Toby Harris continues a long and glorious career as one of the most successful junior hockey coaches in the U.S., having picked up his 700th career win as a Head Coach on Thursday in a 5-3 win over the Connecticut Jr. Rangers.
Harris began his junior hockey head coaching career with the opening game of the 2007-08 season on Sept. 1, 2007, in the former Eastern Junior Hockey League, a predecessor of the USPHL. From then until now, he stands with a 700-194-67 record.
“I would have never seen this incredible journey in my wildest dreams. From the day that my childhood friend, Peter Masters, and I created the Hitmen to present day it has been an absolutely amazing experience!
“There are just too many people and players to thank individually but it starts with all of the amazing young men that have ever donned the Carolina Blue Hitmen jersey,” said Harris. “On to our amazing support staff over the past 17 years – our athletic trainers, equipment manager, strength and conditioning coaches, power skating coaches, skills coaches, goalie coaches. They have kept these players healthy, strong and developed these individuals so that we could win 17 league championships.
“Next this team would not be where it is if it was not for strong leadership at the top, beginning with Peter Masters and the Masters family who got the ball rolling in 2004 leading to our first title in 2007,” Harris added. “From there, our current owner Bobby Reiss took over and took this team to the next level. From 2008-2024, the Hitmen have combined for 16 league championships: 10 regular season Founders Cup titles and 6 Dineen Cup playoff titles. I cannot thank Bobby enough for his graciousness, his support, his kind words and encouragement throughout the years. The Hitmen would not be this nationally recognized brand without Bobby and the Reiss family.”
The most constant presence by Harris’ side on the bench, however, has been the Hitmen’s President, Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach Jim Hunt.
“For 23 years, I have been working with team president and associate head coach, Jim Hunt. He has been a mentor, a source of motivation, an inspiration, but most of all a friend. There is no one else that would have fit better or I would have chosen to take this adventure with me than my ‘bench partner’ Jim Hunt. His honesty, his work ethic, his attention to detail. His passion. His love for the game are all things that I look up to and have learned so much. These are OUR wins and I cannot thank him enough.”
Of course, so much of his inspiration to chase his hockey and coaching dreams come from those closest to him, his family.
“Finally, the support that I’ve gotten from home is the reason why this special accomplishment has been made possible. My father, Steve, and mother, Debbie, still attend games when we come to Boston. Otherwise, they watch on FloHockey and we chat religiously post game. It is something that is immeasurably special. The connection that my mom, dad and I have over the Hitmen, the NCDC and this game puts a smile on my face.
“My wife Angela has been a rock at home. With two boys playing AAA travel hockey and constantly on the road traveling to attain their dreams, it is truly a juggling act and she is a pro. I cannot thank her enough for all of her support, her love for me, the game and our family unit, and the strength that she shows daily managing four crazy schedules. She is the true hero behind the scenes. Thank you to my boys, Kellen and Kieren. Two of the kindest and hard working children a dad could ask for. They have a real love for this game and always have a kind word to say post game whether we win or lose.”
“I have truly been blessed. The special relationships that I have built through this game and in this league have left an indelible mark on my life. This benchmark is amazing but we don’t play this game for stats. We play this game for connection. We play this game camaraderie. We play this game because we love it. I look forward to tomorrow. The next opponent. The next challenge. The next win.”
