In recent years, high school hockey has seen a large growth in popularity and participation, especially in our area. We’ve seen more and more players forgo the prep schools and the famed NEPSAC league in favor of playing high school hockey, and then venturing to the junior leagues if they so desire to continue their hockey dreams. What exactly is the reason for this? I was able to catch up with several Section 2 stars from now and from years’ past to see exactly why high school hockey is so great.
The first player I caught up with is current BHBS senior forward Alec Lind. Lind recorded career-highs in goals (21), assists (22), and points (43) last season, and looks to be one of the top scorers in the section again this year. He’s currently an alternate captain for the Spartans as well.
Q: What exactly makes high school hockey so great?
A: “Uh… the passion that comes along with it. Playing in front of your friends, and your family. I mean, I’ve played a lot of AAA, AA, and youth hockey in my day, but nothing comes close having as close a team as BHBS. The locker room setting, every day you see your team, and I mean the bonds you form, it’s like nothing else. It’s just really not comparable to any other team I’ve played on because it just exceeds them.”
Q: What’s your favorite part of high school hockey?
A: “Playing in front of friends, and just getting out there every day. Uh, you’re not gonna play on any other type of team, you’re not gonna practice every day, you’re not gonna be with your team every day, so I like the bond that it forms, and obviously I can’t complain about playing in front of hundreds of people every Friday and Saturday night, you know? It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Q: What was it like being a part of the sectional championship run in 2014-15?
A: “It was incredible. As we kept winning, the community support behind us kept getting bigger and bigger, it was uh, it was incredible to watch two communities come together behind one team, and knowing that I was a part of that was, it was indescribable, and looking up in the stands at that [championship] game and seeing our fan base, for me, my brother played a couple years ago, and how the BHBS team has come like this far, it’s just incredible.”
Q: What would you change about your high school hockey career?
A: “Uh… I would, if I had the power, I’d make the season longer, because it’s too short, personally.”
Our next player is Hayes Meredith, a standout player hailing from Bethlehem, who broke onto the scene with 15 goals as a sophomore. He will be entering his second year as a captain for the Eagles, who are projected to be a top team in the Section this year.
Q: What do you think separates high school hockey from other levels of hockey?
A: “I would say the locality and personal level of high school hockey separates it from other levels because in Bethlehem everyone knows the varsity team and it’s on a very personal level, because the fans get to know us, the younger kids know us and the parents know us. Other levels don’t have anything like that, like everyone knows Sidney Crosby, and Patrick Kane, and the college hockey players and the AHL, but not many know them on the personal level that people know high school hockey as.”
Q: Your school has built up quite a reputation for your student section, what’s it like to play in front of them?
A: “Since my freshman year the fans have been outstanding, especially at Bethlehem. Not only that the parents of the players and [parents of non-hockey players] love watching us represent our school on the ice the way we know how. I’ve also been told that the younger kids see the varsity players as “celebrities” and that’s just a great feeling, because for many high school hockey players it is the highest level of hockey we’re gonna play, so I look to inspire the younger kids as much as I can, so when it’s their turn to play they can do the same thing. Also there is not much of a gap between Bethlehem fans and other schools. Whether there’s a special event going on at the game or not the support and atmosphere present at almost every game is unreal and extremely motivating especially because that support is so personal.”
Q: Bethlehem has high expectations this year, what do you think you guys can do to win the section?
A: “We should have a very good team this year, and the team and I all have very high expectations this year. I think this year will be all about hard work, commitment, and teamwork. I think winning the section has always been a possibility throughout my high school career. However, this year is different. I want to graduate knowing I did everything possible to bring Bethlehem its first section 2 title.”
Q: What do you think your favorite part of high school hockey is?
A: “I think my favorite part of high school hockey is the effect is has on my school. When it’s hockey season everyone knows it, everyone loves it, and everyone supports it. Kids in my high school get so excited about high school hockey, and it just motivates the team and I to play harder and harder.”
I also talked to La Salle captain Logan DiScanio, who recorded a career-high 35 points last season, and scored 16 goals for the second straight year. The Cadets are primed for a breakout year, and DiScanio should be one of the section’s best players this season.
Q: What do you think makes high school hockey different from any other level of hockey?
A: “High school hockey is different than any other type of hockey because you get to play in front of all your friends from school. It’s also better because you play your rivals probably twice a year, and then maybe in the play offs. There’s not a better feeling than playing your rival with a huge crowd.”
Q: Your team (La Salle) pulled off a huge upset over #2 Bethlehem in the first round last year, what was it like to go into that barn and knock off that team?
A: “We knew it was gonna be a very hard game and that the tables were on their side, but we all knew that if we played our game we could beat any team in the section. Bethlehem has one of the loudest rinks in the section, they always seem to fill the stands which makes it a fun rink to play at. When we won that game it was a huge moment for our team, being a 7 seed and knocking off the 2 seed at their rink. That’s what makes Section 2 hockey great.”
Q: So (La Salle) and CBA have a pretty big rivalry, what’s it like to play them twice a year?
A: “It’s a great rivalry, one of the best in Section 2. Whenever we play against each other, the games are always close and the stands are always full.”
Q: You guys look like you’re set to improve a lot this year. What’s your goal this season?
A: “The goal is to get the #1 seed going into sectionals, so we can get home ice advantage. It’s always a huge advantage playing at home. Once sectionals start, then the goal is to win the championship.
Q: What do you think is your favorite part of high school hockey?
A: “My favorite part is right after school ends, and we [the La Salle team] all hop in each other’s cars and take the drive down to [the rink] at HVCC. There’s nothing like hanging with the boys and playing the game you love with your friends.”
My next guest is one of the most respected figures in all of Section 2 hockey, former Saratoga captain JT Rafferty. Rafferty recorded 58 points in 3 seasons, and was a captain for his final 2. He helped grow the game with his team-first approach and his friendly nature to opposing coaches and teammates. He was, and is one of the most admired players in Section 2, and is a great role model for any hockey player. He now attends Norwich University as a cadet.
Q: What was your favorite part of high school hockey?
A: “There’s so many things that could be my favorite but I would say building the brotherhood with your teammates from the beginning of the year to the end. Your with the same guys day in and out and face a bunch of adversity through the year. You get so close.”
Q: How did it feel to represent your team and school in front of a giant crowd every weekend?
A: “It’s a huge honor but at the same time it’s a big responsibility the fans and the students expect us to do big things each year so when we don’t accomplish that were disappointed. We’re expected to win the section each year. It’s a tough reputation to live up to but it makes it that much better when we’re able to accomplish that as a team.”
Q: What was it like being a part of the biggest rivalry in Section 2 hockey in you guys (Saratoga) vs Shen?
A: “It was a really cool experience. Having two games too look forward too every year knowing that it’s going to be a packed house is a great feeling. I had a good relationship with a lot of guys from playing summer hockey like Pete Russo and Tate Cretti which made it even better. I feel as if the rivalry has became more of an appreciation than a hatred but it’s still a very physical close game.”
Q: You were a part of the 2013 state championship team. What was that like?
A: “It was a great first year to my career. I learned so much from the leaders on my team that I was able to apply over my three years on the team. It showed us the amount of effort it takes to reach the top. Was a crazy ride and meant a lot to the older guys who had been so close in years prior.”
Q: How do you rate your experience as a high school hockey player and would you recommend it to anybody currently not playing?
A: “I’d rate it a A or a 10 on whatever scale. Honestly wouldn’t change a decision I’ve made. I still got looks to go on to the junior level by playing in summer showcases. I would recommend high school hockey to everyone in high school. If we could get all the kids who play else where to play high school hockey it would only make the experience better and the play more advanced.”
As you can see, the answers across the board are pretty much the same. The consensus is saying that high school hockey just simply isn’t like any other level or type of hockey. In a lot of junior leagues and places like that, most people are just playing to get to the next level. In high school, it’s very, very hard to play anywhere. Some kids if they’re crazy full of talent will be able to play Division 3, but it’s rare. These kids aren’t playing high school just so they can move on to the next level and further their careers, they’re playing because they love to. It’s every single kid, too. There’s no sport at the high school level with as much passion and heart poured into it as hockey. Teams become a family during the season. It’s pretty incredible to see people from separate schools become such close friends, like with BHBS, Shaker/Colonie, Nisky/Schenectady, and G/M/S. Fans from opposing schools will become friends during the season, thanks to sitting in the student section together all year. It becomes like a little community, really. Overall, the competition is intense, the games are energetic, and the passion is unrivaled. That’s why high school hockey is the best hockey.
Dylan McGlynn covers Section II Athletics and College Hockey.
