By Gavin Lindahl
Sports Assignment Editor
Sixteen years ago, when junior forward Andrew Chadwick was only four years old, his mother made an interesting and, possibly, ill-informed decision. She put the four-year-old Chadwick on ice with skates and a hockey stick and let him play hockey as opposed to football.
“My mother thought football was too rough, having never seen hockey before,” Chadwick said.
However fluky his origins in the sport may be, Chadwick hasn’t looked back. The Rochester, N.Y. native from Bishop Kearney High School has been playing hockey continuously since then, and he shows no signs of stopping.
“I played travel and high school hockey [the past few years before coming to St. Bonaventure,]” Chadwick said. “And I plan on playing for the rest of my life.”
Chadwick’s crowning achievement came in 2011 as a junior in high school. Chadwick was named to the All-State team and lead his section in scoring.
With two goals and one assist through his first eight games this season, Chadwick admits that it’s been a rough start on a team that has been struggling to win games.
“This year, my season has started out slow like the team, but as of late, we have been turning around and aging great confidence and chemistry,” Chadwick said. “I try to play a solid two-way game; anything that will help the team win. My teammates call me a playmaker because I’d much rather pass more than shoot.”
Wearing number 26 for the Bonnies this season, Chadwick tries to model his game off another, very popular number 26. The New York Rangers forward and long-time league veteran, Martin St. Louis.
“When I play, I like to try and play like Martin St Louis. His vision on the ice, his knowledge of the game, and he puts the team first like I do,” Chadwick said. “Also, he is passionate about everything he does on and the off the ice.”
With three Lady Byng Memorial trophies for being the most gentlemanly player in the NHL, one Hart Memorial trophy for being the league MVP and two Art Ross trophies for leading the NHL’s leading scored; Chadwick picked a good player to look up too.
Hopefully, Chadwick and his teammates can embrace St. Louis’ scoring touch going forward as the team has only recorded one win going into the winter break.
The Bonnies will faceoff against Cornell University tonight at the William O. Smith Recreational Center tonight in Olean. Puck drop against the Big Red will be at 8:30 p.m. Following their tilt against Cornell, the Bonnies will hit the road to play Western New York Little Three rivals, Canisius College in Buffalo tomorrow. Puck drop will be at 3:30 p.m.
The Bonnies will have off until Jan. 24 when they’re back in action next semester against Syracuse University, hopefully with a newfound energy for the new year.
