April 12, 2003
NCAA Frozen Four
Postcard: Borek's Good Fortune

The previous owner of Scott Borek’s house in Durham, N.H., won the lottery. Regardless of Saturday night’s result, Borek, UNH’s associate head coach, would tell you that guy doesn’t have nearly the good fortune he’s enjoyed.

Borek went to the Frozen Four two years ago shortly after being fired as the head coach at Lake Superior State. He was in good spirits in Albany – he always is – but being behind the bench instead of in the stands without a job will make anybody’s smile a little brighter.

“Today is exactly why I’m in this profession,” he said Thursday after the Wildcats’ win over Cornell. “I want to be part of something special. I told Richie (Umile) when I came back, ‘I don’t care about head coach, assistant coach, associate. I just want to be part of something special.’ ”

Borek holds no ill will towards Lake Superior, but his time there was certainly tumultuous. He succeeded Jeff Jackson as head coach and the Lakers never reached the heights that Jackson had led them to. After he was fired he spent one year as the head coach of Division III New England College before taking the job at UNH after Brian McCloskey accepted the head coaching position with the Wildcats’ women’s team.

Borek says while he appreciates the Frozen Four experience, he has enjoyed all of his time at UNH to its fullest – especially given what he and his family, including wife Cheryl and their four children, have gone through during the past two years.

Earlier this year Borek pointed at one corner of a cinderblock on the Whittemore Center walls. “That’s where my house is,” he said, then pointed at the opposite corner. “That’s the rink.” Then, pointing at a third corner between the two, he said, “Here’s the Dunkin Donuts. How can I not love it here?”

He appreciates every moment. Thursday night, during the second intermission, Wildcat Nathan Martz marveled at how calm Borek was.

“I just was so relaxed, because of what’s gone on these past two years,” Borek said. “In a funny way, that’s kind of my role on the team, just being more laid back. Just be relaxed, I know it’s just a hockey game.”

– Nate Ewell