The following questions were answered by North Reading High School boys hockey head coach John Giuliotti, the fourth year mentor who led the Hornets into the postseason this year. The team was clipped in overtime by Boston Latin in the opening round.

What's your favorite part about being the North Reading head coach?

This is my 10^th year as a guidance counselor inside the school. I thnk the best part about what I do is why anyone gets involved - working with the kids. The kids are great. Every year you get a different mix and different personalities. It’s nice and satisfying to see them come in as kids and grow into young men. Being my fourth year this was a special class. It’s been really satisfying watching them progress.

How much does it help being an employee of the school you coach at?

There’s a benefit to having a presence working the school. You can keep your finger on the pulse of what’s going on and you get a little closer to the kids in terms of who they are as people. That equates onto the practice ice as well as into the games. There’s a disadvantage if you’re a coach and your only involvement is practice and games. There’s a little disconnect there.

What did it mean to reach the postseason this year?

We always set our team goals at the beginning of the year, and one of them is to qualify for the tournament. It wasn’t a surprise that they were able to do that. I know the town well enough to know there are some really good hockey players who have come through for us. That tradition has been passed through to these kids.

How would you describe yourself as a coach? 

I’m a firm believer that the Xs and Os go out the window when the puck is dropped. You set your lines up and work it, work it, work it, and you hope everything falls into place once the game starts to roll. I try to let the kids play as long as they’re playing the systems and doing the things we ask. For the most part, that’s been my philosophy as a coach.

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