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Deron Barton, who in 2011 took over a Falmouth boys’ hockey program that hadn’t been able to get over the hump and win a state championship, then produced back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014, has stepped down.

“The program’s in good shape and I’m not going far,” said Barton, a one-time high school standout in Massachusetts, who went on to play at Merrimack College. “I’ll still be banging around the game. The kids took it well. They were a lot shocked at the beginning, but it’s another life lesson. It’s an opportunity for the captains and seniors to lead.”

Barton posted a record of 162 wins, 83 losses and seven ties in his 13 seasons.

“I’m happy with what we accomplished,” Barton said. “We got the monkey off Falmouth’s back. It’s not easy to win it. There are overtime games, bouncing pucks, controversial finishes. It’s tough in a single elimination tournament.

“I couldn’t ask for a better place to coach. I had good kids who had the fundamentals down when I got them. I never wanted for anything. Hopefully, Falmouth will win another (title) soon.”

“I would like to express my gratitude to Coach Barton for his many years of dedicated service to the student-athletes at Falmouth High School,” said James Coffey, the Navigators’ athletic director. “Coach Barton consistently emphasized the invaluable life lessons that sports impart, such as hard work, focus, determination and resilience. His teams were always well-prepared and disciplined, embodying the true spirit of the game. Under his leadership, our hockey teams consistently represented our town and school with utmost class.”