Opportunity of a lifetime

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MA

HB hockey goalie Travis Howard warms up before a game

Maddie Goodwin, Contributor

An experience of a lifetime. That one chance, that one moment can make or break your future. That is what three boys from Hollis Brookline are going through.

    Travis Howard ’14, Ian McNamara ’15, and Cam Ricard ’14 have all been chosen by competitive teams outside of the high school to play for them.

    McNamara and Ricard are currently playing for the New England Stars. McNamara was lucky enough to know the coach who offered him a spot on the team. “It took my game to the next level,” McNamara said. He works hard with four practices a week during the eight month season, and travels a lot for the sport he loves so much. “Road trips with the boys are the funniest part,” he said. Ricard has similar feelings towards the great opportunity given to him. Ricard was approached by the coach and was instantly drawn in to the high level of intensity the team offered him.

    Howard, on the other hand, is playing for Islanders Hockey Club’s Elite Team. He was training with U19 when he was asked to play for the Elite Islander team. Howard plays with twenty-one year old postgraduates and loves it. “One word to describe the team would be energetic,” he said. Howard practices every single day after school in Tyngsboro, MA during the sixty game season. When Howard is not practicing, he travels the East Coast to play teams from as far away as Florida. “I’d say the best part of traveling so much is the team bonding on the bus and in the hotel,” Howard said.  “And the bus has wifi.” Howard’s team is also constantly watched by college scouts.

    Hollis Brookline High School’s hockey team has prepared three great players to play on higher level teams and can now move on to bigger and better things in their hockey careers.