Sean Cromarty is looking forward to his inaugural season as head coach of Westfield High School's ice hockey team.

In addition to his love for the sport, the new coach brings many years of on-ice experience to the team.

"As a player, I was a member of the Atlantic District Program for three years before graduating in 2000 from Upper Canada College preparatory school in Toronto," Cromarty said. "I earned a scholarship to Colorado College of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). I was part of a team which appeared in three NCAA Tournaments, won a WCHA league title in 2003, and made four consecutive WCHA Final Five Tournaments. Following graduation, I signed with the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League."

Cromarty also founded Competitive Advantage Training, a personal training business, which helps athletes achieve their goals.

Westfield Patch had a chance to speak with the coach ahead of the first game of the season which takes place at 5:45 p.m. this afternoon against Randolph at Aspen Ice Arena.

What is your proudest moment as a coach?

I think seeing kids come away from the rink having fun. Coaching is about the big picture for me. Long term, nobody will remember the scores of individual games, but the overall experience they had.

While this is my first year at Westfield, for the past three years I have been the head coach of the Mid Jersey Selects Tournament team. The Mid Jersey Selects Hockey Program was formed with a simple goal; to provide deserving players with an opportunity to compete against, develop and play with the top teams and players in the region.

Seeing these young men (five playing at Westfield), go back to their home teams and be impact players has been quietly rewarding because it’s a testament to the work they put in away from the rink that is seldom seen.

What do you tell athletes who may be struggling, in order to inspire them?

To continue working themselves out of whatever ruts they come across. To be successful in sports, or anything, you have to have a tireless work ethic and self-belief. If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody will because you are projecting doubt. Specifically with regards to my team, the most valuable assets I have as a coach is playing experience. My ability to communicate to my players through my own personal experiences throughout my career, provides a good sounding board for them when they struggle.

If you weren't coaching right now, what other profession would you most like to have and why?

Outside of coaching I have the job that I’ve always wanted. While injuries brought an end to my playing career, they peaked my interest in strengthening and rehabilitating the body. I have a B.A. from Colorado College and currently own and operate Competitive Advantage Training, a full service personal training business. I help people reach and exceed their fitness on goals on a daily basis; being a part of people improving their quality of life is amazing.

In what ways do your athletes inspire YOU?

Getting to know these kids has been great. The team bonding that I saw go on during our pre-season training program was amazing. But most of all, these kids have a lot of personality. From the team jokes, to the music they play I can honestly say I get a smile out of these kids everyday. It keeps me motivated to coach and bring new ideas to the table.

What's your goal for this season?

Changing the perception of Westfield ice hockey. The shape and direction of this program is undertaking some major changes. This is a passionate community that cares deeply about their hockey club. Our play on the ice is going to reflect that.

I’d be remiss if I said we didn’t set out to win the Public A State Championship. I think that is every team's goal, and it is what keeps things competitive. That has been at the back of our minds since day one. It is why we put in the extra effort in the weight room, and why we stress attention to detail on a daily basis. Short term, we look at the season in three segments. Our goals for the first third of the season are:

1. Beat Randolph
2. Win the Cron Tournament
3. Beat Pingry