Richard DeCaprio, a longtime observer for Hockey East and a former on-ice official, was today named the conference’s new Supervisor of Officials. DeCaprio will succeed Brendan Sheehy, Hockey East’s Supervisor for the past 12 years, who announced his retirement during the past season. Sheehy will stay on in an advisory capacity through December to assist DeCaprio.
“I am pleased that Dick is joining our staff and look forward to continuing a long standing relationship with him,” said Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna in making the announcement. “He is a great fit for this position, having been an official, a coach, and a member of the Hockey East family for many years.”
DeCaprio, a native of Arlington, Mass., has enjoyed a wide range of hockey experiences since his graduation from Boston University in 1968. Following his playing days for Jack Kelley, DeCaprio became a referee, working high school and college games, including Hockey East games, for more than two decades.
Toward the end of his officiating career, he began assigning high school games in the Greater Boston area. Professionally, DeCaprio has been a teacher and administrator in the Arlington Public Schools for nearly 40 years. After serving as an assistant coach in both football and ice hockey at Arlington, DeCaprio succeeded the legendary Eddie Burns as head hockey coach of Arlington’s storied program in 1997. In that time, he has compiled an outstanding record of 129-55-22, leading the Spy Ponders to six league titles and six appearances in the prestigious “Super Eight” schoolboy tournament.
His contributions to high school hockey have earned him induction into the Massachusetts State Hockey Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame as both a referee and a coach. He was also inducted into the Arlington High School Hall of Fame in its initial year.
Beyond these experiences, DeCaprio enjoyed two different stints as an assistant coach at UMass-Lowell (1969-70 and 1989-91) and also served as a scout for the St. Louis Blues from 1985 to 1988. DeCaprio has also directed the Spy Pond Power Skating Hockey School and Clinic since 1980. He and his wife Marcia reside in Chelmsford, Mass.
