By KEN HAMWEY

Staff Sports Writer

Karl Infanger always aims high when he sets goals, and walking away from a challenge is not in his DNA. Those traits no doubt played a major role when he decided to return to Natick High for a second stint as the Redhawks’ varsity hockey coach.

The 48-year-old Infanger has a top-notch hockey pedigree at the interscholastic, college and professional levels.

During his four years at Billerica High, where he excelled in hockey volleyball and golf, he had offers to play college hockey but he wanted to compete for a Division 1 school. He chose Merrimack College and as a walk-on he finished his career playing defense in 118 games at the Division 1 school.

“I enjoyed playing three sports at Billerica,’’ Infanger said. “But, I decided to focus on  hockey and competing for a Division 1 college was what I strived for. I worked hard, got playing time and became a starter as a sophomore and junior. I played in packed arenas at Boston University and the University of Maine. Some of my best days were at Merrimack.

“I always dreamed about playing pro hockey, so I gave it a shot after college and played two years in the International Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League.’’ 

“I played in Wheeling (W. Virginia) for Peter Laviolette for a year in the ECHL and a year later I became a league all-star,’’ Infanger said. “I also spent time in Orlando in the IHL but my pro career ended with the Mississippi Sea Wolves where we won the ECHL championship. Two years in the pros was very rewarding.’’

When Infanger, who has a masters degree in educational administration from Cambridge College, got married, he decided it was time to begin a career in education. He became a wellness teacher at Medway and has worked in that role for 22 years. In 2003 he became Medway High’s athletic director. He also was a Medway assistant coach in boys hockey and a volunteer coach with the girls co-op team. He also served as an assistant coach at Framingham State for two years.

Infanger eventually took varsity posts at the interscholastic level (five years at Natick High) but when his daughter began playing for Medway, he became head coach of the Mustangs’ girls squad for five years.

When Natick High began its search for a varsity coach last summer, Infanger received calls from friends there and it didn’t take him long to return to the high-powered Bay State Conference.

“It was an easy decision to go back to Natick,’’ he noted. “My heart never left the town, especially after one of my players, Justin Bailey, died suddenly at 18 in 2012. I left after five years there for family reasons. My kids were starting to play high school hockey and I’m a family-first guy. Now both my son and daughter are playing in college, so the time was right to coach again. Natick High’s athletic culture and pride is special.’’

Infanger got positive results in his varsity coaching tenures at Natick and Medway. He had four winning seasons in five years with both programs. And, both schools qualified for tourney play in four of five years. He led Natick to a state semifinal appearance in the 2011-12 season and he registered eight playoff victories in five years with the Redhawks.  

Local Town Pages deadline arrived before Natick’s preseason practices got under way,  but by watching film, Infanger has a sense of what kind of team he’s inheriting.

“The players have a superb work ethic,’’ he noted. “I see good effort. There’s talent and players appear to have a good hockey IQ. I see a team that looks well-balanced.’’

Infanger’s goals for the Redhawks will be similar to the objectives he had during his previous days at Natick’s helm.

“We’ll improve daily in practice and in games,’’ he emphasized. “We’ll always move forward and learn from losses. We also want to compete for the Carey Division title, qualify for the state tourney and go deep.’’

Natick will open its season by hosting Shrewsbury on Dec. 9. Non-league games are slated against B.C. High and Woburn, and an in-season tourney will enable the Redhawks to face two teams from a pool of Malden Catholic, Winthrop. St. Mary’s of Lynn and Bishop Guertin of New Hampshire.

“Playing in the Bay State Conference will be challenging,’’ Infanger offered. “There are no days off. It’s a solid league that gets teams prepared for the playoffs. The BSC is well-balanced and it usually has five or six schools that qualify for the state tourney.’’

Infanger’s on-ice style will feature Natick’s relying on a strong defense but still employing “an explosive offense.’’

In his previous posts as a head coach, Infanger has banked on an athletic philosophy that focuses on winning, reaching one’s potential and having fun. “Winning is a by-product of reaching one’s potential and enjoying competition,’’ he said. “Team chemistry also plays a key role.’’

Infanger tries to instill some valuable life lessons while focusing on his on-ice goals. Overcoming adversity is one. “That helps players to become resilient,’’ he said. “Sports can also teach kids to be good teammates, to be leaders and to be accountable. A strong work ethic leads student-athletes to be improved players, better teammates and good human beings.’’

Infanger and his wife Julie have lived in Medway for 24 years. Their children, Alex and Emily, are playing collegiate hockey — Alex at the University of Delaware and Emily at Assumption.

Medway is home for his family, but for Karl Infanger, Natick still occupies a place in his heart. “Part of me never left,’’ he said. “It’s a town that’s special.’’