After a serious setback, Sean Maguire, NHL prospect and Boston University goalie, is back on his feet and feeling very optimistic about his future.
In preparation for a game against Notre Dame March 3, 2014, Maguire was injured in a fluke accident with Mike Moran, one of his best friends on his team.
“I knew I was going to start that first playoff game against Notre Dame which was a nice confidence booster,” he recalled of his coaches decision, “but I got hit in the head in practice.
“There was a three on two coming toward me and the guy with the puck was on the wall. I was focused on him when he passed to the front of the net, but [Moran] who was driving the net fell. His knee hit me in the head, shook my brain around and I didn’t remember anything until I was in the dressing room.”
In his first year with the Terriers Maguire had posted a solid 2.54 GAA and .926 save percentage and his sophomore year was in line with those numbers as well, but the concussion gave him reason to pause.
A head injury is the cruelest of all injuries because of post concussive possibilities and its hidden nature, but fortunately Maguire gave it the respect it deserves.
“When I first got home I wanted to get well quickly,” he explained. “Me being me and me being 21, I just really wanted to rush the process of getting better and that’s a big mistake. I was trying to get into a program, whether it was transferring schools or signing with the [Pittsburgh] Penguins or trying to get back into Boston University. None of those things worked out, so I decided to wait out the year, continue with my recovery and work with the Boston University doctors.”
That turned out to be a good decision as his progress allowed him to skate at the end of August and work a bit with his goalie coach, Jeff Battah.
“He helped with the process a lot,” said Maguire, “and helped me to keep me calm and collected about things that were out of my control, like what doctors were telling me. With his help, I was diligent in my recovery and made sure that everything they asked of me I did so that I could come back in January.”
Maguire is talking about a return to classes as his participation with the Terriers will be limited to practices.
Despite the setback he revealed an amazing sense of maturity and perspective on life and his future in hockey.
“When one door closes another one opens,” he said, “and this time off has given me an opportunity to really grow as a person. I’ve always been so caught up in hockey, training and just focused on getting better but now I’ve had a chance to sit back and just enjoy Powell River, my family, getting a couple of jobs and appreciating the little things. It was really nice, and it gave me time to recover from my injury.”
Now that doctors have cleared him to play he’s excited to join the Terriers in 2015-16.
Boston has been ranked number one at various times this year and he said of his return, “I’d be more than happy to play with O’Connor, who is one of my good friends, and no matter what happens I think we’re going to have a good team.”
As for the Penguins, he said, “They’ve been really, really supportive. I talk to the goalie coach, Mike Buckly, once a week usually and when I went down to Boston at the end of November, I skated with him twice down in Andover. I also chat with Tom Fitzgerald—he is the general manager there—and throughout the entire process they’ve arranged to help me set up appointments with doctors. I’m a project for them so they are going to do everything they can to help me out.”
His experience with concussions gives him the dubious right to offer advice and he does so hoping to help young hockey players.
“If I could change anything,” he said, “immediately after the injury just relax and not push myself. Obviously, that was the biggest issue, me wanting to get back quickly, and that was just a 20-year-old guy getting anxious. That’s something that I wish I could take back.
“I felt an amazing amount of pressure. Taking a year off in this part of my career, I thought, could make or break it. Now I’m pretty optimistic, but at first I thought, holy crap, what am I going to do? But, you can’t control that stuff and all you can do is improve yourself and if you do that you’ll turn heads.”
For young players, parents and coaches it is good advice from a player who’s been there.
