New England Hockey Journal

  • Login
  • Logout
  • Subscribe
  • Dashboard
Juniors

Finally healthy, BC commit Walsh T.J. Walsh readies for full year in USHL

By Jeff CoxMay 1, 2018

TJ Walsh (Hickling Images)

Editor’s note: This story has been updated for digital upon Walsh’s traded from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines.

T.J. Walsh deserves a break or two from the hockey gods. The past three years have been cruel with injuries derailing prime developmental seasons.

Instead of dwelling on the lack of good fortune, the Shrewsbury, Mass., native is plugging on and going back for a third season in the United States Hockey League with the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Once considered one of the top 2000-born players in the United States, Walsh has suffered a series of injuries, including one this season that kept him out until January. However, he finished the 2017-18 season healthy and ready to continue his bounce-back.

Advertisement

“It’s been a tough past few years with injuries. It was nice to finally get back on the ice and be around the guys. Once I got back from injury in January, it was a good season,” Walsh said.

He had two goals and eight assists in the ultracompetitive USHL, his second season in the top college-bound junior circuit in North America.

The undersized forward is quick and has agility and soft hands to make plays and beat defenders wide. He’s always been strong on puck pursuit and getting to loose pucks in the offensive zone to start plays. “I’m a smaller, playmaking forward who can play well in the corners. I like to make plays and score goals,” Walsh said.

While Walsh always has been known for his offensive exploits, Mark Carlson, his coach in Cedar Rapids, has helped him develop his game away from the puck and continue to become more conscious of the defensive zone.

“He’s a stickler with details,” Walsh said of his coach. “He holds us all accountable. He focuses on your game and what you can improve on. He cares about all of his players. You learn to pay attention to the little things. You can see how you develop over the course of a season.”

Walsh was minus-21 in his first USHL season as one of the youngest players in the league, but he cut that number down to minus-12 this past year. He credits experience and time spent with the coaching staff for his improvement in that aspect of his game.

Advertisement

“My defensive awareness has gotten much better,” Walsh said. “You learn playing in this faster league with better players that you have to be aware. Everyone is good and can make plays and score. It’s one part of my game that I think I’ve improved on over the past few years.”

In addition to the great hockey in the USHL, he’s enjoyed playing in front of large crowds and the professional environment in the league.

“It’s a lot different. There are a lot of great fans. The community is very welcoming of us. The rink is great and it’s a great place to play,” said Walsh.

Walsh will play his college hockey for Boston College, a school he committed to almost four years ago. Spending much of his childhood just an hour away from Boston, he was like most kids in the area who picked an allegiance early on.

“Growing up in New England, you’re either a BC or BU guy,” Walsh said. “I’ve always loved BC. Watching the Beanpot and all the tournaments, playing at BC was always a dream of mine. Coach (Jerry) York is one of the greatest coaches in all of hockey. With all the facilities they have there, I just fell in love.”

Walsh will spend the summer working on his game — both in the weight room and on the ice improving his skating and skills.

Advertisement

“I’ll be training with Brian Mc-Donough at EPS in Northboro (Mass.),” Walsh noted. “I’ll be skating with Peter Russo. They push you and they want the best for you. Hopefully it’ll be a good summer and next season will go well.”

Quest for the Clark Cup

The USHL Clark Cup playoffs are under way and several New England prospects are in position to raise the trophy in less than a month.

Providence College commit and former Roxbury Latin star Michael Callahan (Franklin, Mass.) leads a group of several locals on Youngstown, the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference. Maine commit Craig Needham (Medford, Mass.) and UNH commit Eric Esposito (West Haven, Conn.) are the other prominent locals on the Phantoms’ roster.

Matt and Kyle Koopman, Providence commits from Marblehead, Mass., are both on the Waterloo Black Hawks, one of the favorites to make it out of the Western Conference.

“Waterloo plays a really heavy game. Youngstown is good and they keep winning. If I had to take a guess, I’d say it’s going to be Waterloo vs. Youngstown in the finals,” said Walsh.

Also on the Waterloo roster is Florida Panthers prospect Ben Finkelstein (South Burlington, Vt.), who played a season and a half with St. Lawrence. He’ll be heading to Boston College to join the Eagles for his final two years of collegiate eligibility.

Advertisement

“Ben Finkelstein, who came in to Waterloo,” said Walsh, when asked who was the best defender he went up against this year. “He makes an impact right away. He’s great offensively, but he’s also good defensively. He’s a guy we had to game plan around. He was one defenseman you don’t want to play against.”


We hope you enjoyed this free story! For all-access to New England Hockey Journal content – digital-only coverage, our monthly magazine, and Emmy-nominated TV show – subscribe below.

All Access: Print AND Digital Subscription

$124.99 / year

Get your New England hockey fix at $124.99 for one year – savings of nearly 30%.

Unlimited digital access, plus six issues of New England Hockey Journal the magazine delivered to your mailbox monthly.

  • Description
  • Additional information

Description

Editor’s note: This story has been updated for digital upon Walsh’s traded from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines.

Advertisement

T.J. Walsh deserves a break or two from the hockey gods. The past three years have been cruel with injuries derailing prime developmental seasons.

Instead of dwelling on the lack of good fortune, the Shrewsbury, Mass., native is plugging on and going back for a third season in the United States Hockey League with the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Once considered one of the top 2000-born players in the United States, Walsh has suffered a series of injuries, including one this season that kept him out until January. However, he finished the 2017-18 season healthy and ready to continue his bounce-back.

Advertisement

“It’s been a tough past few years with injuries. It was nice to finally get back on the ice and be around the guys. Once I got back from injury in January, it was a good season,” Walsh said.

He had two goals and eight assists in the ultracompetitive USHL, his second season in the top college-bound junior circuit in North America.

The undersized forward is quick and has agility and soft hands to make plays and beat defenders wide. He’s always been strong on puck pursuit and getting to loose pucks in the offensive zone to start plays. “I’m a smaller, playmaking forward who can play well in the corners. I like to make plays and score goals,” Walsh said.

While Walsh always has been known for his offensive exploits, Mark Carlson, his coach in Cedar Rapids, has helped him develop his game away from the puck and continue to become more conscious of the defensive zone.

“He’s a stickler with details,” Walsh said of his coach. “He holds us all accountable. He focuses on your game and what you can improve on. He cares about all of his players. You learn to pay attention to the little things. You can see how you develop over the course of a season.”

Walsh was minus-21 in his first USHL season as one of the youngest players in the league, but he cut that number down to minus-12 this past year. He credits experience and time spent with the coaching staff for his improvement in that aspect of his game.

Advertisement

“My defensive awareness has gotten much better,” Walsh said. “You learn playing in this faster league with better players that you have to be aware. Everyone is good and can make plays and score. It’s one part of my game that I think I’ve improved on over the past few years.”

In addition to the great hockey in the USHL, he’s enjoyed playing in front of large crowds and the professional environment in the league.

“It’s a lot different. There are a lot of great fans. The community is very welcoming of us. The rink is great and it’s a great place to play,” said Walsh.

Walsh will play his college hockey for Boston College, a school he committed to almost four years ago. Spending much of his childhood just an hour away from Boston, he was like most kids in the area who picked an allegiance early on.

“Growing up in New England, you’re either a BC or BU guy,” Walsh said. “I’ve always loved BC. Watching the Beanpot and all the tournaments, playing at BC was always a dream of mine. Coach (Jerry) York is one of the greatest coaches in all of hockey. With all the facilities they have there, I just fell in love.”

Walsh will spend the summer working on his game — both in the weight room and on the ice improving his skating and skills.

Advertisement

“I’ll be training with Brian Mc-Donough at EPS in Northboro (Mass.),” Walsh noted. “I’ll be skating with Peter Russo. They push you and they want the best for you. Hopefully it’ll be a good summer and next season will go well.”

Quest for the Clark Cup

The USHL Clark Cup playoffs are under way and several New England prospects are in position to raise the trophy in less than a month.

Providence College commit and former Roxbury Latin star Michael Callahan (Franklin, Mass.) leads a group of several locals on Youngstown, the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference. Maine commit Craig Needham (Medford, Mass.) and UNH commit Eric Esposito (West Haven, Conn.) are the other prominent locals on the Phantoms’ roster.

Matt and Kyle Koopman, Providence commits from Marblehead, Mass., are both on the Waterloo Black Hawks, one of the favorites to make it out of the Western Conference.

“Waterloo plays a really heavy game. Youngstown is good and they keep winning. If I had to take a guess, I’d say it’s going to be Waterloo vs. Youngstown in the finals,” said Walsh.

Also on the Waterloo roster is Florida Panthers prospect Ben Finkelstein (South Burlington, Vt.), who played a season and a half with St. Lawrence. He’ll be heading to Boston College to join the Eagles for his final two years of collegiate eligibility.

Advertisement

“Ben Finkelstein, who came in to Waterloo,” said Walsh, when asked who was the best defender he went up against this year. “He makes an impact right away. He’s great offensively, but he’s also good defensively. He’s a guy we had to game plan around. He was one defenseman you don’t want to play against.”


We hope you enjoyed this free story! For all-access to New England Hockey Journal content – digital-only coverage, our monthly magazine, and Emmy-nominated TV show – subscribe below.

Additional information

Subscription Type

Monthly, Yearly

Returning customer? Click here to login

If you have shopped with us before, please enter your details below. If you are a new customer, please proceed to the Billing section.

Lost your password?

Have a coupon? Click here to enter your code

If you have a coupon code, please apply it below.

Billing details

Your order

Product
Quantity
Total
Cart Subtotal $0.00
Order Total $0.00
  • Pay with your credit card via Stripe.


Copyright

By subscribing to hockeyjournal.com, Seamans Media, Inc. grants a license to view its content (text, photo, video) on the New England Hockey Journal website.

The website (hockeyjournal.com) is a paid product, with full access granted only to subscribers.

Seamans Media, Inc. retains all copyrights of its content and no material (text, photos, videos, headlines) may be reproduced or republished without the expressed written permission of Seamans Media, Inc.

Payment/Subscription

Subscriptions are available with a variety of term lengths and payment options. See: hockeyjournal.com/subscribe for the latest offers.

Credit or debit cards are the acceptable forms of payment.

Subscriptions will be renewed automatically at the end of the term the subscriber has chosen (e.g. monthly, yearly).

Cancellation Policy

Should a subscriber wish to cancel or change their payment method, the website allows this under “Subscriptions”, and “My Account.”

If a subscriber chooses to cancel their subscription, no refunds will be issued. The subscriber will not be automatically renewed at the end of the billing term they have chosen.

For example: Your monthly digital subscription re-ups on July 1, but you don’t want to continue beyond that point. No refund will be issued on the July 1 charge, though no August 1 cost will be incurred.

Login/Account

The user is granted the right to be logged in to one session at a time, using one device of their choosing.

If a user believes his or her username/password combination has been compromised, they should reset the password. This can be done in at hockeyjournal.com/account.

Tags: Boston College, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Des Moines Buccaneers, T.J. Walsh, USHL

Related Articles

Undersized Strauss Mann helps USHL’s Fargo Force to glory

There are countless players who never get to experience the exhilaration of winning a championship. Fortunately for Strauss Mann, he isn’t one of them. For…
Read More

Former Governor’s Academy forward Brian Ward on upswing in ECHL

Brian Ward firmly believes success comes to those who work for it and is adamant that sustaining that hard work eventually will get you to…
Read More

Burke brothers reunite at Notre Dame

For all its archives of joyous hockey celebrations, film clips of hysterical college champions creating yard sales of strewn sticks and gear in front of…
Read More

Our Free Weekly Newsletter

  • Subscribe
  • Seamans Media, Inc.
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 Seamans Media, Inc. • All Rights Reserved

Free Newsletter Subscription

Receive our NEHJ Insider newsletter to your inbox.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Free Newsletter Subscription

Receive our NEHJ Insider newsletter to your inbox.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Contact Us!

Please write a brief description and someone will get back to you shortly!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.