How disappointed are you about the sudden turn of events at UNH? And feel free to elaborate on the timeline that followed your ultimate decision to attend Union College? Did you ever hear from UNH again after they learned about Union College?
It was just something that I didn’t expect, and it was a bit of a shock. It was definitely something I did not commit to. When it came down to making my decision, I was a little disappointed, but at that time I lost trust in UNH and felt it was the right choice for me to move on. After I de-committed from UNH in November, several schools contacted me, so when I came home for Christmas break I visited and met with some coaches at Northeastern, Providence, UMass and Yale among several other schools. It reminded me of my junior year at MC during that recruiting process. During the [junior] season last year, several schools met with me after games, and we talked about what they had to offer at their schools, but the one coach who always seemed to be at my games to chat and answer questions was Union’s Joe Dumais. He was honest and straightforward, and I felt they really wanted me at Union after talking a lot to me.So once I got home from Nebraska, I took a tour of a few more schools: UMass/Lowell, UConn and Union, and I finally made my decision to attend Union in the fall of 2013. I haven’t heard from UNH, but I’m sure we both have moved on.
When did you hear from Union College, and who approached you about this opportunity?
I first heard from Union in mid-February when Joe Dumais called me about this opportunity. Honestly, I did not know too much about Union. I skated with some players over the summer, and knew they were really a good hockey team. Then, after looking online I was really excited about the school’s academic and athletic programs. They are at the top of the nation in both.
What did the Union College officials say about you during the recruitment process?
They were very honest with me, to say the least. They told me I was the kind of player that they like, and I brought a lot to the table. They said they are losing some of their top scorers and playmakers over the next couple of years, and coach Dumais told me they would need me to pick up some of the slack. They told me my vision and speed is exceptional, and my best hockey is yet to come and that’s when they made me an offer.
Does this change any plans you might have had about your career, and with that in mind have you decided on a major at Union?
This does not change any of my career plans. I had offers to attend schools this September, but that’s not where I wanted to be. I believe if you want to be successful just work hard and stay focused, and things always workout for a reason. I’m so excited to be going to Union, because it’s such a prestigious school. I was planning on being a business major, which both UNH and Union offer, but I feel as though a degree from Union will give me the upper hand when looking for a job.
Read more: Former Malden Catholic hockey star and Saugus native Mike Vecchione adapts to the ever-changing world of hockey - Saugus, MA - Saugus Advertiser
http://www.wickedlocal.com/saugus/n...e-ever-changing-world-of-hockey#ixzz260nnTWBY
