus coaching career that included over 300 wins.”
Matthews also coached in the Westfield Youth Hockey program, the District 6 Allstars and at Williston Academy before coming to WHS. Earlier this year, Clay “Moose” Matthews was inducted into the Massachusetts State Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
“All this success doesn’t happen alone,” O’Connor said, and thanked Matthews’ wife and children for lending him to the school and “keeping the home fires burning. That’s time away from family. Now it’s time for spoiling the grandchildren.”
O’Connor added that Matthews also could not have achieved the success he did without the support of friends, many of whom were in the gallery at the meeting, and the “sacrifices they made spending time with Moose at the Tavern Restaurant and Slovak Hall to discuss hockey strategy,” mentioning in particular Rick Murdock, John Bonavita, Mike Zuber, Mike Bussier, Albert Masciadrelli and Franny Liptak.
O’Connor then gave a report card from the Westfield School Committee on several items of his coaching career, starting off with some in-house jokes referencing what appeared to be a long-standing rivalry with Longmeadow.
“Always had a warm spot in his heart for Longmeadow High School Hockey = C. Never met a hockey referee he didn’t like = C-,” O’Connor joked.
Getting more serious, O’Connor graded Matthews on his stellar coaching career. “Always led by example, on and off the ice, even when no one was looking = A. Possessed a great understanding of the game of hockey and was always prepared to make the commitment needed to be successful = A. Was a good listener, was always fair to his players, and was always straightforward in his guidance and support = A.”
“Had a great deal of respect and thankfulness for his athletes and coaching staff = A. Had a great deal of respect for other teams and other coaches, even within the group of Longmeadow = A-. In a very unassuming way, was disciplined, with a high degree of integrity and an unmatched strong character = A+.”
O’Connor, on behalf of the Westfield Public Schools and Westfield School Committee, thanked Matthews for his service on and off the ice. “Thank you for your kindness, your leadership and your commitment to making the Westfield HS Hockey program an incredible success. A Hall of Fame career for sure,” he said, to a standing ovation from the friends and family who attended the meeting.
Matthews then addressed those who came out to support him. “Without all of you I wouldn’t have had the success I had, without the support and the ability that [was] produced on the ice. Thank you – you guys made me. Nothing like a Westfield High Bomber. Thank you.”
