What led you to start playing hockey?
“Growing up, my older brother Charlie played hockey. My dad, Charlie, had played hockey; not a lot, but he played in high school. He also had season tickets to the Boston Bruins and brought me to the 2010 National Hockey League Winter Classic at Fenway Park. I had a cousin Johnny who played hockey. My sister, Abby, played hockey. Growing up, we had a pond next to our house, so we were always out there and then came in with bloody noses and black eyes from high sticks. It was fun. Hockey is a part of my family and in my blood.”
What’s your favorite moment from playing hockey as a kid?
“I went to Lake Placid with the Middlesex Islanders. It was an awesome experience playing there. We made it to the finals and lost in double overtime, which was tough. It was a big learning moment as a young person. You learn how to lose and carry that as you get older. Things get harder and you’re not always going to win, and you have to realize that.”
You played two seasons for Central Catholic High School (2014-16) and two years at The Winchendon School (2016-18). How did your experience at those schools help you grow and develop?
“Central Catholic was my first high school experience. My freshman year, I was in the locker room with a lot of older guys and I learned from them. I learned how to carry myself as an older person. I played there with one of my good friends, Jake Wise (Reading, Mass.). He plays at Boston University and is still one of my good friends today. Playing with him helped me become a better player. He always gave me pointers. To this day, he’s still helping me out.
“Winchendon was a transition. I was looking for higher academics and to be a little farther from home and to learn how to live on my own. The hockey was good, too. I played alongside Matt Fawcett (Lincoln, R.I.), who’s at Quinnipiac, Mike Hardman (Hanover, Mass.), who’s at Boston College, and Ryan Black (Pomfret, Conn.), who’s at Babson College (Division 3). Playing there was great and a fun time with the student-fan sections and going into school the next day where all the guys are fist-bumping you and saying, ‘Good game yesterday!’ It was good to live away from home and on my own and grow up a little bit as a kid. It was fun being around the guys all the time, too.”
How has playing in the North American Hockey League and with the New Jersey Titans helped you develop?
“Junior hockey is such a big step and some kids really don’t realize it. It’s big-boy hockey. I came here, not as a young kid, but a little bit older as a 19-year-old. I’ve been in the league two years, and it’s been awesome. I have two of the best coaches (head coach Craig Doremus and assistant coach Bobby DiRico) in the NAHL. They’ve put me through thick and thin. They are hard on me, but they are only hard on guys who they know can handle it. They tell me all the time, ‘I know you can reach your full potential, and I’m going to push you to get there.’ That’s what’s good about this league and good about the Titans organization. They are always trying to get the best out of their kids.”
What’s been your favorite moment so far in the NAHL?
“My favorite moment in the NAHL was in the playoffs last year when we were down 0-2 against the Jamestown Rebels in the first round and we turned it around. After those two games, we could’ve easily laid down and threw away the season, but we turned to our veterans, saw how much it meant to them, and it came down to the rest of the team that we weren’t going to go down without a fight. We ended up pushing the series to Game 5 and won it in Jamestown. It was a very good ride home, I’ll say that.”
Key facts
Team: New Jersey Titans (NAHL)
Hometown: Wilmington, Mass.
Position: Forward
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-3, 180
Age: 20
Notable: Had 22 points (10-12-22) in 35 games this season with the Titans. ... Registered his first hat trick in the NAHL on Oct. 25 vs. Jamestown. ... Recorded 23 points (7-16-23) in 56 regular-season games and appeared in all nine Robertson Cup playoff matches with New Jersey last season, his first in the NAHL. ... Before joining the Titans, played two years at Central Catholic High School (2014-16) and two years at The Winchendon School (2016-18).
Favorites
Food: Buffalo chicken pizza with some ranch on top.
TV show: “Breaking Bad”
Movie: “That’s My Boy”
Actor: Adam Sandler
Actress: Sandra Bullock
Musician: Post Malone
Vacation spot: Aruba
Book: “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck
Sport other than hockey: "Golf, but I’m not the best at it. I’m a good guy to golf with — if you want some confidence, come golf with me."
Non-hockey athlete: LeBron James
Type of goal: “Getting the puck, coming up the right wing, blowing by the defenseman, cutting in, and roofing it back-shelf on the backhand. That’s always the best.”
Equipment
Helmet: Bauer
Stick: Bauer Nexus
Gloves: Bauer
Skates: Bauer
