Awoken by his father’s call at seven in the morning to check the United States Hockey Report, Connor Goggin ’08 was “excited, shocked, and blown away” at what he saw: his name listed next to the USHR Prep School Defenseman of the Year award. Goggin has won numerous awards in the past, including his fourth form Choate athletic award, and has played on both an All Founders League Team and an All West New England Team. The process of choosing the recipient of this honor emphasizes how impressive the award itself is. The USHR (United States Hockey Report) chooses ten to fifteen defensemen out of all prep schools, and this list of candidates is then handed to both NHL and college scouts who then vote on the best player and decide on a final winner.
Coach Mike Velez states that “this award is a testament to the type of leader and player Connor was this winter. While a handful of defensemen in New England may have had gaudier statistics, very few had the ability to change a game in the many ways that Connor demonstrated throughout the season.” Where Coach Velez talks about flashier players, he is referring to those such as Tommy Cross of the Westminster School, who was picked in the second round in the NHL draft. The fact that Connor prevailed over Cross and many others shows that he not only displayed amazing ability on the ice, but that he also brought a second crucial factor to the game: leadership. His brother, Mark Goggin ’09, goes on to say that “he was our best player game in and game out this year hands down. He was our captain and did everything possible to win. Without him we would have been lost.”
Amazingly though, Connor did not always play defense. “Only three years ago he was a forward and Coach Patrick Dennehy shifted him to defense. This transition is a challenge in itself, and to do it and increase your skill enough to become the best defenseman in New England prep school is just amazing. Connor’s determination and work ethic is very admirable,” Mark Goggin said. Connor played on AA hockey team in Chicago all of his life and had the opportunity to partake in the most competitive hockey league growing up, AAA. He didn’t because he did not want to devote all his time to one sport, until of course he came to Choate (where hockey became his number one priority). This level of achievement in such a short time underscores the determination, perseverance, and ambition that Connor showed this winter. But such a great accomplishment cannot be achieved without fundamental support and guidance from coaches and teammates. “Along with showing how good Connor is,” his brother said, “the award also is a great compliment to Coach Dennehy and Coach Velez, because there is no way that a player can get better like Connor did without great coaching. It truly is an honor to be a teammate of someone who wins such an honorable award.”
This award also aids Connor in the development of his plans for his future, and his decision to go pro. Connor says, “Both my dad and grandpa tell me and my brother a lot that we are so close [to making it pro], and that we both have the intangibles: the desire and the skill. And if we want it bad enough and want to put in the hours we can make it. [The award] makes me want to work harder. Knowing that NHL scouts voted for me on this award is very rewarding and I’m very honored. It makes you realize that you are sooooo close. If I keep improving and get stronger, I think it is a very realistic opportunity I will have in my life, and I cannot wait to try and make it happen.”
Goggin ’08 looks up as he prepares to make his move. Contributed Photo
