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02/16/2023 08:04 AMWill Sullivan has always had a passion for the game of hockey. Not only does he work incredibly hard to perfect his craft, but it’s paid off for him as he’s proven to be a standout player throughout his high school tenure with the North Haven Nighthawks.
Will started playing hockey at the young age of 4 and has had the opportunity to venture into a variety of leagues and showcases.
“I first learned to skate at the Bennett Rink in West Haven during a program called Mid-Morning Mania with my mom and dad. It was a memorable time for me since it was my first time on skates with my family,” says Will. “I have played youth hockey with the Greater New Haven Warriors and with the North Haven varsity hockey team throughout my four years of high school. I have played in multiple leagues and tournaments in places such as Lake Placid and Montreal, Canada.”
Nighthawks Head Coach Chris Avena sees Will as a quiet but powerful leader because when he steps foot on the ice, he is locked in and focused.
“Will is more of a quiet kid from a vocal standpoint. He has been leading the team by showing up every day, by being coachable, by displaying his skill on the ice,” says Avena. “I think that he is that quiet example of showing the younger kids that you can be the quiet, reserved guy, but when the puck drops, you are ready to go and ready to play.”
As is typical for many young athletes getting their start in any athletic endeavor, the family influence from Will’s dad and his brother Ryan helped spark his inspiration to want to be on the ice. Will also spent much of his childhood watching the National Hockey League (NHL) and the USA Olympics.
“Initially, it was my father, Mike, a four-year member and goalie of the Notre Dame of West Haven varsity hockey team and two-time state championship winner in 1985 and 1987, who inspired me to start playing. Ryan also played youth hockey and in high school as well,” says Will. “Soon after being introduced to the game, I was fascinated with players and teams within the NHL. I had collected many books about how to play the game and about the history of past and present players. At a young age, I was also inspired by the movie Miracle, where USA defeated Russia in the 1980 Olympics. I also began to attend many Quinnipiac University games where my former coach, Bryan Leitch, played for years before playing in the AHL.”
North Haven has had a very dominant season this year, and Will has been a huge factor in that dominance, especially on the offensive end of the ice.
“He is our second leading scorer; he is able to put points on the board and has been effective in helping us win,” says Avena. “Also, controlling his boards and controlling his space in the defensive zone is something that he does really well. He also helps get the puck out of our zone when it is in a dangerous spot or when we are struggling, and he has the strength and the game sense to be able to get the puck out of our zone.”
As the rest of the season progresses, Will hopes to continue to help his teammates grow as individuals and keep an eye on the goals they’ve set for themselves as a team.
“As captain, I believe that I can lead my team for the remainder of the season by refocusing each player to continue to play at their individual best, but to also play within the scope of the team,” says Will. “We will continue to develop our passing and our shooting with the goal of scoring most of our shots on net. It is important for each player to really believe that their unique talents and personalities bring the fire and passion to our game. North Haven hockey has been successful so far because of the standards we set as a team. We play to compete; we play to win. We have been practicing and playing all our lives for this time.”
Avena echoes that mentality of Will and the team staying focused so they can reach their ultimate goal of winning a state championship this season.
“We want to be able to send him and the rest of the senior class off with a state championship. It is something that we are really striving, for this year,” says Avena. “I think that preparing Will and the rest of the team to give us the best opportunity we can will be super important. We also have to not take for granted the season we are having and the careers that Will and the seniors have had with North Haven.”
Throughout his four years with the Nighthawks, Will has formed a special bond with his teammates that he believes is a huge reason for their success. Although they’ve been a pretty successful program the last few years, Will has his sights set even higher this season.
“I have played with my senior teammates for years, and with that bond, we have a few goals in sight. Winning so many games in a row has been very exciting for the last two seasons, but this year my teammates, coaches, and I have our sights set on bigger things,” says Will. “It would also be a huge accomplishment if we can win a third SCC Division II championship in a row. It is a testament to the dedication we have to the sport we love to play and to each other. But we have to focus on one shift at a time, one period at a time, and one game at a time for now.”
Although Will won’t be taking his hockey endeavors to the college level, he plans to remain coaching the game that he loves at the youth level, alongside Coach Paul Mastriano.
“He has been a great inspiration to me because he makes every young hockey player feel special. He connects with them, and it reminds me of when I was that age and how important a good role model is,” says Will. “Coach Avena has also been such a positive role model to me and very supportive of me during my career at North Haven. I will always be an avid fan of the game. Hockey has been such a huge part of my life, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play the game I love and to be surrounded by great people who have made a big impact on my life.”