Connor McCarthy, Hockey | Hometown: Hanover, Mass. | Major: Finance

Dear Coaching Staff, Team, and Suffolk University, 

I had thought a good deal of time before I realized I wanted to write a letter reflecting back on my four years here at Suffolk University as a student-athlete. 

It was September of 2012 and we had just had our first meeting as a potential team barring tryouts; mind you the feeling that was resonated throughout was anger and readiness to work. The reason that there was anger was due to the prior season’s 3 wins and 21 losses. Now it doesn't take a hockey genius to realize that the 2011-2012 season was a disappointment. We had close to 20-plus freshman trying out for the team and a handful of guys who had verbal commitments from their junior teams and prep schools. I remember the captains Dan Feyock, Charlie Mcginnis, and Jon Stauffer were dead set on burying the ways of the old: laziness, lack of commitment, and poor attitude. 

Fast forward to the end of my four-year career and it's safe to say that those old habits are gone. Of all four years that I had played I had great leaders that set the standard with guys like Andrew Ball, Tim Sprague, Tim Bennnedetto, our entire senior class, and other upperclassmen that all bought in and preached togetherness and commitment to hard work. 

In my first year here we had to leave our bags in the dorms, rode the MBTA with our bags, wear suit and ties to all games, didn't get much team equipment, had home games in multiple rinks, and had minimal practice time. I think that's what made my experience so special here at Suffolk because it made me appreciate every little thing that was earned along way. Now we're here four years later with a new team locker room, brand new jerseys, sweat suits, a home rink, and now an identity. 

Those tough days of freshman and sophomore year lead us to have national votes our junior year and stay undefeated for the first half of the season. We earned playoff berths in all three of those years and a home playoff game this past season. Each year our upperclassmen lead the way to keep reminding the new guys how much this program was growing and if you didn't buy in you'd miss what was right in front of you. 

Rewind to our sophomore year and we were really starting to find our established leadership, our drive, and our teamwork. This memory for me was the one I won't ever forget; I lost a best friend, a brother, and a grandmother all in one year, all in and around the season. It was a very tough year on me and my family. I didn't know how to react or even what to do, but the one thing I won't forget is the support I received from Coach Glionna, the team, and the University. Coach had constantly told me that there was never a rush to come back and play, but if I wanted to, they would love for me back. I'll never forget when I was standing in line with my mother at my older brothers wake and all 30 guys and our coaching staff had come through, I’m not going to lie, it gave me goose bumps. That moment right there is the one I'll never forget from my four years as a student athlete. I came back that week and played in the rest of the season’s games, really giving it my all as the team knew it was for them and my family. 

All four years I played with different teammates and coaches but I won't ever take for granted the friendships I made from all of them. The Rams really meant more to me than anyone would ever know. I was lucky enough to captain a group of great guys my senior year, another memory that I don't think I'll be able to ever replicate. What was best about this last season of my career was that the leadership wasn't in the hands of one or two guys, it was in the hands of the entire senior class: Cherpak, Capozza, Smolarek, Heinzy, Shields, Sellsy, and myself all took turns leading in our own way. That's what really capped off a great career. 

This University has taught me how to work hard, be committed to a cause, and to care about my family, friends, and teammates. I owe a lot to this place for the memories of great wins and harder practices, but I don't think I'll ever be able to. Thank you to my family, thank you Suffolk, thank you Coaches, Coach Glionna, and thank you to the fellas that I shared the ice with. 

Best wishes,

Connor McCarthy ’16