What is your favorite hockey moment from when you were growing up?
“I have a couple moments. Traveling with the Boston Advantage to different places was a blast. I spent it with my friends that I made over those years, and we’ve become lifelong friends. A specific one was going to Arizona. It was warm. We rented an Airbnb with a pool. It was awesome.”
Growing up, what was the sibling rivalry like with you and your two older brothers, Adam and Brady?
“Brady is only a year older than me, so there’s more of a rivalry there. We had an outdoor rink growing up and we always fought on there. Mini hockey, we always fought, trading punches. Adam is four years older than me, so he always beat up on me. There wasn’t much fighting back!”
What’s the worst injury one of you guys gave each other?
“It’s probably when Adam pushed Brady into a chair and knocked out his two front teeth when we were younger. I got a cut from Adam, too, being pushed. But I’d say the two front teeth being knocked out.”
Adam and Brady are both forwards. Why are you a defenseman?
“When I was really young, back when I played for the Boston Junior Terriers, I was switched one day and I never switched back. I never really thought about switching back until I was older, but by then it was too late. It is what it is. I feel comfortable with it.”
How did playing for the Advantage help you develop?
“I’m close with the Lovells. They’ve always been there and I love their connections. They’ve always been by my side and helped me along the way. It’s been huge. The rink is only 15 minutes away from my house, so I’d always be there, putting in extra work.”
What’s the toughest challenge you’ve faced in hockey?
“The toughest challenge was two seasons ago when I played my first games in the North American Hockey League, with the Northeast Generals. It was so much faster and the players were stronger. It was a much harder league to play in and adjusting to that was a challenge.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Our captain, Joe Nagle (Weymouth, Mass.), one time said that you can’t go into the game thinking you’re going to play really well or really bad. Don’t think about it at all, but if you have to, be neutral about it. I always think about that and try to apply it, and it seems to be helping me a lot.”
You’ve been teammates with Brady with multiple teams, including last season with the Generals. What was it like playing alongside your brother?
“It was like being with any other kid, other than the car rides to the rink. When we went home, we went to our rooms and saw each other at dinner. We didn’t really talk that much. I talked to him just as much as other kids. There’s always that rivalry side, too.”
What’s been your favorite NAHL moment so far?
“It’s scoring my first goal because it wasn’t a traditional goal. I passed the puck and it hit off a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights player’s foot and went in the net. It was pretty funny and everyone was laughing. It was a good time.”
Key facts
Team: Northeast Generals (NAHL)
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-1, 200 pounds
Age: 19
Notable: Playing in his second full NAHL season. ... Second among Generals defensemen (third overall) in scoring with 31 points (8-23-31) in 46 games this season. ... Recorded 15 points (3-12-15) in 57 regular-season games and two assists in five Robertson Cup playoff games last season with the Generals. ... Scored two goals in eight games in 2017-18 with Northeast. ... Before entering the NAHL, played with the Boston Advantage.
Favorites
TV show: “Friends”
Movie: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Book: “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
Actor: Bradley Cooper or Ryan Reynolds
Actress: Lisa Kudrow
Musician: Luke Combs; favorite band is AC/DC.
Vacation spot: Down the Cape, or Orlando, Florida. Can’t go wrong with Universal.
Sport other than hockey: Baseball
Non-hockey athlete: Rob Gronkowski
Candy: Charleston Chew
Video game: EA Sports NHL
Equipment
Helmet: Bauer
Stick: Bauer
Gloves: Bauer
Skates: Bauer
