Hockey’s Influence on Dylan’s Life

by Dylan Harrington

I am now coming up on my 30th year as a member of the hockey world. My love for the sport started at a very young age, and both my mother, Whitney, and my father, Brian, have been major influences in my life both on and off the ice. I still remember all the road trips, practices, late-night conversations, tryouts, and everything in between. As kids, we often take those little moments for granted. If I could give any advice to younger players or those finishing up their youth hockey careers, it would simply be this: thank your parents. They made all of this possible.

I grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, and hockey was always going to be a part of my life, whether I wanted it to be or not. Hockey runs deep in my family and has for a very long time. Throughout my youth career, I played for local organizations – Navy Youth Hockey, Bowie Bruins, and
the Metro Maple Leafs. When it came time for high school, I wanted a bigger challenge, and with the support of my parents, I chose to attend DeMatha Catholic High School.

The best hockey advice I have ever received came from a former high school coach of mine, Tony MacAuley. Years after I graduated, he told me, “Never forget that at the end of the day, we play a sport that
is meant for kids. Even if you reach the pinnacle of the sport, if you’re not having fun, was it really all worth it?” That message has always stayed with me. I encourage every youth hockey
player to enjoy the journey they are on. Cut from a team? Didn’t achieve your season-long goals? Didn’t win the championship? Good. Let those moments fuel you to become better—not just in hockey, but in school, work, and life in general.

DeMatha has played a massive role in my hockey journey, both as a player and now as an adult.There are two major accomplishments in hockey that, in my opinion, stand above the rest—and I am not talking about making the NHL or winning the Stanley Cup. The first is representing yourcountry, and the second is representing an institution.

I was fortunate enough to achieve the latter twice: first at DeMatha Catholic High School and later at Mercyhurst University at the ACHA level. When you put on a jersey for an institution, it means something bigger than yourself. If you look around the hockey world, many schools andcolleges do not put last names on the backs of their jerseys. That is because you are not playingfor individual stats or awards—you are representing everyone who came before you and everyone who will come after.

After attending Mercyhurst University, I moved back to Maryland and began coaching high
school hockey in the area. I got my start at Gonzaga College High School as an assistant coach with the varsity hockey team while also interning with the Maryland Black Bears as a video coach. After my first year back home, I knew it was time to return to my roots. I joined DeMatha
Catholic High School as both the Assistant Dean of Students and the Head Coach of the Varsity 2 Hockey Team.

Being able to watch young men grow and transform over their four years—both as players and as students—has been some of the most rewarding work of my life.

I am truly excited to take on a larger role within Showdown Tournaments. Over the years, I have done everything from scorekeeping and front desk operations to serving as a tournament director. When I was younger, I used to ask my dad why we put so much effort into events like the Skills Competition. As a worker, you could spend seven-plus hours on the ice in skates. His answer was always simple: “Look at how happy everyone is.” At the time, I did not fully understand what he meant, but as I got older, it finally clicked.

While tournaments are built around competition—where someone wins, and someone loses—that is not what players remember most. Looking back on my own youth hockey experience, I cannot tell you every tournament we won or how many points I scored. What I do remember are the hotels, mini sticks in the hallways, playing CHEL with teammates, and the memories we made together.

At the end of the day, that is what this journey in the hockey world is really about: the memories you create and the people you share them with along the way.

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