A common experience
Pioneer advises BU’s Greenway
Boston University junior forward Jordan Greenway has embraced every moment of his Olympic experience, from his first day in the village to playing on the bigger Olympic-size rink.
“It’s been fun ever since I got here, starting with the opening ceremonies. I watched it as a kid so to participate in it is pretty special,” Greenway said in a call from South Korea. “For a start, playing on a bigger ice sheet has been different. There is a lot more structure to the game. The pace has been really high. The game with Russia (a 4-0 loss) was one of the highest paced games I’ve ever been involved with as a player.
“It’s just different. The rink size doesn’t seem so much at first but it’s really different.”
Greenway, who turned 21 on Feb. 16, has drawn plenty of interest for being the first African-American to play for the United States Olympic hockey team.
The BU product received much support, and has one new fan from inside the Terriers family who is following his exploits from 6,291 miles away in Tucson, Ariz. — former BU player Eddie Wright. Wright was a trailblazer of his own as the first black head coach in college hockey for the University of Buffalo.
What advice would the 72-year-old Wright offer Greenway for his Olympics experience?
“Well, I think you have to understand who you are inside as a person and you can never get out-worked. If you have determination and work hard it will carry you far,” Wright said. “You’ve been given some great instincts and you can never let them go to waste. It’s a great part of your life.”
Greenway was honored to hear the kind words offered by Wright.
“That’s nice of him to say. That’s pretty cool. I’ve heard of him,” Greenway said.
Wright has experience breaking barriers, though he downplays his role as a trailblazer. He teamed with Herb Wakabayshi and Serge Boily to form the vaunted United Nations Line during their days at BU.
“We’d come off the ice and I’d be sitting there between them on the bench listening to Herb swearing in Japanese and Serge on the other side swearing in French,” said Wright with a laugh.
“I don’t think there were ever any problems playing at BU. The BU fans treated me like a son. For me, it was more of a problem playing in junior hockey in southern Ontario or in some of the smaller communities around Detroit. (At BU) the players, and even the opposing players were always respectful.
“It was kind of tough for me in another way in that I had to show that I could earn my spot, like any player, and that I knew how to play the game.”
Greenway and the Americans had a date with Slovakia in a qualification game today with a spot in the medal round at stake. He downplayed any added pressure his status has brought on.
“No, it’s made it a little more special but there’s no added pressure,” Greenway said. “I’m just trying to do everything I can to represent my country and win a gold medal. That’s all I’m focused on, right now, is just play for the U.S.”