West Point, to thee
Brendan Soucie, Hockey
The meaning of being a member of the Army hockey family hits a different pitch for the Soucie household. Unlike any of my teammates, my father graduated West Point in 1992 and captained the team his senior year. My whole life, I witnessed the true value of what it means to be a part of this family. No matter the year, alumni are constantly around to offer support in whatever ways needed. Just in my four years, I witnessed a revival in this support with catered team dinners, support in visiting arenas, etc. The dedication to support the Army hockey program stems from the bonds formed as players.
I have countless memories from my four years which formed these bonds. The first was throwing that jersey on for my first game. I got extremely lucky and tapped home a wide-open rebound on my first shift of college hockey, but that is not my greatest memory of the game. Going through the emotional roller coaster of a game is where you come together as a team. Compared to every team I played for, the strength of this team bond seemed to be greater because of our name, Army West Point.
A second memory from that year was being afforded the opportunity to play an outdoor hockey game at frozen Fenway Park. Living 20 minutes away my last year of juniors, this game was especially surreal. Not only is Fenway one of the most famous sports venues, but I was able to play in front of family and friends. Boston is so close to home so I will never forget taping my sticks on top of the Green Monster or sitting on the bench and taking the moment to realize where I was playing.
One memory that all Army hockey players have are the games against service academy rival Air Force. In my first two seasons, we played Air Force 10 times, including four playoff games. Regular season games against Air Force carry more weight than just the points in the standings. The rinks are sold out, the crowds are electric, and we are playing for our pride. There is an extreme level of respect between the two sides, but this intensifies the games that much more.
In my first game against Air Force freshman year, we beat them for the first time since 2011 which was a span of 10 games. We ended up losing to them 1-0 in the semifinals that year to strengthen the rivalry that much more. The following year we found ourselves hosting Air Force in the quarterfinals. In the deciding third game of the best of three series, it was scoreless going into overtime. We did not come out on top, making my first two collegiate seasons end at the hands of our bitter rival. Although the outcome was not ideal, I will always remember these games for the battles and the intensity for which they were.
One of the more memorable games of my career came against Air Force my senior year. We tied it up in the last minute with the goalie pulled to send it to overtime. We wound up going to a shootout where it took nine shooters before we were finally able to score and get the extra point. Even though I was not playing because of an injury, I do not recall it ever being that loud in Tate Rink. The excitement in the air and seeing the team spill out onto the ice is a sight I will never forget.
Every college hockey player dreams big when it comes to their legacy and the final year of their hockey career. Some are fortunate enough to continue playing after their four years of college hockey, but most of us are not. I went into my senior season more motivated than ever to finish playing the sport I love to the best of my ability.
After breaking my leg a week before our first game, my senior season was far from what I dreamed of. Times were tough not being able to be around the team as much and create new bonds with the freshmen. I was unable to practice or be in the locker room and couldn’t travel with the team for road games. Hockey players know all about the memories of bus trips. This is where your team will bond the most and especially at a place like West Point, it is a quick escape where you can largely focus on just hockey and your teammates around you. There were some setbacks in my recovery, but after months of rehab I was finally healthy enough to play in a game.
After only getting to play 10 games my senior year, the team was focused and ready to do something special. We had a remarkable season despite the injuries that went around, including us senior forwards not playing in a single game together. But going into playoffs, we finally had a healthy roster. This all came crashing down on Thursday, March 12.
It was spring break that week which meant we could just focus on being hockey players leading up to our home playoff series against Niagara. The coronavirus was having a huge impact on everything in the country and the world. Some teams like Harvard and Yale already forfeited the rest of their season to avoid spreading this virus which made everyone wonder if the rest of college hockey would follow. The night before the 12th, the NBA suspended its season and I thought that this was terrible news in terms of the continuation of my senior year. I was skeptical to say the least. We had practice the next morning and there was a sense of unrest among the team. We had a scheduled team meal but instead of going, everyone stayed around just awaiting further news.
By the time the coaches came into the locker room, I could tell by their faces that my hockey career was over.
Coach Riley received a phone call from the league and told us not to leave until we had a team meeting. By the time the coaches came into the locker room, I could tell by their faces that my hockey career was over.
It was an emotional time for us in the locker room as every guy hugged each other. Our season was over, and we were not able to go out on our own terms to prove to the rest of the league that our team was special. There was an uncanny belief among us that this could be the year to clinch our first league title. We had an incredible season, despite not playing one game at full strength. We saw our program get ranked for I believe the first time ever, come close to beating two top 10 teams in Las Vegas, sweeping Air Force, and most importantly, add members to the Army hockey family.
Even though my senior season was far from what I imagined it to be, there was something more important to deal with than playing any sport. We did not understand the significance of the coronavirus until later, but our health far outweighed hockey. I am fortunate enough for myself and those close to me to be healthy, but that is not the case for everyone. As we try to recover as a nation, everyone must do their part to stop this virus from spreading and get our country back to full strength. It took some time and reflection on all my memories, but I came to terms with my hockey career ending as a result of a greater cause.
It took some time and reflection on all my memories, but I came to terms with my hockey career ending as a result of a greater cause.
The last thing I want to do is thank everybody along my hockey journey. I have met some incredible people because of my love of the game, and I am forever grateful for that.
The most important people to thank are my mom, dad, and sister. You have supported me my whole life in my pursuit to play this game at the highest level possible. Whether it was driving two hours for a practice, waking up at ungodly hours to take me to the rink or traveling across the country to spend another weekend in a different rink, you never said no. I cannot thank you guys enough for the support and allowing me to grow to be the person I am today.
To my senior teammates, our bond goes back to before ever meeting one another. Back to when we started a group chat leading up to Beast. From the pictures of us rocking the new balances before Beast to our last hockey practice together, thank you for being true friends.
To all my other teammates over the four years, you guys helped me grow as a person and get through West Point. I could not have done it without you guys nor have created all our on and off the ice memories. Thank you.
To the coaches and all staff members, you allowed me to pursue the game I love. Whether it was recruiting me or assisting in my time at West Point, I could not have done it without your help. Thank you.
To the alumni around the world, the Army hockey program would not be where it is today without your support. Whether it was through donations or attending games, I feel honored to be an Army hockey family member with you.
To the fans and West Point community, you cannot beat playing at Tate Rink. It was an honor to play in front of you for four years. Thank you.
Last, but not least, I would like to thank the sport of hockey. It has afforded me with endless opportunities in life and opened the door for endless relationships now and well into my future. I would not be who I am today without this sport and the experiences it exposed me to.
My hockey playing career may have come to an end, but my love for the game is eternal.
#14 Brendan Soucie #AHF