Ryan McGuire
As the rink in the Jordan Athletic Center begins filling with ice, Ryan McGuire’s absence from campus this fall has become more pronounced. While most Seniors have already felt his loss in the classroom or around the dorms, the Varsity Hockey team will surely be incomplete without his presence. Coach McCarthy reflects that “Ryan had three strong years on varsity hockey” and “is a competitor with a fierce desire to win that fuels his work ethic.” Towards the middle of the school year last winter, as his post-Belmont Hill plans were solidifying, Ryan decided to leave campus for his senior year and play Juniors hockey in Canada. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to leave home earlier than expected and after arriving in Canada, quarantine in Quebec for fourteen days. From there, he began his week-long driving trek across the continent to Penticton, British Columbia.
Now, nearly three months into his time training and playing with the Penticton Vees, an official member of the British Columbia Hockey League boasting an undefeated record this fall, he has settled into his new daily life. To complete his graduation requirements and finish his high school education, Ryan is enrolled at Penticton High School. Beyond his daily classes, he lives with another team member, Switzerland native Stefano Bottini, and is on the ice nearly every day of the week. Ryan comments that while his academic life is much less structured than at Belmont Hill, he has enjoyed meeting so many new people and experiencing the different lifestyle of British Columbia. Of particular note is the focus and drive exhibited by all members of his team, which is complemented by outstanding facilities and resources offered by the Vees organization.
Ryan says often that he misses the Belmont Hill community and everyone back home, but is glad to hear that we were able to spend time on campus. He is hopeful that the winter season will bring opportunity for athletic competitions for all of our teams. Beyond that, he wishes everyone well and hopes we stay healthy and safe. The Panel in turn hopes that Ryan has a fantastic season and sends him our collective best wishes for continuing to play at an incredibly high level. Good luck Ryan and we hope to see you soon!
Ryan Griffin
Completing the duo of Ryans leaving campus to pursue hockey related training, Ryan Griffin ’22 is participating in Brian Daccord’s Stop It Goaltending Bridge Program run out of The PAD in Woburn, MA. Academically, Ryan is enrolled in a state online learning academy called TECCA, mimicking the classes he would have taken on Belmont Hill’s campus and setting him up to graduate on time. Outside of the classroom, The Bridge program’s multilateral goalie training program encompases the rest of his school day including morning ice sessions, stretching, vision training, and fitness. Ryan participates in these activities along with a group of fifteen other goalies, eleven guys and four girls hailing from all over Massachusetts and New Hampshire. While they are not in a COVID bubble, Ryan says that the program allows for easy physical distancing and has not lost any of its training value due to the pandemic.
In addition to their full time training staff and instructors, professional goaltenders will often participate in workouts and spend time with the student-athletes in the program, providing both mentorship and leadership. Ryan looks forward to the opportunity to strengthen all areas of his goaltending game, especially focusing on the fundamentals of what makes a good goalie a great goalie. Coach McCarthy comments that “Ryan has passion for hockey and work ethic to match it. He is a high character young man.” The Panel wishes Ryan the best of luck as he completes his year long program and looks ahead to continuing to play hockey in high school and beyond.
