Thank you Coach Shuman

Coach Shuman on the bench at
the Boston Garden- a familiar
spot for him over the years 

Last week, CHS Head Boys Varsity Hockey Coach Brian Shuman announced his retirement from his position here as a Bulldog. It is impossible to overstate the impact that he has made here over his more than two decade career. 

I will highlight Coach Shuman’s amazing career numbers and highlights further down this page, but to start with his statistical successes would distract from his real successes over the past 21 years at CHS. 

I recently was listening to a podcast where the Athletic Director at Middlebury College in Vermont was the guest. The interview made a major impact on me. He shared that the stated goal of Middlebury College Athletics is to “make the world a better place.” He goes on to explain that they strive to make that happen by “developing our student athletes to be the best individuals and team members they can be so they will go out in the world and make the world a better place.”

Hearing that immediately made me think of Coach Shuman. It is impossible for me to come up with someone who has made a greater impact on so many here at CHS over the past 21 years.  Coach Shuman sits atop a long list of transformational coaches I have worked with over the years. Through his coaching, he truly has “made the world a better place.”  

Observing and speaking with Coach Shuman over the years, it is clear to me that the following values/concepts are just some of the many that he demands, fosters and models:

• Teamwork

• Grit

• Hard work

• Gratitude

• Humility

• Perseverance

• Bravery

• Selflessness

• Pride

• Love

• Compassion

• Accountability

• Respect

As a result, hundreds of his alumni are making the world a better place by being amazing dads, coaches, friends, co-workers, husbands, role models, and just great people. He has made a huge positive difference in the lives of so many young men….and thus….in our world. 

Coach Shuman with his son and 
captain Teddy

As I transition into a list of his unparalleled successes on the bulldog bench over the years, I would be remiss if I did not state that Coach Shuman did “start at 2nd base” when he took over the Bulldog Boys Hockey program early this century.  Canton Hockey had been well established in this town since the middle of the 1900s. We had had many, many championship seasons prior to the arrival of Coach Shuman.  Our Youth Hockey program has been a bellwether for other communities to model. Our CHS Boys Hockey alumni from the 1900s will remind us all that we have always been a dominant program.  And they would be correct. However, Coach Shuman created something in the CHS Boys Hockey program that redefined what a successful, championship program really looks like.

Our run of success over the past 15 years is unlike anything the program had seen in the past. The team this year played a level of hockey rarely seen in any high school team…period. 

In no way am I diminishing those that helped make CHS Boys Hockey a powerhouse in the past. To the contrary, I would assume that all of those great players and teams are beyond proud of the foundation they built and the legacy that they have seen develop. The success of the Bulldog Boys Hockey team under Coach Shuman is something that our entire Canton community, and more specifically, our hockey alumni community, should be enormously proud of. 

Finally, with one of Coach Shuman’s own important values in mind- gratitude- I want to thank Coach Shuman for everything.  For being a great role model for his student athletes and his fellow coaches. For dedicating so much of his time, love and care to our boys. For setting a very high bar of excellence for all CHS coaches to continue to strive towards. And for making the world a better place. 

Coach Shuman by the Numbers- 

Coach Shuman (yes, that's him!) with his 2010 State Champions

• Career Record- 371-72-38

• Winningest coach in Canton High School history (all sports!)

• 5 MIAA State Championships

• 19 Hockomock League Titles

• USA Today’s NATIONAL High School Hockey Coach of the Year in 2019

• 3-time Boston Globe Coach of the Year

• Averaged 18 wins per season….with a typical regular season schedule of 21 games

• More than a dozen Sportsmanship Awards

Upcoming Fall Sports Info Meetings

Typically in May and June, many of our fall sports programs host informational meetings for students who are interested in participating.  As those meetings get added, I will share them through this blog entry.

Also and FYI- Fall sports begin on Monday, August 24th. 

BOYS SOCCER- Important informational meeting for any boy interested in joining the Boys Soccer program in the fall...Wednesday, May 13th at 12:30pm in the Distance Learning Lab at CHS. NOTE- This is an early dismissal day for GMS and CHS.  Unable to attend but interested in joining the program? email coach Erickson- ericksond@cantonma.org

GOLF- Important meeting for anyone currently in grades 8-11 interested in trying out for the golf team this fall on Tuesday, June 2nd at 2:45 in the CHS Distance Learning Lab.  Any questions or can't make it? Contact Coach Barucci baruccim@cantonma.org

Sweeney named new Varsity Boys Basketball Coach

Coach Joe Sweeney

The CHS Athletic Department is thrilled to announce that Joe Sweeney will be taking over as our Boys Varsity Basketball Coach.  

Sweeney took the reigns mid-season this past winter as our head interim coach and piloted the 'dogs to a tournament bid and a tournament game win.  He also served as our Freshmen Boys Coach for the entire 2025-26 season. He is no stranger to our Bulldog Basketball program. 

Sweeney played basketball at Pembroke High School before heading off to Bridgewater State University where he minored in Coaching. He has worked with the Level Up Hoops AAU program out of Hanover. He has been with the CHS coaching staff for the past two seasons. 

Sweeney had this to say about his appointment- 

"It’s an honor to be named the next varsity basketball coach at CHS. This is a tremendous opportunity to serve our student athletes and represent our school community. I believe in building a program that emphasizes unity, hard work, perseverance, and consistency. I’m excited to grow connections with our players, families, and supporters as we work together to build a program the Canton community can be proud of.”

CHS Athletic Director Danny Erickson had this to say about this hire-

"Joe has made a huge mark here at CHS in just two seasons. When we made a mid-season shift this past winter, it was clear to everyone, from our coaching staff to our student athletes and to me that Coach Sweeney was the way to go. He has a very high basketball IQ. He is a student of the game. But more importantly, he truly is a coach fit for today's student athletes. He prioritizes joy and competing. He gets how to get the most out of his kids. I'm excited to watch his journey here."

A Joyous Championship

Elation in the Garden

As we all know by now, our Boys Hockey team was crowned 2026 MIAA Boys Hockey D2 State Champions.  This week, the Boston Globe ranked us #1 in the final Globe Top 20, which rates the top 20 high school teams in the state (roughly 175) across all divisions. The 'dogs are at the very top. 

When our Bulldog teams win this ultimate prize, there are usually things that stick out as indicators of how they achieved such greatness. This year's Bulldog Boys Hockey team is no exception. To me, the thing that made this team excellent- more excellent than any other team in the state- was easy to see- JOY. 

Yes, Joy. Not the joy of winning it all, which was incredibly apparent by watching our boys on the ice after the final buzzer on the biggest stage- the Garden.  The joy I'm referring to is more permanent and powerful. It's the love of each other and the joy of the journey.

This team clearly loved each other and played for each other. They not only supported each other- they truly rooted for each other. On a team that could have been destroyed by egos, the opposite happened. It is so easy and even natural for teammates to envy each other and thus chip away at a strong team culture. That is NOT what happened with this amazingly talented group. The team was ONE.

None of this is a new, foreign concept. Many of the best coaches in the world have recognized over the past 20 years that LOVE/JOY and strong relationships are as important/more important than other key ingredients of team success like talent, discipline, hard work, resilience, desire, and mental toughness.

Some of these amazing coaches include Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders, Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool FC, Sean McVeigh of the LA Rams, Pete Carroll (let's focus on his time in Seattle!)....and clearly Canton's own Brian Shuman (despite the photo of him in the Citizen on the bench in the Garden looking like he is Darth Vader scanning over the destruction of the Rebel Alliance!) 

Don't get me wrong, legendary Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz (note- Lou Holtz was NOT a "Joy" coach!) was not wrong when he said something like this (paraphrase): "You can't win without talent, but you can certainly lose with it." 

Teddy and Matt soaking in the state 
championship moment

A state championship does not happen without talent, discipline, and hard work, but add the secret sauce of JOY, and a championship becomes a whole lot more attainable. Coach Shuman knew that. His leaders on this team knew that. And they all leaned in heavily to the idea that Love will lead to a championship. 

Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said this- “When you have joy, you play better. You share the ball, you defend better, you connect.”

Islander Coach Patrick Roy said this- “Hockey is a game. We want the guys to enjoy it again. When you have joy, you’re going to perform better.”

Signs of this joy and team love were evident throughout the entire 2025-26 championship season- particularly during the playoff run. Microphones were put in the faces of many of these boys as the games got bigger and bigger each round. If you heard what they each talked about when asked "Why" it all happened, the common thread was- We love each other, and we love working together to win. They credit each other and deflect praise away from themselves. They throw the love on their coaches and teammates.

Ryan Elrick, after the title game- "I think it's just sticking together. We are a brotherhood. We have never been on a team this close- any of us."

Cam Guerschuny, after the title game in which he scored the game-winner- "I definitely credit our coaching. Coach Shuman prepares us every day. He knows what he needs to do and Coach Ford and the other coaches. Also, just the upperclassmen- our seniors and captains- we wouldn't be able to do it without them. I mean, we are a brotherhood, and that's what older brothers do."

Teddy Shuman after the Semi-Final- "It's a Canton High School Hockey brotherhood in there. We are all playing for each other.  And we love each other, so we are going to give it all we got, and that's what wins championships."

So- Bulldogs of our future teams...those starting their spring seasons now, those who will get going in August or next December, and those who are still in elementary school, take note of the 2026 Boys Hockey Championship team. The "secret sauce" is no longer a secret. We all need to learn from this team if we want to experience success of our own.

They loved each other.

They rooted for each other.

They found joy in all parts of the journey. 

They were Champions. 

MIAA STATE CHAMPIONS- The Canton Bulldogs
ALL photos by Caitlin Tureski

Spring Sports First Day info

It is not too late to register for spring sports, but it is too late to be eligible for the first day (3/16). See blog found at this link to register. 

For those already registered, here is important information for you to be ready for first day action on Monday, March 16th.  

See info on your sport below:

Unified Track & Field- Begins in early April

Boys Lacrosse - Boys lacrosse tryouts will begin on Monday March 16th at 6:30pm at the turf. Please arrive no later than 5:45 on Monday 3/16 for a meeting with Coach Galvin and to receive your pinnie. Please have all equipment, water and a reversible jersey if you have one. Teams will be chosen on Thursday and Final Rosters will be announced AFTER our scrimmage on Saturday 3/21 @CM. If you have any questions please email me at galvint@cantonma.org

Boys and Girls Track and Field- All student athletes registered for track and field should report to the high school track Monday March 16th for our first practice. We will practice from 3:15 to 5:15. Make sure you are appropriately dressed for the weather, as we will be outside.

Detailed schedules will be handed out at our first practice. If you are not in the team’s google classroom and SportsYou please contact either Coach Amico amicoa@cantonma.org or Coach Gotsell briangotsell@cantonma.org

Girls Lacrosse- Tryouts will begin Monday, March 16th. Please arrive at the turf by 4:15 PM, tryouts begin at 4:30 PM. Please have all equipment, water, and a reversible if you have one. Practice Tuesday and Wednesday will also be at 4:30 PM.  Teams will be chosen after Wednesday's practice. If you have any questions please email Jess Powers at powersj@cantonma.org 

Boys Tennis- Boys who have registered for the tennis team should attend a preseason meeting on Zoom at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 12. Coach Donovan will email a link during the day on Thursday. Practices begin on Monday, March 16. We have a very large group this season. To get organized freshmen and new players should report to the courts at 4:30 p.m. sharp and will go until 5:15 p.m. Juniors and seniors please arrive at 5:15 p.m. and will go till 6:45 p.m. More details will be discussed during Thursday’s Zoom meeting. If you have questions in advance email Coach Donovan at billdonovan@cantonma.org.

Girls Tennis- Girls trying out for the tennis team should arrive at the CHS tennis courts on March 16 by 2:45 (end at 4:30), please bring a water bottle and tennis racket as the school does not provide rackets. For every day this week, the girls team will have the time slot of 2:45-4:30. Please watch the weather and dress appropriately for the temperature. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at durhamm@cantonma.org.

Softball- Tryouts will be held Monday, March 16th through Wednesday, March 18th. Please note your grade's time slot below:
Freshmen and Sophomores will be from 3-4:30pm 
Juniors and Seniors will be from 4:30-6pm
Players should report to Walsh Field at least 15 minutes ahead of their tryout start time. Please be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. 
*If weather pushes us indoors, the time slots will remain the same and location details for Monday and Tuesday are as follows:
Monday, March 17th: CHS Gymnasium (fielding evaluations)
Tuesday, March 18th: Rodman Gymnasium (hitting evaluations)
*Wednesday's location is TBD*

Baseball- Monday, March 17th-Tuesday March 18th

Monday: Hitting and Bullpen evaluations at the Rodman Gym (Please have all players dressed in baseball pants, players must bring their bat, helmet, glove and catchers need to bring their gear)

Freshmen and Sophomores: 3:00-4:30pm

Juniors and Seniors: 4:30pm-6:00pm

Tuesday:  Positional evaluations in the main gym at Canton High School (Players must be dressed in baseball pants, bring their gloves and catchers need to bring their gear)

Freshmen and Sophomores: 3:00-4:30pm

Juniors and Seniors: 4:30-6:00pm

Boys Hockey headed back to Garden!

If it's St. Patrick's Day weekend, it must be time for the Green and White to head back to the Boston Garden!

Our #1 seeded Boys Hockey team earned a huge, 6-2 win Sunday over Burlington, to punch its ticket to the MIAA State Championship game at the Boston Garden on this Sunday!

Amazingly, this is the Dog's 6th trip in the past 7 years to the state championship game. 

Road to the Garden- 

Regular season record of 19-1, earned #1 seed in D2 MIAA State Tournament

Round of 32-Defeated #32 Somerset-Berkley, 9-0

Round of 16- Defeated #16 Hopkinton, 5-0

Elite 8- Defeated #9 Walpole, 1-0

Final 4- Defeated #4 Burlington, 6-2

GAME INFO-

Opponent- #2 Seeded Tewksbury

Location- Boston Garden

Date/Time- Sunday, March 15th at 3:00pm

CLICK HERE for tickets (Good for admission to all games that day at the Garden)

Can't make it into Boston? The games will be live streamed by the NFHS Network. It will require a fee. Click Here to watch live.

As we get any more info, we will share with you here!

Current Bulldog Coaching Vacancies

The CHS Athletic Department is looking to fill the following vacant coaching positions-

JV Baseball Coach - Spring 2026- CLICK HERE FOR POSTING

Assistant Girls Lacrosse Coach- Spring 2026- CLICK HERE FOR POSTING

Head Girls Varsity Soccer Coach- Fall 2026- CLICK HERE FOR POSTING