What was your favorite hockey moment when you were growing up?
“My favorite hockey moment was Bobby Orr’s Stanley Cup-winning goal, the diving goal. Everybody who’s from New England and watches hockey knows it. We’ve had the picture framed and hanging up in our living room my whole life. Being a huge Boston Bruins fan growing up, I’ve always looked at that picture and cherished that moment. That moment has always been in the back of my head, and Orr, being one of the greatest to ever play, is someone I’ve looked up to playing-wise, even though he was a defenseman.”
How have you applied his skills into your game as a forward?
“His skill-set was something that no one had ever really seen before, and his skating, his hands, his vision — it changed the game forever. That’s something I’ve always thought about, and even though he was a defenseman, he played an offensive game, and I try to use that vision that he had, as well as his playmaking and scoring abilities.”
This is your fourth season at Proctor Academy, where your father, Mike, is your coach. What’s it been like having your dad, who played hockey professionally, including 14 games as a center with the New York Islanders, as your coach?
“It’s definitely been a lot of fun being able to learn how to play hockey from the same guy who later coached you in high school. It’s useful. I think I’m a great asset to the team being able to talk to him as not only a coach, but also a dad, and being able to understand what he’s saying and then translating that to the guys helps me be more of a leader on the team. There are some downsides — getting picked on a little more with the guys. I’m definitely pushed to work harder, which has helped me get to where I am today.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from your dad?
“He always tells me that no matter what I’m playing, a practice or a game, or where I’m playing, that National Hockey League scouts from all different teams are at the rink watching me and watching every one of my actions. That helps me stay focused in games, keep my emotions in check and play hard every second.”
What’s been your favorite moment at Proctor so far?
“We won the Lakes Region championship my freshman year. My dad was the coach and my brother (Reilly) was on the team. That was a special family moment that I will remember forever. And we won against Tilton School, where my dad used to coach.”
What’s been your toughest challenge so far?
“The toughest challenge for me was making the jump from youth hockey to high school. My dad being the coach, I went into it a little bit like I was already on the team, but that quickly changed during the first tryout. You could see the pace, and I got pulled aside right away and he told me that if I played like this I wasn’t going to make the team. That changed things, and from then on I never take any moment for granted, on or off the ice.”
How has your mom, Becky, influenced you?
“My mom has sacrificed more than I could ever ask. Youth hockey, waking up at 4 a.m., driving me two hours to my game, no one ever asked but she just did it. She never really played sports, but she took the role and is the best ever.”
You were in Chicago in 2017 when Reilly was drafted in the third round by the New Jersey Devils. Last month, you were given a C rating by NHL Central Scouting on its players-to-watch list for the 2020 NHL Draft. How special was it for you to see your name on that list?
“It was an unreal moment for me, even though it’s just the beginning. Growing up, I was kind of in my brother’s shadow; he was older than me, was drafted first and committed (to Harvard) young. I wasn’t committing when I was that young. Seeing that we were both ranked the same letter, it’s a sigh of relief that all of this work is paying off.”
Key facts
Team: Proctor Academy
Hometown: Andover, N.H.
Position: LW
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-3, 192
Age: 17
Noteworthy: In fourth season at Proctor Academy, where he totaled 34 points (12-22-34) in 57 games in his first two seasons before erupting for 43 points (22-21-43) in 32 games last season. ... Earned a C rating on NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list for the 2020 NHL draft, indicating that he’s a candidate to be selected in the fourth, fifth or sixth round. ... Committed to playing college hockey at the University of Vermont.
Favorites
Food: Chicken parm
Movie: “Happy Gilmore”
TV show: “Game of Thrones”
Actor: Keanu Reeves
Actress: Emilia Clarke
Musician: Drake
Book: “Harry Potter” series
Sport other than hockey: Football
Non-hockey athlete: Tom Brady
Type of goal: “In front of the net on a screen, low shot off the pad, get the rebound, quickly roof the puck upstairs bar down, nice celly into the crowd.”
Equipment
Helmet: Bauer
Stick: CCM
Gloves: Bauer
Skates: Bauer
