As a junior last season, Owen Lacy was tasked with being a team captain for Brookline boys hockey, bringing his teammates together on the ice — and helping out his community off it.
Last year, interim-head coach Mike Yanovitch wanted to make sure his Warriors were staying active in their communities.
The team helped out at the Brookline food pantry and built bikes for the Dorchester Boys and Girls Club.
Lacy was a major part in both events as a leader and participant.
“Everything we did, the build a bike and especially the food pantry for me personally,” Lacy said last year, “I felt like I was helping bring the stuff to where the people needed it. They were telling us where the bikes were going and that just helped me feel really connected to my team and my community.
“I feel a lot closer with a lot of the kids on the team and helping other people too while we’re doing that, I think it’s great.”
Heading into this season, new head coach Mark Marfione asked around at Brookline about students who may help lead the team. The name he heard and trusted, was Lacy’s.
After initially naming only Lacy as a captain in the preseason, Marfione stuck with the choice and didn’t name another.
“It’s just Owen. Owen’s the leader and we’ve kind of rolled with it,” Marfione said. “He’s been great, he’s just a consummate leader always, he always does the right thing, everyone looks up to him and respects him.
“Especially as a first-year coach it’s always good to have the captain, it’s like an extension of the coaching staff in some ways. He’s very reliable, he’s really been working hard all year.”
In Lacy’s senior year, Brookline has continued to take part in giving back to and supporting its local community.
Part of that is the Travis Roy Jr. Beanpot which raises money for people recovering from brain injuries.
Another is the Shoulder Check initiative, which several teams at the school take part in. The initiative is intended to “inspire young men and women to commit to supporting one another through small acts that have a big impact.”
On Monday, Brookline boys hockey did their part for Mental Health Awareness Night.
“It’s kind of just checking in and talking to people and letting people know you’re there for them,” Marfione said of the Shoulder Check. “I think it’s a really good message, just to always keep the conversation going and be checking on people and making sure you’re talking to people if someone’s not having a good day or something is wrong.
“Just making sure you have a conversation and check in on everyone, so I thought it was nice.”
Prior to Monday’s game against Silver Lake, Lacy grabbed a microphone and delivered a speech about the shoulder check to the audience.
“It’s a simple way for us all to be there for each other. It’s a way to show someone that they’re not alone.” Lacy said during the ceremony. “It’s a role that every one of us can play for each other. It’s amazing how the smallest thing can sometimes make the biggest difference.”
Lacy continued by asking all in attendance to stand up, and place their left hand on the shoulder of the person next to them.
He then asked everyone to repeat after him.
“I promise, to reach out, check in, and make contact,” Lacy said.
“I thought it was really important, when our high school first told us that we would do it, I thought it was a great thing to do,” Lacy said of the Shoulder Check. “It’s a great message, I think it was great to do that at the beginning of the game and just spread that.”
As Lacy has continued to help his teammates grow as both players and people, he’s also helped keep things afloat this season.
On the year, the captain is responsible for nine of Brookline’s 22 goals, and has the Warriors on the edge of a playoff berth. If Brookline does qualify for the state tournament, it will be its first trip under the current format.
“I think it’s been great,” Lacy said of his senior year. “We got a slow start to the season but we’re starting to turn it up, score more goals, win more games. I think we’re on the rise now.”
