By Gavin Lindahl
Assistant Sports Editor
After four years of playing Division I soccer, senior James Reed took an opportunity he couldn’t resist – to play hockey for St. Bonaventure’s club team.
“I didn’t play hockey my senior year of high school to avoid injury while looking to play Division I soccer,” Reed said. “Playing hockey my senior year is something I wish I had done, so now I get a chance to play a semester of college hockey which is cool.”
Reed, who served as men’s soccer captain the past two years, played forward and defense. Versatility which, according to him, carries over to hockey.
“Hockey and soccer seem different, but both work similar skills. For example, awareness and positioning are crucial – especially in the defensive end,” Reed said. “Soccer skills definitely help along the boards where you use a lot more footwork than the rest of the game.”
Growing up in St. Charles, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, Reed is a self-proclaimed “huge” Blackhawks fan and loved watching them on TV enough to begin playing hockey at age five.
“My favorite player is Patrick Sharp,” said Reed. “He’s a great skater, works hard in both ends of the ice and is a family man – he has a much better shot than me, though.”
Better shot or not, Reed emulates Sharp’s dedication and heads-up play on the ice.
“Obviously, I have a much different role on the hockey team than I did on my soccer team,” Reed said. “So I just try to work hard in practice and focus on making smart plays.”
Not playing in the first semester, Reed missed the hockey team’s lackluster start to the season, but said the team’s focus is all on moving forward.
“Just from what I’ve heard from the guys in the locker room, this semester is already a different story than the first,” Reed said. “It’s going to be a collective effort and a lot of hard work, but we’re hoping to make a run.”
The Bonnies, who are 1-1 since starting the second semester, will take on Ithaca College at 8:30 p.m. tonight at the William O. Smith Recreation Center in Olean. It will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. Ithaca is coming off 6-5 win against Cornell and are 1-2 since starting the second semester.
“There’s only a couple more home games this season,” Reed said. “So all the fans need to come out and support us tonight.”
