Coach Genise Talks Hockey: Sportsmanship, Camaraderie, Teamwork

George Genise has been the head coach of the Greenwich Skating Club Bantam A team for the past 13 years, and has been coaching hockey for 45 years.

As a surprise, both of his grandsons – Kevin (GHS class of 2010) and KC (GHS class of 2016) – reffed his team’s game on Sunday at the Greenwich Skating Club. Though the team didn’t win, the day was glorious without a cloud in the sky.

Coach Genise had no idea his grandsons would be reffing on Sunday.

To surprise their grandfather, Kevin traveled from his home in New Hampshire where he attended UNH and both referees and teaches honor level math.

And KC, who lives in Greenwich but flew home from a trip to Nashville to referee the game, said his grandfather didn’t know he was in town as they texted back and forth on Sunday morning.

The entire family are skaters, as Coach Genise’s daughter Deb (KC and Kevin’s mother) teaches figure skating and previously coached girls hockey.

“It’s a very emotional sport. It’s a high intensity sport and people get passionately involved,” Genise said. “It teaches the kids how to play with emotion but keep their emotions in check. You can’t let your emotions get away from you, otherwise you end up in the penalty box.”

Genise summarized the key benefits of hockey as camaraderie, sportsmanship and teamwork.

“The sport really breads camaraderie because it takes all six guys out on the ice to be successful.”

KC, Kevin and Kaitlyn all grew up in Greenwich. KC and Kevin both played varsity hockey at GHS, graduating in 2016 and 2010 respectfully.

Coach Genise, who attended St. Mary High School, said he played at the Greenwich Skating Club as a teen himself.

Though he has coached the Skating Club Bantam A team for the past 13 years, he previously coached everything from the town clinic to pee-wees, squirts, and skaters all the way through high school.

“I just love the game,” he said, adding that the Bantams, with players age 13-14, were fun to coach.

“They’re skilled enough to learn hockey systems, but are still very coachable. It’s very formative development and a good teaching environment,” he said. “I have no plans to stop.”