A transition year for hockey at Saugus High

First season for Coach Natalucci will be a co-op year

By Mark E. Vogler

Newly appointed Saugus High School Hockey Coach Jeff Natalucci will be coaching players from Saugus High and three other area schools, at least for the first season of a revived hockey program. “We will be doing a co-op again,” Saugus Middle High School Director of Wellness & Athletics Matt Serino said this week.

“We are the host school and Everett, Revere and Malden will be joining us,” he said.

Coach Natalucci’s team will be playing an independent schedule this year “with the goal of rejoining the NEC next Winter,” Serino said.

“We have a full 20 game schedule and will be playing most of the NEC teams to help continue the traditional schedule. We will play our home games at Kasabuski,” he said.

Serino announced last week that Natalucci, a standout hockey player from the Saugus High Class of 1995, will be returning. “This will be Jeff’s second tenure at the helm of the Sachems. He previously served as head coach from 2010–2022, leading Saugus to four state tournament appearances, including one North Final and two North Semifinal appearances,” Serino said.

“Jeff’s connection to Saugus and to this hockey program runs deep. As a Saugus High School alumni, town employee, lifelong resident, and parent, Jeff has remained deeply invested in our community. All of his children have either gone through (Bella 2024) or are currently going through the Saugus Public Schools (Sophia 2027), with his youngest son, Gio, entering 8th grade and joining the hockey program this season,” he said.

“Saugus hockey has a proud tradition that has been carried on by many great alumni who have returned to give back to the program, and Jeff will continue that tradition in his second tenure as head coach,” he said.