Prospect with Harvard degree takes inspiration from his hockey lineage
Playing professional hockey is the envy of a great many Canadians, so Luke Esposito knows how fortunate he is to be getting that chance.
It’s also nice to know his backup plan is the envy of a great many professional hockey players.
“Growing up, my parents were always very supportive and never pushed us one way or the other,” said the 24-year-old free agent centre, whose mother just happens to be the sister of former Oilers captain Mark Messier. “But they stressed the importance of education.”
There’s no better place to get an education than Harvard, so that’s where Esposito went — combining his love for the game with four years in the classroom, earning a degree in sociology while putting up 89 points in 131 college games.
“I thought why not use hockey to get myself the sort of education I otherwise might not have had a chance to get,” he said after practice Wednesday. “And now it’s done. I want to play for as long as I can, but it is a nice safety net to fall back on.”
Whenever life after hockey comes knocking, he won’t be afraid to answer the door, but believe him when he says he’s in no rush to leap into his safety net. Yes, having a Harvard education does provide a sense of security, but his life is centred around hockey.
“You’d think it would (take the pressure off ), but I can’t really see myself sitting at a desk yet so I don’t think about it that way,” he said. “But it is nice to know that when hockey does come to an end some day I have that to fall back on.”
Having a famous hockey lineage is something he’s dealt with for as long as he can remember, but the conversation usually begins with “Are you related to Phil and Tony?”
As one might expect, having a direct line to Mark Messier is an invaluable resource for any young hockey player.
“Absolutely. He was a great inspiration for me growing up. I still keep in touch with him because he’s a nice sounding board. He knows as much about the game as anyone. It’s nice to bounce ideas off him.”
Esposito is also quick to point out something old school fans in Edmonton already know: For all of his ferocity and intensity as a player, Messier is one of the friendliest and happiest people you’ll ever want to meet off the ice.
“He’s mean as hell on the ice, but a super nice guy,” he said. “He’s been a great help in my career.”
Esposito basically came to Edmonton on an AHL professional tryout offer, hoping to turn enough heads in training camp that the Oilers give him something to sign. There’s not a lot of comfort in that situation, but after juggling hockey and Harvard for four seasons, the undrafted Connecticut product isn’t afraid of having to work for something.
“I learned a lot last year in Grand Rapids (with the AHL’s Griffins) but I thought it was time to turn the page and look for a new opportunity, a new role and fresh start,” said the five-foot-nine, 178-pounder, who got his Edmonton invite late in the summer.
“They said they had some interest so I thought I would take the opportunity to come in and give it my best shot.
“It’s definitely a different atmosphere, a different feeling than when you have a contract already locked up. But I try to take it as a challenge, use that desperation and sense of urgency that I need to have to my advantage.”