Before you went to Harvard, you played at Deerfield Academy for two seasons (2006-08). What led to your decision to go there?
“There were a couple of kids from where I grew up in Montreal who went to boarding school. It was a way to get seen by colleges. A kid who lived down the street from me, B.J. Mackasey, went to Deerfield and said great things about it. When I visited it, I liked it, went there, and then went to Harvard.”
Why Harvard?
“Boston is a place I wanted to live. I walked around campus and it didn’t compare to any other campus, in my mind. It has a great hockey program. And the Biegas (Alex, Michael and Danny), who I knew from home, had gone there, so there was some familiarity with that, too.”
What did you learn most about yourself from your four seasons (2008-12) there?
“I learned a lot about how to connect with different people. You meet so many different types of people, from all walks of life. It’s easy to stay in your hockey bubble and just hang out with your friends, but you end up meeting a lot of interesting people there.”
What was your top moment while at Harvard?
“We played Yale in the ECAC quarterfinals my senior year, and they had been really good for a couple of years, winning conference championships, and we beat them to go to the semifinals.”
What was it like to play for Crimson head coach and former National Hockey League left wing Ted Donato (Dedham, Mass.)?
“Ted played in the NHL for over 10 years, so he had a little bit of a different perspective in terms of helping guys get to the professional level that other coaches may not have had just because he had been there and seen it. He taught me to take my shot. He was a good coach.”
How important was it for you to graduate?
“It was important for me and my parents (Matt and Cindy). My mom is still more proud that I went there than that I play in the NHL. It was great. I was actually playing in the American Hockey League with the Norfolk Admirals when it was time to graduate, and I was able to go back and walk with my buds. We had just swept the St. John’s IceCaps in the third round, and I had two days off, so I was able to go back to Boston. It was a good moment.”
Why did you choose to graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in government and political science?
“I started out in economics, and that was fine, but the more I got into it I had different interests. Political science was great. When you’re taking classes for a political science degree at Harvard, you’re not just doing that. I was taking economics classes, psychology classes, and it was a way to learn about all different things. Many people who go on to get law degrees start out with that.”
What was your favorite course?
“I took a course called ‘Lady Samurai.’ The teacher was great to me. She let me leave to go play hockey, so that was my favorite course.”
Key facts
Teams: Tampa Bay Lightning, Harvard, Deerfield Academy
Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia | Position: Left wing
Shoots: Left | Size: 6-1, 196 | Age: 28
Notable: Selected 77th by Tampa Bay in 2007 NHL draft. Has totaled 221 points (87-134-221) in 435 regular-season games and 40 points (20-20-40) in 64 Stanley Cup playoff contests over six seasons with the Lightning. Tied for seventh in the NHL and tied for third on Tampa in scoring during 2015 playoffs, totaling 18 points (9-9-18) to help Lightning win Eastern Conference championship. Member of the 2011-12 Calder Cup champion Norfolk Admirals (AHL). Recorded 109 points (53-56-109) in 130 games during his four seasons (2008-12) at Harvard, becoming the university’s first 100-point scorer since Tom Cavanagh (’05). Before Harvard, played two seasons at Deerfield Academy, where he served as captain his senior season.
Favorites
Food: Steak
Movie: “Dumb and Dumber”
TV show: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Actor: Charlie Day from “Always Sunny”
Musician: Vance Joy
Road college rink: “I liked many of them. Quinnipiac (TD Bank Sports Center) was nice; it was a brand-new rink.”
Book: “ ‘The Inner Game of Tennis’ (by W. Timothy Gallwey). It’s a book that a lot of coaches have recommended.”
Sport other than hockey: Golf
Non-hockey athlete: Aaron Rodgers
All-time hockey memory: “Winning Game 7 of the 2015 Eastern Conference final at Madison Square Garden was the best moment thus far.”
Equipment
Helmet: Easton
Stick: Warrior
Gloves: Bauer
Skates: Bauer
