The Rye High School hockey team raced through the end of the regular season and the Section 1 tournament, finishing unbeaten in the month of February before defeating Pelham 6-0 in the title game.
Scoring two goals in that game was senior captain and winger Drew Dolan, earning him the Garnets’ Athlete of the Month award for February, as announced jointly by the school’s Athletic Department and the Rye Lions Club. Hockey coach Peter Thomas elaborated on why he nominated Dolan for the honor.
“Drew is a constant for us,” Thomas said. “You know you’ll get consistent and positive leadership and you know you’ll get unmatched effort on every shift. Drew is of the highest-caliber character, which is why he was named as one of our captains.
“As a leader, he epitomizes what our culture is all about. He models the work ethic and positive attitude to our younger players. Drew’s hard work paid off in the Section championship where he was a major factor on the score sheet in our win over Pelham, scoring two goals, including a beautiful short-handed tally.”
Asked to sum up his own skills, Dolan said, “I rely on my speed and my grit. I want to dig the puck out and get it to our guys.”
The championship game against Pelham was the third time the teams met this season. Rye and Pelham split the first two, each winning 3-1 on their home ice.
“Going into the final, we were anxious,” Dolan said, “but we knew we were the better team. Fortunately, we played like it.”
What about the short-handed goal he scored?
“I’d just gotten on the ice when two of their guys sort of collided together,” he said. “I picked up the puck and was kind of skating away from the net when I turned and shot. It went in.”
Now that it’s March, Dolan will exchange his skates for a lacrosse stick and play defensive midfield for the Garnets.
In the classroom, the senior has a whopping 98+ GPA, with his favorite class being AP Calculus AB, taught by John Murolo.
“Math has always just clicked for me,” Dolan said.
Chemistry is another favorite subject, and he helped form and run the high school’s Chemistry Club, holding events for underprivileged kids to introduce them to chemistry and other sciences. He also helped rebuild homes in New Orleans damaged by hurricanes as part of a Rye Presbyterian Church week-long youth trip to the Big Easy.
So where will Dolan be going to college? And will he be playing hockey there?
“Probably club hockey,” he said. “I don’t know where I’ll be … I’ve applied to Notre Dame, Boston College, Northeastern. I’ve been accepted to Clemson, so we’ll see.”
And whom does he thank for winning the Lions Club award?
“My teammates and coaches, obviously,” he said. “And my parents for introducing me to the Rye Rangers and youth hockey.”
Finally, what is there about Dolan that even his good friends don’t know? After some thought, he said, “I collect sharks’ teeth. I could probably spend all afternoon sitting on a beach in Florida letting the sand run through my fingers.”
As with the other monthly winners, this honor makes Dolan eligible to be named Rye’s Athlete of the Year at the Lions Club’s annual awards luncheon this spring.
