Or pancakes. Or both. Yeah, I went with both, but that was my big decision for one Christmas. That, and whether I was going to be playing left or right defense at my hockey tournament the next day. Those were the days; where breakfast for dinner was the biggest decision on my plate (pun intended).

As the holiday season approaches, I can’t help but think back to all the holiday tournaments we played in as kids. Every single Thanksgiving and Christmas our celebrations would be cut short as my brother and I would pack up our hockey bags into our parents’ car and travel to some tournament that year.

Every. Single. Year. [Read more…]

Sometimes, it’s okay to break the status quo.

Lacrosse has been my sport since I could walk. Cliche, I know, but it’s the truth. Five years ago, my dreams became a reality as I turned pro in both Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Looking back, it’s impossible not to give credit to my coaches for my achievements. And I’ve had a lot of them. Some good, some not so good (I’ll leave it at that), and some who have changed me as a person and a player and I will be forever grateful for. The one thing that differentiates the good from the bad, and really made a difference in my career, are the ones that embraced creativity.

Fundamentals are important in lacrosse, like any sport. You need to learn the correct way to hold your stick, the correct way to pass, and the correct way to catch. These things need to be taught and practiced on a regular basis, just as a basketball player needs to be taught how to shoot or a hockey player needs to be taught how to skate. But, what I have come to learn, and firmly believe, is that the skills that are learned outside of the practice and game fields are what make good players great. 

[Read more…]

Why College Sports Should be Cherished.

It’s 12:40pm on a Saturday in Finland. I’m on a team bus traveling up the western coast from Pori to Vaasa; one small city to an even smaller city. The sun is already setting and most of my teammates have found a comfortable (ish) position to partake in one of hockey’s most beloved routines: the pregame nap. The coaches sit in the front of the bus discussing tonight’s game and the fact that our trainers forgot to bring coffee on the bus. Or at least that is what I think they are talking about—I have yet to master the Finnish language. For all I know, they could be discussing the weather. Which I notice is really nice today as I watch the colorful trees and hills pass us on this scenic road. Reminds me of fall in Chestnut Hill and once again, I find myself reminiscing on my college career and the time I spent at Boston College. Instead of taking a nap. 

It’s hard not to be nostalgic when thinking about those coveted four years.  But what exactly is it that always gets me thinking about my time there? There’s something about college hockey that is so distinctly different than the hockey I am playing now.  There are the obvious differences like talent level and money. But there is something bigger.  A unique bond with your teammates and classmates that is nearly impossible to explain unless you have lived it—but let me try.