BREAKING THE MOLD: Endicott Ice Hockey Programs Form Bonds With Local Fans

Written by Stephanie Moreau '26 (women's volleyball student-athlete)
- Endicott Athletics Student Beat Writer

BEVERLY, Mass. — Over the past few months, the Endicott men's and women's hockey programs have made their mark not only on the ice, but also on the community. 

The Gulls hockey teams have become influential figures in the lives of two local Beverly residents: Dylan and Ryan Thompson. Dylan (8) and Ryan (5) started coming to the games with their father, Brad Thompson, in 2021, but over this past season, the boys' relationship with the teams started to flourish. 

Dylan, who has been playing hockey for 4 years, and Ryan, who has been playing for 3, have found themselves to be not only avid fans of the Endicott programs, but close friends with some of the players.

When the boys were asked what made them start coming to the games, Ryan was quick to jump in: "Because we have hockey practice here every day." 

Brad, who has been around the sport his whole life, then added: "It's just college hockey in Beverly. It's cheaper than going to a Bruins game and it's, you know, the arena is small enough so we are right on top of everything, you can see it, and it's better for them to learn." 

SIGNING JERSEYS

Just a few weeks ago, the boys had the opportunity to meet two people who have made an impressive impact on their lives: Zach Mazur (Lancaster, N.Y.) and A.J. Martinelli (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.).

Zach, a graduate student, and A.J., a senior, were called out of the men's hockey locker room by their team manager following one of their home games. To their surprise, Dylan and Ryan were waiting outside, wearing their jerseys, #11 and #16. 

Zach and A.J. were asked to sign the boys' jerseys, and offered to take a couple of photos with their young fans after the game. While this interaction may seem small, it made a world of difference to Dylan and Ryan. 

Zach mentioned that he and A.J. "signed a couple of autographs for them, took some pictures, and that's where everything kinda clicked together."

This sparked a new love of hockey for the Thompson boys. This season, the Thompson family has only missed one of the men's team's home games, and even traveled to Salem State to support the team on the road. 

Dylan was excited to share that he and his brother have "actually been collecting signatures for a long time." Now, the boys have collected signatures from every men's player, and even Coach Tolan. 

Brad mentioned the impact that this relationship has had on his sons, as the players are "just the most humble, genuine, down-to-earth guys and it's amazing, amazing, what these guys do to inspire these kids, and that's what drives them to keep coming back." 

THE HONOR OF BEING A ROLE MODEL

While the signing of the jerseys was a huge ordeal in the lives of the Thompson family, A.J. and Zach were impacted just as much. The Thompson boys look up to the players, and the team does not take this honor lightly. 

"It's an honor, it really is an honor," said A.J. "Especially, you know, growing up, and having your own role models, and then all of a sudden you're a role model, it's very special, for sure."

 "It just gives me joy, and I was in their shoes once. I looked up to many players in my life and I know that just taking a little time out of my day to interact with them or do something, it means the world, so I'm glad to do it," added Zach. 

THE START OF A FRIENDSHIP

As the season went on, Zach and A.J. continued to make an effort to get to know their young fans. The boys would stand at the door at the beginning and end of every game, waiting for a small "hello," or fist bump from the players. To their surprise, the interactions became more and more personal as time went on. 

While a fist bump from the players is all the boys would have ever dreamed of, the relationship they have formed with the team is so far beyond that. While Ryan's favorite part of coming to the games is fist-bumping the players, the team has gone out of their way to make this experience a memorable one for the boys. 

"They do so much more, they take the time to say 'Hey, how was your game last week' or 'Hey, when is your next game," added Brad. A.J. has even repaid the support, by going to Dylan's games to cheer him on. 

"He [Dylan] scored 2 goals in a game that A.J. was here, and A.J. was just as loud and proud as they are at his game, banging on the glass, cheering, and going nuts, and it was amazing, and it fuels them," said Brad.

And the friendship really does go both ways. A.J., Zach, and the rest of the team have gotten just as much joy out of this relationship as the Thompson family has. 

Since Beverly hockey shares the Raymond J. Bourque Arena with the Endicott teams, Dylan and Ryan often practice after the men's team. While the boys have learned an incredible amount about the sport from getting to watch high-level hockey up close, A.J. has also learned a lot from Dylan. 

"He's [Dylan's] trying to work on his defense, I'm trying to work on my offense, so we kinda complement each other in that way. Yeah, he's got the best cellys [celebrations] too, which I'm taking note of," added A.J. 

The friendship between Dylan and A.J. goes to show how athletics can bring people together. Dylan is one of A.J.'s biggest fans, as when he was asked about his favorite game so far, he was quick to mention "When A.J. got back in because he was injured for a couple of weeks, and when he came back that was my first favorite game." 

IT'S A TEAM EFFORT

While it's impressive that Zach and A.J. have taken the time to get to know the Thompsons, and share their support, it truly has been a team effort to make the boys feel so included. 

"I know when we get off the ice they're right there at the door and all the guys give them fist bumps, they say hi, they take time to sign stuff if they ask, so I feel like every guy is pretty interactive with them," said Zach. 

Jackson Sterrett (Hendersonville, Tenn.), a senior on the men's team, has also formed a close friendship with the boys. When asked what their favorite part of attending the games was, Ryan and Dylan mentioned how happy they get when Jackson gives them a small head nod while he is on the ice, to acknowledge and thank them for their support. 

Dylan said: "My favorite part about coming to these games is seeing the players, and every time I bang on the glass Jackson nodding his head."

Sterrett mentioned how often he notices the boys at the games, "because they just look so happy." Jackson also added, "I like that they got jerseys, that's exciting, because they didn't always have jerseys, so seeing them at every game wearing one of our actual jerseys is pretty cool."

While the Thompson boys are grateful to have been able to form a relationship with the men's team, they are also excited about the most recent signatures that they have added to their jerseys. Aurora Devereaux (Scituate, Mass.) and Jess Burwell (Hooksett, N.H.) are two senior members of the women's team, who had the pleasure of meeting Dylan and Ryan at one of their home games. 

"We were coming off the ice after warmups and we saw them and asked if they wanted an autograph," said Jess. 

Aurora and Jess offered to sign Dylan and Ryan's jerseys, which brought great joy to not only the boys, but also their father, who was happy to see his sons being treated with so much kindness. 

"I mean no one ever really asks for our signatures, we don't have a lot of especially young players coming to the games often so that was cool that their dad brings them to both of our games," added Aurora.

Jess also mentioned how Brad's passion for the game reminded her of how much of an impact her own father had on her love of hockey. 

"I would say my role model is probably just my dad. He was kind of like the Thompson boys' dad, he brought me to a lot of college games and NHL games, and so he really got me into hockey," said Jess. 

For each of the Endicott players, hockey has been a large part of their life for quite some time. Growing up, many of them had players or family members they looked up to, so this experience has given them a new perspective on life. 

"Growing up I had a few [role models] myself, and it's pretty neat being in those shoes, you know, these years later, it's special," said A.J. 

Zach mentioned how, to him, this whole experience has been about "giving back to the community, and kind of just supporting kids with the same hopes and dreams that you had when you were their age, so I think what goes around comes around."

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

Brad is so appreciative of the time that every one of the athletes has taken to make his sons feel welcome. He mentioned that "everybody has been so inclusive with two rambunctious kids, it's just amazing what they do for the community here."

This relationship has been a defining moment for Endicott's student-athletes, as Brad explained how impressed he is with Endicott athletics as a whole. He talked about how as an avid hockey fan and player his whole life, he has never seen anything like this. To Brad, these student-athletes have broken the mold for college athletics. 

"When I say they broke the mold it's as people, as athletes, as ambassadors for the school. It's like I said, they take the time of day to pay attention to two kids, and they don't have to do that, and the fact that they do that, it keeps these guys going." 

LEAVING A MARK

Endicott's student-athletes have been able to give back to the community that has given them so much support, and the Thompson family is beyond grateful for this. The relationships that these players have worked so hard to create have made such a difference in the lives of these young athletes. 

Brad said: "From our side, I think it's more, you know, they are their best friends. We come to the game and all they want to do is talk to them and see them and they just want to be them. They probably want to come to Endicott now literally just because of this one season."

Over the last few years, these student-athletes have done so much more than break the mold for college athletics; they've inspired the next generation of hockey players. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - Brad Thompson)