Following a full day at St. Sebastian’s School in late October, junior ice hockey ahead Teddy Mutryn obtained a textual content message that introduced fairly the chance.
The 16-year-old Boston College commit was provided an opportunity to affix the United States Under-17 National Team for the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge in Prince Edward Island, Canada.
“It was kind of spur of the moment,” Mutryn stated. “I got the text right after school – ‘you’re flying out 8 A.M. Thursday morning.’ So, it’s a pretty quick and surreal turnaround. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. It was an awesome experience.”
This wasn’t Mutryn’s first foray with the Red, White and Blue. He represented the U.S. on the 2023 Five Nations event in August and had attended a number of camps with the National Team Development Program. Still, the chance to affix the U.S. workforce at this event was one thing he couldn’t go up, and he had the total help of St. Sebastian’s head coach Sean McCann.
“To go up there, represent your country and play against two teams from Canada as well as teams from other countries, it just is a great opportunity and one that he should take,” McCann stated. “Obviously, the play is at a high level, so it only helps his development overall.”
Mutryn registered a purpose throughout the 4 video games and helped lead the U.S. workforce to a second-place end. This was the 18th podium end for the U.S. on the event, and it offered Mutryn with a wonderful alternative to be taught extra from his fellow U.S. teammates, who hail from as shut because the Northeast to as far-off because the Midwest and West Coast.
“I learned some of the little things and some different slang from the Midwestern and Western guys,” Mutryn stated. “The way they play the game – they’re fast and they think the game really well. It was cool to get their sense of it and put that into my game.”
The classes discovered didn’t solely come from his teammates and coaches, nonetheless, as Mutryn stated observing the worldwide groups has allowed him to witness how different gamers all over the world are creating, and the way the completely different play kinds affect the sport.
“Each country definitely presented their own challenge and unique way of playing,” Mutryn stated. “Canada is always a really good team with structure. They make everything look so simple and easy, but it’s really not that easy. The European guys just know where everyone is at all times. Everything’s fast. They make two passes, and all of a sudden, they’re on a rush or a breakaway.”
After returning residence, Mutryn’s focus shifted in direction of serving to the Arrows hockey workforce in its pursuit of postseason glory within the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). He stated returning residence to see his teammates was a particular second.
“I was just happy to be back, honestly. I missed the guys,” Mutryn stated. “I was just pumped to get started and get our season rolling. And I felt that what I learned out there, I could help the team out and help us have a good year and accomplish our goals.”
The Arrows have lots to sit up for this upcoming season. The 2022-23 roster had no seniors, so the turnover heading into this season was non-existent. That workforce fell brief within the NEPSAC playoffs, dropping 6-3 within the quarterfinals to rival Tabor Academy.
McCann stated that without having that veteran management final yr did affect the workforce, the Arrows will see some profit from that improvement alternative this season.
“Not having a senior, I think it hurt us at times,” McCann stated. “But on the flip side, it also allowed us to develop them as players and as a group.”
St. Sebastian’s have 16 seniors on the roster this season, and that doesn’t even embody Mutryn, his brother Casey, and Harvard commit Ben Merrill. 2023-24 has an opportunity to be a particular one for the Arrows, and McCann says the workforce acknowledges the chance and has super chemistry.
“The big thing is that these kids love playing together,” McCann stated. “They have been here for so long. They play with each other, have class together and do events together. They have become best friends.”
Mutryn will probably be an enormous key to that success. He has registered 59 factors in 52 video games throughout his profession with the Arrows and McCann believes the all-around nature of his sport results in his success.
“Teddy, he’s got a really well-rounded game,” McCann stated. “He’s creative offensively. He’s responsible in his own end. He’s a good playmaker and he’s a great goal-scorer.”
McCann stated Mutryn’s management talents shine off the ice as properly, particularly alongside captains Matt Cataldo, Aidan Connors and Charles Leverone. This has helped the Arrows start the 2023-24 season with victories over the Rivers School and Milton Academy.
Mutryn himself credited his teammates for his success and is trying ahead to the chance to play alongside his brother and senior Nolan Flynn. While he emphasised that the Arrows have loads of work to do, he stated he feels just like the workforce is primed to do some harm this winter.
“It’s still early, we still have a few things to work on,” Mutryn stated. “But I think it just helps me to personally play better knowing I could just go out there do my thing and they’re going to do their thing. I think we just have to focus on ourselves and play our game and that’ll help us have some success.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com