Tommy Bishop | Hometown: Chelmsford, Mass. | Finance

Dear Coaching Staff, Team, and Suffolk University: 

It is crazy to think four years have gone by this fast. My time at Suffolk has been nothing short of extraordinary. When I came in as a freshman I didn’t really know what to expect, but the second I stepped on the ice for the first time I knew I had made the right decision. Being able to play the sport I love with the added benefit of being in Boston was the perfect combination. Very few people get to play college athletics, so I was extremely grateful for the opportunity Suffolk was giving me. 

I learned quickly that playing for Suffolk is about a lot more than just hockey. Suffolk hockey gives you a growing experience that you can’t get elsewhere. It teaches you responsibility, accountability, leadership and adversity. A good lesson I learned in my time here is that adversity comes at you in a lot of different ways. Whether it’s getting a bad bounce in the game, off ice struggles, or just personal issues, adversity is something that will always be present. 

To the incoming freshmen, the thing you will need to learn is that it’s all about how you react to it. The only thing you can control is yourself and the actions you take. Have a short memory through the ups and the downs and take every practice, lift, or game one day at a time. 

A former teammate of mine once told me “you will start to learn how your decisions off the ice affect what happens on the ice”, and that couldn’t be truer. You need to stick together as a team and pick each other up; positivity leads to success. Put in the work and use every day as another chance to get better. You only get four years to do this and you don’t want to waste a second of it, because it comes and goes in the blink of an eye. It takes a lot to get to this level and you’ve probably spent most of your life working to get here, so don’t throw it away because you weren’t willing to work. Nothing will feel better than getting a big win and celebrating with your teammates, but you will only get rewarded for the work you put in. 

The last thing I will say is make sure you have fun. Nothing is worth it if you are not having fun. This is the best four years of your life, and when you leave this school four years from now you’re not going to remember your record or who scored which goals; you’re going to remember the people you played with and the memories you’ve made with each other. You are starting life-long friendships; a band of brothers. Be sure to enjoy it. 

In terms of my time at Suffolk, a few specific memories stand out to me. I remember overtime wins in Charlestown freshmen year. I remember traveling to Salve Regina to get that comeback victory and having to push the bus out of the snow. That was the best feeling in the world. I also think back to winning the Stove Pipe Championship over SNHU in their own tournament, and getting to hold that trophy high. I reminisce about this year with the big league switch and beating Norwich at their rink, as well as putting together an unbelievable Military Appreciation game. Most importantly I think about going to the rink every day and being with my teammates. I will never forget the guys in that locker room that took the ice every day with me and gave everything they had. You all are my best friends and have given me the best memories. 

I want to thank Coach Glionna, Coach Burgess, and Coach Fowke for everything they have done for me on and off the ice. You have all made a positive impact on my life. I appreciate everything you have all done to help me progress both with hockey and with my future career. I will always be grateful for the support Coach Glionna and the University has given me. 

Thank you to my teammates, especially my senior class; it’s been quite the journey with you guys. I also want to thank my freshmen year Captains for being great leaders and role models. You guys guided me through my first year here and showed me what it takes to be a leader.

Last, I want to thank Suffolk University and the athletic department for everything you have done to put us in a position to succeed. All of you have made my time at Suffolk unforgettable. 

The games played and memories made will always stick with me, and I’m so grateful for that. For the guys going forward, always stick together and leave everything out on the ice. No regrets, just play your heart out. Being a Ram has meant so much to me, and I’m proud of how far this program has come in four short years. This team has lot ahead of it, and we are moving in the right direction. Not a lot can compare to how close a hockey team is, but this team in particular has become a second family to me. Everyone in that locker would do anything for the guy next to him. Going to battle every day for each other, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Band of brothers.

All the best, 

Tommy Bishop