Award to be presented in Madison
By Greg Seubert
Waupaca boys’ hockey coach John Erspamer is one of eight finalists for the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association’s Bob Johnson Coach of the Year Award.
Erspamer, who coached the Comets from 1996 to 2008 before coming back in 2016, has been named the coach of the year for Section 5. Other finalists are Jason Kalin of Superior (Section 1), Rob Novak of Hayward (Section 2), David Cox of Northland Pines (Section 3), Todd Kirschbaum of Tomah (Section 4), Nick Tuma of McFarland (Section 6), Sean Kearney of Marquette (Section 7) and Carl Valimont of Arrowhead (Section 8).
The award will be given out Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Madison during the WHCA’s state tournament banquet.
Two of Erspamer’s assistant coaches, Andy Yeska and Tim Koshollek, have been named Section 5’s assistant coaches of the year and are up for the state assistant coach award.
The WHCA will also hand out its 2018-19 Player of the Year Award at the banquet, held during the WIAA state boys’ and girls’ championships.
Nominees are goalies Gavin Abric of Hayward and Garrett Larsen of Waukesha; forwards Drake Baldwin of Madison West, Cole Danielson of Hudson, Robby Newton of University School, Jack Rhode of Northland Pines and Sam Stange of Eau Claire North; and defenseman Jake Osiecki of Verona.