The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports

June 18, 2012

Sipe returning to bench for West girls hockey team

Longtime coach left to spend time with family

By Shane Frederick Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — Mike Sipe was serious when he announced three years ago that he was stepping down as Mankato West’s girls hockey coach in order to spend more time with his family.

Now that his daughter is heading off to college, Sipe is returning to the Scarlets’ bench.

“It’s the oldest cliché in the book, stepping down to spend more time with your family,” he said. “But realistically, that was the No. 1 reason. I was missing too many of my daughter’s (Junior Olympic) volleyball games in the winter.”

With Cara Samuelson resigning at the end of the year, West activities director Ken Essay said it was a “no-brainer” to hire Sipe again.

“Mike did an outstanding job,” Essay said. “This was an opportunity to get a great person back into the program.”

Sipe was West’s coach for 10 years, prior to handing the program over to Samuelson in 2009. He was also an assistant coach for two years.

Sipe attended several of West’s home games during his time away, often working as a site manager. He said he started to get the itch to coach again last year.

“Honestly, the first two years there was always something to fill the void,” he said. “This third year was tough. ... It was tough being in the stands rather than behind the bench.”

Several West players are beginning summer-league play this week, so Sipe says he’s ready to get started again.

“I saw a lot of forward momentum that (Samuelson) built with the girls,” he said. “I look forward to building on that.”

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