After Mark Marfione stepped down as head coach of the Hockey Headers to take an administrative position in the Brookline school system last month, the search immediately got underway to find his replacement, not an easy task considering he led the team to the Division 3 state championship just two years ago. He has been in charge of the program for three years, before announcing his resignation. He’ll also take over Brookline High’s boys hockey program as its varsity head coach.
The search for Marfione’s successor didn’t last long, when a familiar face with an extensive hockey background both as a player and as a coach came forward to apply for the job. As a result, Marblehead High School athletic director Kent Wheeler made the announcement last week that Brendan Locke is the new varsity head coach of the Hockey Headers for the 2025-26 season.
Locke, according to the press release released by the MHS athletic department, is a seasoned ice hockey coach and former collegiate athlete, who also has the experience in developing and coaching youth and high school student-athletes. He has consistently fielded competitive teams on multiple levels, while also emphasizing character, discipline, fundamentals and teamwork.
Locke was an assistant coach right here for the Headers from 2014-18. He was on legendary coach Bobby Jackson’s staff. Jackson coached the team to the program’s first state title in 2011.
During Locke’s time as an assistant, the team achieved multiple playoff appearances, including an undefeated regular season and a Division 2 North final appearance.
In 2015-16, as the head coach of the middle school team, Locke built a championship-winning program that produced two Viking League titles. He was previously involved with Marblehead Youth Hockey.
As a former captain of the Merrimack College hockey team, Locke earned Hockey East All-American Academic honors three straight years, before being selected in the 1991 NHL Supplemental Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Among his credentials, Locke, a Marblehead resident for the past 27 years, has also earned USA Hockey Level 4 Coaching Certification. He and his wife Christine have two sons, Brendan and Christopher, who are both Marblehead High School graduates and varsity letter winners in hockey and golf.
“Brendan is a part of the local hockey community, who lives by the athletic department’s core values,” said Wheeler. “His hockey coaching and playing experience is outstanding. We are pleased to have him leading our boys hockey program.”
