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On Nov. 2, the University of Maine men’s hockey team upended Hockey East rival and second-ranked Boston College.
It was the biggest win since the end of 2006 for the storied Black Bear hockey program which is in the midst of rebuilding with younger faces.
For freshman defenseman Ryan Hegarty though, the victory over BC also had an added incentive.
Hegarty’s older cousin, Ned Havern, played for the Eagles from 2001-2005.
“It would have been a little better had he been on the team, but being his alma mater, there’s definitely bragging rights at the family reunions now,” said Hegarty with a grin.
While the bragging rights are on Hegarty’s side right now, he credits Havern with being one of the key influences in his young hockey career.
“He was a huge influence,” said Hegarty. “He was always someone to look up to. He played at the local high school and I went to all the games as a kid and I pretty much idolized him. Every step he took in his career, I wanted to make the same steps later on.”
Havern wasn’t the only figure though.
At the age of three, Hegarty first started playing hockey, something that was deep in the roots of his family.
“My mom’s side of the family is really big into hockey, and my grandfather on that side taught instructional hockey so he got everyone in the family into it,” he said.
Hegarty and the rest of the boys weren’t the only ones subjected to learning the game. The girls were as well, including his sister Tori.
“I think everyone cried but my sister the first time we played,” said Hegarty with a laugh.
Growing up with hockey as a key part of his life, Hegarty’s exceptional talents were evident and in 2006, he played on the U.S. National Development Under-17 team. He tallied seven points, including three goals, in 56 games during the 2006-2007 season.
In 2007, Hegarty joined the Under-18 team and played in several international tournaments. His squad won the bronze medal at the 2008 IIHF World Under-18 Championships and earned gold medals in tournaments in Slovakia, Finland and Ann Arbor.
“It helps me a lot,” Hegarty said of the international experience. “As a defenseman, I saw a lot of different styles of play offensively. It really helped me prepare for whatever was thrown at me in this league.”
Despite a disappointing ninth place finish in Hockey East last season, it did not change Hegarty’s mind on his commitment to Maine.
“I talked to Harvard, Providence, BC and BU,” he said. “This school is one of those things; right when I got here I knew this was the place for me. From coaching style to the way they play fit to how I play and the school in general is a great campus.”
The vibrant fans of Maine hockey that pack into Alfond Arena also made the choice easier for the young defenseman.
“It’s funny going other places. You’re used to this crowd, and so you go other places and think this crowd isn’t very good so it doesn’t affect you,” said Hegarty, who played in Orono last season against Maine in an exhibition matchup. “It’s unbelievable having the crowd here.”
Before stepping foot on campus this fall, the Arlington, Mass. native received news that every young hockey player dreams of. He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
“It was an unbelievable experience, and then I went out there this summer, and it was just a really eye-opening experience seeing all that talent and seeing how well-run the NHL programs are,” he said.
Right now, the highly-touted defenseman has seen action in 10 games and has been one of the key cogs on one of the nation’s stingiest defenses.
Even more impressive than his immediate contributions is his standing as the youngest player on the Black Bear roster at just 18 years of age.
Hegarty had to make adjustments to the speed and physicality of the college game, but he and the rest of the freshmen class are poised to bring Maine back to their perennial position as a national contender.
“I knew that after last season, it wouldn’t be a factor this season,” he said. “I knew we had a lot of great freshmen coming in. I knew it was going to be a good year for us. Everyone within this program knew it would be a good year and that’s all that matters.”
If Hegarty and the rest of the newcomers continue their rapid development, and with more help on the way next season, the Black Bears should once again ascend to the top.
