Column: Brendan McLaughlin, from player to coach
by Brian Carey
Brendan McLaughlin walked into the hockey coaches office, with no clue what he was meeting about.
It was the beginning of Brendan’s sophomore year, and another hockey season about start. Coach Millerick said, “Unfortunately we are letting you go from the hockey team.” Brendan’s face dropped.
It was the worst news of his sports life. Brendan’s sports career at Pierce appeared to be over. “I was a mix of shocked, upset, and confused.” No more early morning lifts, no more long bus rides home with teammates. Growing up all Brendan knew was hockey. The sport he spent endless hours practicing had been taken away from him.
Later a few of his close teammates were cut as well. “We all lived together, but when they got the bad news they were packing their bags and looking for other colleges to transfer to,” Brendan said.
(Photo: Brian Carey)
Brendan missed the sense of a family when he was active in sports. Then he learned about rugby. “I had heard it was fun, and I knew a group of kids on the team and they invited me with open arms. I found it beneficial because it was an outlet for me and it was a way to get out some anger as well.
Brendan made an immediate impact on the field. He started at lock, second row, the biggest supporters of the scrum when both teams bind for the fight of possession. “I wanted to learn quickly so I could help out the team.” Brendan contributed as a second year player finished first in their respected division at 8-1 in the 2019 fall season. Brendan prevailed after being cut from hockey “Finding rugby has helped cope with being cut, it’s a great outlet,” said Brendan.
Later in that same semester Brendan walked back into the hockey coaches’ office to ask about an opportunity to help out the team that didn’t involve playing. “We worked together to find a role that would benefit the team and me. My coach loved and appreciated my IQ for the game, which was one of the main reason behind my hiring. When we finally figured everything out I was added as a coach as we prepped for the upcoming season,” said Brendan.
(Photo: Brian Carey)
Driving to the rink Brendan felt anxious. No hockey gear this time, instead he wore a blue suit and shiny dress shoes and had combed hair for the Ravens first regular season game as part of the coaching staff. During the game he’s locked in, his job is to let people know when line changes are coming up and critiquing players as they come off the ice. “Be a threat,” Brendan screams from the bench as his team takes on the opponents “The experience so far has been nothing short of amazing, as I’ve been able to be around the sport I love and the friends I made, while constructively building towards a potential career path.”
