O BOY O’BRYAN
Jack O’Bryan reflects on “Cadets for Vets” Night, his season, and his team
TROY, N.Y. >> With a packed house at Conway Ice Rink Saturday evening, it was safe to say La Salle Institute Hockey’s second annual “Cadets for Vets” fundraiser was not only a success for the team, but the community as well.
“It’s a great atmosphere. The kids and the parents did a great job of putting together the program for ‘Cadets for Vets’ and we have great support from the school and the community and their support for the game,” said La Salle Hockey Coach Tim Flanigan. “It’s a great atmosphere with everybody here and we are really glad we can help out the veterans at the coalition house.”
Off the ice Saturday night the Cadets raised funds for the Albany Housing Coalition, which provides transitional housing for veterans and supports veterans across the Capital Region.
“The annual ‘ Cadets for Vets’ game represents the Lasallian values of truth, honor and duty to our community that we strive to instill in our Cadets every day, whether it is
in the classroom or on the ice,” said Principal Joseph B. Raczkowski in a press release from the school. “As we cheer on our Cadets, we have an opportunity to support the Albany Housing Coalition and make a lasting impact on the lives of those who have proudly served our country.”
Fans donated $5 at the door for admission and were able to bid on raffle baskets and a 50/50 drawing. The team also sold tshirts and hats to commemorate the night and help the cause.
“It’s something we started last year and it is something we are really proud of to try and honor our vets. They have done so much for us,” said La Salle Hockey senior captain Jack O’Bryan. “It is good to have that association with them. We get a good crowd, we get a lot of students and a lot of family — veterans come obviously. It’s one we circle on the schedule every year.”
The Cadets raised almost $8,000 last year that went directly toward funding programs at the Coalition’s Vet House.
Early counts from this season show that the Cadets have eclipsed last year’s total.
This year, the Cadets have partnered with Taft Furniture to ensure that newly housed veterans have access to household items such as mattresses, bed frames and kitchen tables and chairs. Proceeds will also be used to help stock their kitchens with a week’s worth of groceries.
“It’s nice to know that we can help out in some way, they obviously do so much for us,” said O’Bryan. “It’s a small thank you but we hope they appreciate it and we want to show our gratitude for everything they do for us.”
O’Bryan stands in his ‘Cadets for Vets’ ceremonial jersey the La Salle team wore Saturday night. He is clearly a well spoke captain, a title he takes serious and one that brings him honor.
“The coaches have always been supportive every year I have been here, since I was a freshman I’ve always felt like they have my back,” said O’Bryan on Flanigan’s confidence in him. “I always put a lot of pressure on myself, too. I like to be a guy that can rally the guys and set and example so I hope I can do that for them.”
O’Bryan tallied two assists in the Cadet’s 5-2 loss to Saratoga Saturday night. Despite what the score would indicate, the Cadet’s battled back and pushed the game to a narrow 3-2 difference late in the third.
“Obviously when we were down 2- 0 and that third goal goes in that goal is a bit deflating,” said O’Bryan. “We pop in that second one and we are right back in it. We were rallying around and the boys are buzzing on the bench. We were just really looking to get that third one to tie it up. We have gotten used to going into overtime with Saratoga the last couple of years so we knew it was going to be tight all the way to the end.”
Like O’Bryan noted, Saratoga and La Salle are not strangers to overtime games between each other. Earlier in the week, on January 9, La Salle fell 2-1 in overtime to Saratoga and both of last season’s La Salle wins over Saratoga were 2-1 overtime wins.
“We knew we had to tighten up the defensive zone a little bit and we knew we had to get some pressure on goal since Wednesday we just had one goal,”
said O’Bryan on changes La Salle needed to make from Wednesday’s matchup with the Blue Streaks. “We knew wehadtogive themless time and space. We gave them too much at times which is obviously something you want to limit. Early on we were a little shaky in the defensive zone, but I thought we cleared that up.”
O’Bryan’s two assists Saturday put him at 19 this season now. O’Bryan leads the Cadets in points, goals, and assists, averaging 1.56 points a game. He and Burnt Hills’ Owen Grabb are tied for sixth place in Section II in points.
O’Bryan has scored at least one point in all but two games this season. He had at least two points in the first five games for the Cadet’s this season.
“These guys are great, they help me out a lot. They are making it easy for me to get open chances and I am going quite often, prob-
ably every other shift, so i get a lot of opportunities,” said O’Bryan.
O’Bryan’s talent is undeniable. An impressive skater, his vision with the puck is matched by when he doesn’t have it. He can shoot mid-stride. He is strong.
Whether it is lining up at the dot for a face- off or holding down the blue line, O’Bryan is the most dangerous Cadet on the ice, and teams know that.
“We wanted to shorten the bench there and have our best guys on the ice to
ensure that number nine didn’t touch the puck, their best player,” said Saratoga Coach Dave Torres on his strategy Saturday night to close out the game.
O’Bryan’s high school career will soon come to a close, but for now, he is playing for his coaches and his team.
“Coach throws me out there and gives me a lot of opportunities to make an impact and the boys are always helping out too. It’s good to know they have my back and I have theirs.”