Former Boston College bench boss Jerry York, the winningest coach in college hockey, was on hand, as was Jack Parker, his longtime counterpart at Boston University and fellow Hockey Hall of Famer. Others included Ben Smith, who coached the US women’s team to Olympic gold in 1998, Joe Bertagna, who served as a commissioner for 38 years with the ECAC and Hockey East, and Marty Pierce, the former Boston Fire commissioner who coached the Matignon High boys’ team to 10 state titles in his 40 seasons behind the bench.
And then there was Bill Cleary, the former Harvard coach and two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 1956, gold in 1960) with the US men’s hockey team. Many in attendance were sure to pay a visit to the 91-year-old, who was quick with his customary fake handshake, leaving the recipient grasping at air.
Ted Donato, who won a national championship playing for Cleary in 1989 and just surpassed his mentor as the school’s winningest coach, was not about to fall for it this time, wearing a big grin and holding his coach’s arm in place as he went to shake his hand.
“That’s Roy Hobbs,” said Smith, motioning to Cleary and referencing Robert Redford’s character in “The Natural.”
The Gloucester native was 10 when he saw Cleary play a tune-up game in the arena with the 1956 US squad.
“To me, that’s a guy that can walk down the street, and people can say, ‘That’s the best American hockey player that ever was,’ ” added Smith.
Former Bruin Mike Milbury, for whom Madigan worked as a scout when Milbury was general manager for the New York Islanders, made the rounds, as did former teammate Bruce Crowder, who coached Northeastern for nine seasons after his playing days. Keith Allain, who coached Yale to a national championship in 2013 and retired last summer, former Vermont coach Mike Gilligan, and Merrimack coach Scott Borek also were among the dozens on hand.
Most were content to walk around the building one last time and reminisce with old friends and longtime rivals. But a few took the opportunity for a final skate.
Smith, one month shy of turning 80, removed his vintage Olympic skate guards from his stint on the coaching staff for the 1988 US men’s squad, and took to the ice wearing Team USA gloves and a helmet. He looked smooth cruising around and handling the puck in his first time lacing them up at the arena since stepping down as coach of the Northeastern men’s team in 1996.
“It’s the best rink to play in, the best rink to coach in, and the best rink to watch a game,” said Smith.
Northeastern women’s coach Dave Flint, a two-time national coach of the year who has amassed 471 wins in 21 seasons with both the Huskies and Saint Anselm, caught up with Smith rinkside. Former BU women’s coach Brian Durocher, who compiled 338 wins before retiring after 18 seasons in 2023, also was on hand.
Dick Umile, who won 596 games and led New Hampshire to four Frozen Four appearances before retiring in 2018, also took a few laps. Bertagna, donning a Harvard sweater from his days playing goal for Cleary, skated alongside former Salem State coach and BU defenseman Bill O’Neill, who posted 626 wins in 22 seasons with the Vikings.
Former BU coach Jack Parker (left) and ex-BC coach Jerry York returned to Matthews Arena.Jim Pierce
Madigan and York were among those who did not take the ice, instead sharing a memory from the 1982 NCAA Tournament, when coach York brought his Bowling Green squad into the arena but came up short against Madigan, then a freshman forward, and the Huskies.
“Oh man, we beat Northeastern, and we go to the Final Four,” said York, sporting a look that was at first a grin and then a grimace as he vividly recalled the 3-2, triple overtime loss.
After the skating session, the group gathered near the home bench for a photo before heading back to the lobby for lunch and a short address from Madigan, who had some numbers to share. Namely the 9,493 combined wins from those in attendance across 557 years of coaching.
“How many suspensions?” asked Bertagna, prompting reactions from Parker, Madigan, and Umile, who were all known to have disagreements with the officials from time to time.
“When [Umile] got the UNH job, I said, ‘Hey, I’m so happy you’re in the league, the refs are going to forget who I am,’ ” said Parker, drawing laughs.
“That didn’t happen, did it?” chimed in Bertagna.
Madigan talked about the future of the site, with construction of a 310,000-square-foot complex set to begin once the demolition of Matthews is complete. He closed the presentation by thanking those that paved the way, pointing to how they made New England college hockey special.
Former Salem State coach and BU defenseman Bill O’Neill (left) and ex-Hockey East and ECAC commissioner Joe Bertagna took one last twirl on the Matthews Arena ice.Jim Pierce
“It’s a special group of people in this room,” said Madigan. “You can never thank a university, because the university is its people. You can never thank the building. The building is the people. These are the people. Thank you very much.”
The people who were able to make it seemed grateful, and lingered for a bit, exchanging hugs and farewells before exiting for the final time.
“I just thought of how much joy the building has given to people, whether they played or were fans, and it did it one more time,” said Bertagna. “It was pretty special.”
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.