Timberlane hockey coach Andrew Merrick's message is simple.
"I do not accept losing," he said. "We hate to lose, and the team knows that we are not going to lose games."
The Owls have followed that message in a big way in Merrick's four years at the helm, peaking this season with a stunning 19-1 record in Division 2 and earning a berth in the Division 2 state finals against Oyster River tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.
But, according to the coach, that will to win was not always there.
"When I first came in I noticed that losing had become acceptable," he said. "They seemed to be OK with losing."
Timberlane first went varsity for the 2000-01 season and enjoyed immediate success, going a combined 24-13-2 in its first two seasons, qualifying for the state tournament each year.
But the Owls soon fell on hard times. In 2003 they went 4-11, and the next two seasons went a combined 10-31 and missed the tournament both seasons. Following the 2004-05 season, they were in the need of a change.
At the same time, Merrick was looking to find his way back into hockey.
The Long Island native had grown up around the sport. His father, Wayne Merrick, played 14 seasons in the NHL, finishing his career with the New York Islanders with four straight Stanley Cups.
"I grew up in a house with a guy that has been in every hockey situation," said the younger Merrick. "I spent countless hours around NHL players like (NHL Hall of Famer) Pat LaFontaine and people like (Hall of Fame coach) Al Arbour."
Andrew became a standout player in his own right. The 6-foot, 200-pounder played left wing for the University of Michigan from 1996-2000. He finished his career with 10 goals and 19 assists, and in his sophomore season he was a member of the Wolverines' 1998 national champion team, which beat UNH then BC in overtime in the Frozen Four at the FleetCenter in Boston.
Following his college career, he was drafted in the seventh round by the Carolina Hurricanes, and spent two seasons in the minors before retiring.
Once his playing career came to an end, Merrick moved with his wife Amy to Salem, N.H., and he began working for Easton Sports. Amy grew up in Marblehead, and they met at Michigan.
But Merrick could not shake the hockey bug. He soon caught word the Owls head coaching position was open.
He quickly applied and was hired at just 27-years-old. With just a year of experience coaching with the Valley Junior Warriors, he fed off his time around the sport to create a style.
"I drew on what I had learned over the years," he said, "from my father and all the different coaches I played for. Guys like (legendary Michigan coach, and his father's former teammate with the St. Louis Blues) Red Berenson. But I put my own spin on it."
Merrick's first year at the helm wasn't easy. The Owls improved slightly to 7-13, but missed the tournament for the third straight year.
"The first year was tough," said current Owls senior Trevor DeVitto. "The second year he really settled in and really saw the moment to shine."
In 2006-07, they went 13-9-1 and recording the first tournament win in program history.
"He definitely turned the program around," said senior goalie Ryan Rothwell. "We had seen the worst of the worst. He pushed us to the limits and made us want it. Now we are playing for a title."
Last season, the Owls improved to 16-6-1 and advanced to the state semifinals for the second year in a row, before falling to Dover.
Timberlane then made the jump to elite status this season. The Owls finished the regular season 17-1 in the league (17-4 overall), breaking the school record for wins in a year set last season. They then downed Kingswood and defending champion Dover to advance to tomorrow's final.
"The freshmen I started with are seniors now," said Merrick, a native of Syosset, N.Y., on Long Island. "I had the right guys, like (Nick) Bundzinski, Rothwell and DeVitto, to turn the program around.
"You have to be tough as a coach. But a guy like Bundzinski feeds off that. The more you push him, the better he plays. He responds to coaching."
Now a senior co-captain, Bundzinski has great respect for his coach.
"He is definitely not a softy," said Bundzinski. "But he does what he has to do to make us better players. We'll have to skate when we do something wrong. But he is also a very good guy."
Rothwell, an Eagle-Tribune All-Star last season, agreed.
"(Merrick) is definitely a disciplinarian," said the goalie. "He pushes us to the edge. But he knows the game extremely well, and knows what it takes to be great. We have all become good friends off the ice."
The Owls now have their sights set on winning their first state title in program history.
"We have the talent," said Merrick. "Players like Zach Fox could play a lot of places, but he chooses to play at Timberlane. We are a winning program now."
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