The 2019 Rams Reflect is the fourth in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of Suffolk teams have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Suffolk.
For a complete listing of past and present Rams’ Reflections, click here.
Sean Henry | Hometown: Trumbull, Conn. | Finance
It all started on the roof deck of my senior captain’s apartment in the North End. It was the first time the freshman class was introduced to the veterans of the Suffolk University men’s hockey team. I was excited, but nervous because I was one of 12 other recruits to be invited to the meeting. When we arrived, the captains introduced us to all of the returning players from last year. I remember thinking I had no shot of playing this year because there were already 10 returning defensemen. I had no idea what was in store for me in the next couple years, but either way, when I overlooked the Boston skyline for the first time, I knew Suffolk University was the place for me.
Fast forward to the start of my senior year. I was living my dream, going into my second-year as a captain and we were joining the New England Hockey Conference. After coming to the realization that I would never be a DI athlete, playing in the NEHC was my next goal. The league included some of the best teams in the country, like Norwich and Hobart, and the Rams were finally going to play them. It was a tough challenge, but we fought every weekend and earned a spot in the playoffs in our inaugural year. On top of that, we beat 13th nationally-ranked Norwich in their home arena – which hasn’t been done by any team in the past two years – and the next weekend, we beat 12th nationally-ranked Hobart.
I’ll never forget all the great times I’ve had being a Ram. My sophomore year, we had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to skate in Fenway Park. I was nominated to speak at the Michael and Larry Smith Hall renaming ceremony, which was an honor and a privilege to represent Suffolk hockey, the athletic department, and Suffolk University as a whole. On top of that, I got to play in one of the most exciting games of my life, just coming up short against Norwich in the first round of playoffs, in a sold-out arena.
I’ve had a lot of great memories come from these past four years, and I made a lot of great friendships that will last a lifetime. Suffolk has shaped me into a better man today, ready for what’s to come in the future. I wouldn’t be who I am today, if it weren’t for my family, my teammates, and my coaches, so thank you!
Go Rams!
Sean Henry