I would like to thank the Varsity Club and the Selection Committee for such an incredible honor. It is quite amazing to be recognized among the great athletes that have represented Harvard in competition. I would like to congratulate my fellow inductees honored here tonight and in particular my fellow hockey inductees.

To be honest, Harvard was not initially where I had envisioned myself for my college years. I was a Michigan youth hoping to play college hockey somewhere close to home and I am sure that my family would have preferred a shorter commute to see me play as well. It was not until receiving a recruiting call from assistant coach Ronn Tomassoni during December of my senior year in high school that Harvard became a college option. It seemed so remote at the time. Ronn relentlessly encouraged me to attend Harvard and play hockey, and I am thankful for his persistence. It is because of his effort that I had such a great collegiate hockey experience and have such great lifelong friendships.

For me, Harvard Hockey was the ultimate experience. Paired with Scott Fusco in preseason workouts, I immediately learned the definition of “work ethic” and the level of commitment it would take to excel. The high level of commitment on our teams and the willingness to work made our success even more enjoyable. I was fortunate to be coached by Bill Cleary who made sure it was fun to be at the rink everyday, which was important for someone as intense and serious like me. He encouraged us to play without fear of making a mistake. We played with the same passion that he coached.

My teammates over the four years were simply the best and made my experience something I cherish to this day. We had a range of personalities but we were all focused on the same goal: winning. It was the competition in practice everyday against a teammate like Steve Armstrong that not only made me a better player but a better person, as we demanded the best out of each other at all times. Fellow inductee and good friend Don Sweeney was a measuring stick on the blueline as we constantly pushed each other on the ice and in the weight room to become the best players we could be.

As a naïve Midwesterner going into Cambridge, I assumed that I would learn the most from going to class everyday with some of the brightest people around. However, it was across the river at the Bright Center and Dillon Field House that I learned as much about life and the skills needed to navigate the road ahead. In the training room, Dick Emerson’s quick wit kept you on your toes and his skills kept you on the ice. In the rink, two-time Olympian Jack Kirrane always had a kind word and was a great mentor. His work ethic and humility were great standards to aspire to. Chet Stone always made sure we had the best of everything. Nobody cared more for the athletes at Harvard than he did.

My roommates: Frank, Gerald, Chris, Lane, Kevin, Chris and Ed who made our time at Harvard as entertaining and exciting of an experience that anyone could imagine. I especially thank you for your friendship and support through those trying times of rehab from my knee injury.

I would like to thank my parents for all your encouragement and sacrifices that enabled me to attend Harvard. It was your support and love that gave me the drive and strength to reach for and achieve any goal. I thank my brother, Jeff and my sister, Krist, for all your sacrifices during our youth as you were carted along through numerous hockey rinks.

Lastly, to my home team – Jennifer, Jack and Alexi. I hope that I can successfully pass along the life lessons to Jack and Alexi that I learned as a member of Harvard Hockey.