A new chapter in the Riley family hockey story

What do you want to want to be when you grow up?

This question was one that we all heard throughout our younger years. For most, the answer was something generic. A firefighter, a police officer or maybe a pilot.

For Jack and Brendan Riley, the answer was more specific: Division I hockey player.

The Riley family is well known throughout the college hockey world. Jack and Brendan's grandfather John (Jack) Riley, played hockey at Dartmouth and coached at Army West Point for 36 years. Of his five children, one son played at Harvard, two at Boston College, one at Brown and his daughter played at St. Lawrence.

After he stopped coaching at Army, his son, Rob, took over, and was eventually joined by his brother — Jack and Brendan's father, Brian — who assisted. In 2004, Brian took over as head coach, and now enters his 13th season and the 67th consecutive year with a Riley as the Black Knights bench boss.

Jack and Brendan are two of Brian's three children, with daughter Dani being the middle child. As a Division I hockey head coach, it is easy to understand how his children all grew up to be athletes. Jack plays hockey at Mercyhurst University, where he is a redshirt junior. Dani played four years of lacrosse at Merrimack, while Brendan is joining his brother as a freshman for the Lakers this season.

'On skates at an early age'

Raising children while being a Division I hockey coach could make it difficult to balance time between home and work. However, it also allows for an opportunity to expose one's children to the game at a young age. Brian Riley shared his memories of how his sons got into hockey with Pucks and Recreation.

"It's kind of funny, Jack was on skates when he was one, just kind of walking around the rink on his skates," he said. "They were both on skates at an early age, but with me being a coach and being up here at the rink and them coming up to see me at the office and watch games.

"It's just a sport that they really fell in love with, and being around the rink as much as they were really drew them to the sport."

Jack and Brendan both have numerous memories of being around their dad at work growing up. This lifestyle naturally influenced their interest in hockey, though whether they would each sustain that passion all the way to the NCAA level was not always certain at the start.

"Growing up, and I'm sure my dad would tell you the same thing, everyone didn't know if I was actually going to be a hockey player," Brendan admitted to P&R. "He would always tell me 'You know, Brendan, you don't have to play hockey if you don't want.' But being around the program and being around such a good hockey mind helped me learn the game."

Perhaps those initial doubts came as a result of one of Brendan's early hockey experiences.

"It's a pretty funny story," he said, "I was playing mini-mites or something. I was playing a game, and I got my first penalty. I think I two-handed a guy who took the puck from me and I was crying in the box, so that's pretty much the first thing I remember: Sobbing."

That notwithstanding, the two brothers would develop dreams of growing up to play Division I college hockey, but achieving that is much easier said than done. They both had to work hard, go to prep school and play in juniors to eventually live the dream.

"It was at an early age that I saw that he (Jack) really did have good hockey sense," Brian said, "and that's something that you can't teach as you get older. That gave him a solid foundation and he worked on the other parts of his game, just getting bigger and stronger.

"He also has an unbelievable trait: He loves to play but he wants to win, and you can see that when he's out on the ice.

"Brendan, on the other hand, is a different player than Jack. Good size, skates well, and really was kind of a late bloomer. He went away Kimball Union in New Hampshire prep school for two years and had success there. I think watching him over those two years, his skating ability and knowing that he's getting bigger that there's a good chance that he would have an opportunity to play Division I college hockey."

Off to Mercyhurst

Their play in prep school and juniors got the brothers onto the recruiting radar. When it came time for Jack to decide where to go, familiarity played a big role. He shared the factors in his college decision with P&R.

"I grew up watching the (Atlantic Hockey) league play, so I had seen Mercyhurst multiple times," Jack said. "They've always been one of the good teams in the league; they are at the top of the league every year. When it came time to choose colleges, the assistant coach (at the time) Bobby Ferraris called me and he said they were interested, so I came here to visit and I just fell in love with the campus.

"I grew up knowing Coach (Rick) Gotkin, too, and he's always been a good guy and a good coach in the league, so when it came to choose I felt like Mercyhurst would be a good spot."

Jack is now entering his fourth year at Mercyhurst. However, unlike the previous three, a new chapter begins, as he will no longer be the only Riley on campus. Besides his new teammate in Brendan, his sister Dani is joining the Laker community as a graduate assistant lacrosse coach.

It may seem somewhat improbable for three children from the east side of New York State to end up at a small school in Erie, Pa. However, the development did not really surprise Brian.

"They are a close-knit bunch, and they like the feel of a small school," he said. "Jack has really enjoyed his experience, so that kind of drew Brendan there. When Dani was looking at grad school, she had the idea of 'Wow, maybe I can go to Mercyhurst and be there with Jack and Brendan.' It's really kind of neat how it worked out."

Not only will the three be attending the same school, but this season will be the first time Jack and Brendan are on the same team in competitive hockey. With both being forwards, it is also possible that they could see time on the same line.

"We've played in summer leagues together, like men's leagues and stuff like that," said Jack. "I always joke and tell people that it's going to be hard not to yell at him on the ice because normally I yell at him to do this and do that because he's my brother, so it's easy.

"I think it would be fun playing with him. Just from the aspect that he's my brother and that I've never been able to play with him. I know what type of player he is, we actually kind of fit together. He's got the speed and the body type I wish I had. I definitely think it would be a cool experience, and if it were ever to happen against my dad's team that would be even more crazy."

Brendan had similar thoughts in terms of the idea of playing with Jack. Not only would it be an opportunity to play with his brother, but as a freshman playing with an established upperclassman, it would be a valuable learning experience as he looks to establish himself. He also envisioned being on the receiving end of some passes from his brother.

"I'm sure he'd set me up for a few backdoor tap-ins," he expressed.

'Army's basically been my favorite team'

Playing against the team they grew up rooting for (Army) is certainly a unique aspect of playing at an Atlantic Hockey rival. To go along with that, playing against Army of course means playing against a team coached by their father.

Jack has experienced this already in his career. He certainly rose to the occasion during one of the meetings with his father's team. On Dec. 6, 2014 Jack scored two goals and added two assists en route to a 6-3 victory over the Black Knights in West Point.

But for Brendan, that first encounter will come on Jan. 13, in the rink he practically grew up in.

"I always tell everyone that it's probably the hardest thing I've ever done," he said. "It's super difficult. I've grown up and Army's basically been my favorite team in any sport. We grew up basically going to all of my dad's games, even the away games.

"So when I made the decision to go to Mercyhurst, I kind of thought in the back of my mind, 'I could still root for Army,' just not when we play against them."

Despite the admitted difficulty of playing against Army, Jack has clearly shown the ability to succeed. When asked if his brother had any advice to offer about playing against Army, Brendan joked, "I know they normally try to take a couple runs at him, so probably keep my head up."

Their dad certainly knows what it is like to return home to play against one's father. All of the brothers in Brian's generation paid the same visits to West Point when the elder Jack — who passed away in February at the age of 95 — was coaching the opposition; a homecoming of sorts.

"I always knew how excited we were to come back to play against my dad," Brian reflected. "More just because of being able to play at West Point, our home. We wanted to make our dad proud of hopefully playing well. I'm sure the boys are going through the same thing. The opportunity to come back and play here at West Point in front of family and friends, play in the rink where they grew up, is probably really exciting for them." 

It is definitely a special moment when Mercyhurst and Army face off for all members of the Riley family. As the coach of the opposing team, however, Brian has to balance the role of being a coach and a parent. While he has to do his job during the course of the game, he allows himself to appreciate the moments in brief spurts before and after.

"At the start of the game when you see him introduced and he comes out to the blue line, you're just really proud as a parent," he said. "As a coach, the game is going on and it's pretty fast and I'm not saying that I don't notice when he's out there, I do, but it's really after the game where I can watch video and see how he played. It is really exciting, and I just can't imagine what it will be like to have both of them out there.

"It's always been a special moment for me after the game to be able to go through the line and give Jack a big hug afterwards, and now to be able to give them both a hug afterwards will be really, really special and something that I'll always cherish."

Jack can appreciate that balance as well. He realizes that his dad is doing his job and doing what he can to help his team win. At the same time, he knows how much his father hopes for the best for him.

"The first time I remember just looking up and I was almost in awe seeing him on the other bench because I knew deep down he was rooting for me but at the same time he can't root for the team," Jack said. "He always jokes and says 'I hope my son scores a hat trick, but we win the game 4-3.'”

More coaches to come?

Playing hockey has been a big part of the Riley's lives. For many members of the family, after their playing careers ended, they were able to continue to their heavy hockey involvement through coaching.

Brian was able to grow up learning from Jack, who besides his lengthy NCAA tenure coached Team USA to its first Olympic gold medal in 1960.

"I think what I learned from my dad is that the most important thing is to care for your players more as people than hockey players," Brian said. "When you do that you create this relationship and develop this bond with your players that it's really about kind of being part of a family. When you have that bond as a coach with your players, they will do anything for you."

This desire and passion for coaching is something that appears to have been passed on to his children. His daughter has already taken her first opportunity as a coach. Along with her, both of his sons have expressed interest in coaching someday.

Given the knowledge base they have developed and growing up in a family full of hockey, Brian thinks the job would bode well for Jack and Brendan.

"I'm sure if that's what they do they'll both be very good coaches, much better than me," he said.

Jack has already succeeded in achieving the goal of becoming a Division I college hockey player, which he remembers setting in grade school. In the future, he can see himself putting all of his knowledge of the game to the test.

"Besides being a Division I college hockey player, being a coach has been my other goal," he said. The only thing I really know is hockey.

"I know the ins and outs of coaching from my uncles, my dad and my grandfather. I just want to be a coach somewhere, so wherever the opportunity is hopefully I can achieve that goal."

Being just a freshman, Brendan likely has a number of years until he needs to decide on the next phase of his hockey career. However, much like his older siblings, he acknowledged that coaching may be a possibility in his future.

"Like people say it's not only what you know, it's who you know," he said. "So we're pretty fortunate in that respect that we've got a few connections."

- Andrew Wisneski

Meet the Press: Doyle Woody talks anxiety in Alaska, life in the Twitterverse

Photo courtesy of Doyle Woody

If only 19th century Congressman J. Proctor Knott — remembered for his sarcastic Duluth, Minn., tourism plug — had a crystal ball at his disposal.

In fairness, the town in question and its potential were little-known at the time. But if only Knott could have envisaged the existence of the WCHA. After all, among its travel destinations, the conference would include Minnesota-Duluth and a program from a much more far-flung U.S. location yet to come called Alaska.

And if only Knott could have foreseen the life and career path of a WCHA beat writer from that eventual state named Doyle Woody.

Maybe then Kentucky’s 4th District ambassador to the House would have held his tongue in 1871, rather than ramble over the “Untold Delights of Duluth.” For more than a century later, Woody would discover the hidden merits of frequenting Duluth’s Pioneer Bar, then proceed to coax a special local as to the untold (but serious) amusements of Alaska.

Woody has been covering Alaska-Anchorage hockey for the Alaska Dispatch News (nee Anchorage Daily News) for the better part of the program’s 37 years as a Division I institution. For more than half of that tenure, this meant following the Seawolves on the majority of their excursions to the Lower 48.

Amidst one of UAA’s two-night road bouts with the UMD Bulldogs, Woody sought his standard postgame reward a half-mile up from the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. That is, a few cold ones with his counterparts from the Duluth News Tribune.

That was when Bulldog women’s scribe Christa Lawler invited him to join her and a friend.

“The friend turned out to be Sarah Henning, an arts-and-entertainment writer for the News Tribune,” Woody told Pucks and Recreation.

“Long story short, Sarah and I soon after began a long-distance relationship of a year and a half — that wasn’t too difficult, because I traveled to the Upper Midwest often to cover hockey, plus I racked a lot of airline miles — before I somehow suckered her into quitting her job, packing her life and moving to Alaska.

“We eventually married, so my long con apparently is working. It was a pretty good weekend in Duluth for Alaska types — think the Seawolves earned three points (in the series), and I met my love.”

And that is the centerpiece of the fulfillment a career in college hockey reportage has yielded to Woody. Whether they have changed from long-distance dating to a hometown marriage or from chatting with fellow reporters at the watering hole to over the web, numerous relationships have gratifyingly lasted.

Odds are those perks will persist, even if the program that parented them does not.

Consternation over cuts

An East Anchorage native whose professional bio jokes that “He’s been covering hockey since the Ice Age,” Woody had one of his more thankless reporting responsibilities this past summer.

With the aftershocks of a rocky state economy reaching the public university system, both the Seawolves and instate rival Alaska Nanooks are on notice. Hockey is the crux of both athletic programs, and is thus a likely casualty amidst vast budget cuts across many departments.

“UAA fans here are understandably anxious and apprehensive about the fate of the Seawolves hockey program,” Woody said. “They know, worst-case scenario, that if the program is killed, it isn’t coming back.”

A mid-August report detailed three potential courses of action. One option would entail merging the UAA hockey program with its counterpart at the university’s flagship Fairbanks school. The other two would have the Division I sport evaporate from the state altogether.

The university’s Strategic Pathways committee is expected to announce its verdict in November. In the meantime, the Seawolves are scrambling to salvage any potential for a picture better than the present best-case scenario.

How that affects the air at Sullivan Arena for UAA’s four October home dates shall be seen. But as Woody articulated, the sudden discontinuation of the program-hosted Kendall Hockey Classic is the least of the stressors.

“UAA hockey supporters are on edge,” he said. “They don't know if the program will get gassed or simply endure budget cuts. Hey, it's tough all over in Alaska with the stagnant price of oil and a huge state budget crisis that hits the entire University of Alaska system, not just athletics.”

High-profile hockey content is not all lost on Woody’s beat. He still has the ECHL’s Alaska Aces to chronicle, and he keeps a keen eye on the state’s products in the NHL. Amidst the angst over the college program late last month, he penned a protracted narrative on Scott Gomez as the Anchorage native ended his 16-season, 1,079-game career.

But the Seawolves were there first, and that counts for something.

“Covering UAA has been a big part of my career,” Woody said. “(It) has allowed me to meet a slew of very good reporters and writers, many of whose work I admired, and so I tried to steal some of their better attributes — if you're not stealing something from talented colleagues, you're not trying.”

New age, same penman, same passion

Deep into the Internet-centric, new-media era, business trips to the contiguous states are deader than broadsheets. In turn, Woody does not hear the voices of his press-box peers nearly as often as he once did.

In some ways, convenience does not equal contentment for him.

“About the only downside of technology is that it’s so easy to find information that I no longer have to make the countless phone calls I made back in the ’80s and early ’90s,” Woody said. “But that also means I don't talk to as many hockey folks and strengthen connections. Plus, by not traveling, I miss out on a lot of postgame, at-the-bar sessions on the road.

“I learned a lot about hockey, and reporting and writing, in those sessions, which also taught me how to travel on three hours of bad sleep and a bit of a headache.” 

Today, like Sarah before him, Woody has planted his feet more consistently in the Last Frontier. And the tradeoff of sacrificing visits to other venues for a clearer head extends to the blessings of Twitter. With that, the beat writers’ fraternity he once fostered in person is preserved from afar while information travels with the speed of a breakout pass.

“The Internet and Twitter help maintain a connection to college hockey, thankfully, as does live streaming,” he said. “Remember, I’m so old I recall when we had to get WCHA stats through a fax-back. You literally dialed a fax number, punched in some access code and waited for the fax to spit out the updated weekly stats.”

With current technology, there also remains ample space for casual discussion and shameless tourism plugs. Earlier this month, Woody gave a stick-tap to the Grand Forks Herald’s Brad Schlossman for the latter’s endorsement of Anchorage establishments.

And then there is the new venue for creativity, which Woody maximizes through his handle, @JaromirBlagr.

The play on the name of the NHL’s most seasoned active player inadvertently reaffirms his Alan Shemper-esque habit of joking about his maturity. Although, he admits he accepted the alias at the suggestion of a friend.

“Wish I could take credit for the Twitter handle,” he said, “but I'm not remotely that clever. That came from my friend Josh Nova, a Fairbanks boy and former co-worker who loves puns, and came up with that one in a heartbeat.

“It has also earned Sarah the nickname Mrs. Blagr among some readers. So, yeah, my bride is living the dream up here.”

Oh, the now-not-so-untold enjoyments of East Anchorage.