The Long Island University (LIU) mens ice hockey program is just four games old but head coach Brett Riley saw it as an attractive destination when he signed on back in May. “[There was] opportunity to build, opportunity to be the first,” Riley said. “During these times, you see doubt and skepticism too, can LIU build a program in such a short time frame? The challenges were the desire for me and super intriguing.”

Part of this opportunity to build was the opportunity to bring in his own players and Riley found Anaheim Ducks’ 2015 sixth-round pick Garrett Metcalf through some family connections. “Garett had played with my cousins, Jack and Brendan [Riley], at Mercyhurst,” Riley said. “They praised him very highly as did many former teammates, coaches and his numbers and body of work speak for themselves.” Metcalf was 9-10-0 over two seasons with a 3.42 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage, accounting for half of the Lakers’ total wins in that time. He began his college career with UMass Lowell.

It was an easy decision for the graduate student to join Coach Riley on Long Island. “It’s a great place, I don’t think you’re going to much closer to as big of a city as New York,” Metcalf said. “In normal times, you go on a recruiting trip to meet the coaches and I think that when a coach can make an impression on you over the phone, that speaks volumes.” Like his coach, Metcalf was also drawn by the opportunity to help build a new program. “The opportunity to come here and create a culture really stood out to me,” Metcalf said. “That’s something I want to be a part of, I want to be a part of the legacy here at LIU.”

Metcalf brings with him a wealth of experience that can help bring together a new team. “Having gone through it before, I’ve been there and done that so I think I bring a calming presence to guys and try to keep everyone even-keeled,” he said. “I’ve learned to manage school, the social life, athletics so I just try to be a shoulder to lean on for these younger guys.”

When the puck finally dropped on the season, the Sharks opened on the road at Holy Cross. Metcalf made 35 saves through 60 minutes and four more in overtime to help LIU get its first win in its first game 3-2. “The magnitude of it was unbelievable,” Metcalf said. “From the time the program was announced, everything and all the work the coaches had to go through, to go out there and to go out there and win our first game when a lot of people thought maybe we’ll be competitive this year, it was amazing. I don’t think I’ve seen a bench clear that fast in my entire life and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

The Sharks are 2-2-0-0 on the season and have 16 games left to play and Coach Riley wants his team to continue its current mindset. “We’ve yielded decent results because we have that fire and passion and chip on our shoulder and I don’t want our group to lose sight of that,” he said. “If we continue to develop our identity as a never-say-quit something-to-prove type team, I think the results will be there.”

Included in these 16 games is a weekend trip to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. It is the only trip for the Sharks out of the northeast during the COVID season. “During these times every day provides unique challenges and opportunities to come together as a group and bond,” Riley said. “I think this group has done a very special job of coming together, that trip will continue to bring us closer.”

Once this season ends, Riley will still be around but Metcalf’s future is a little less definite. “No definitive plans. With COVID, I think that they might be giving everyone an extra year to come back to college,” Metcalf said. “If that opportunity presents itself for me, that’s definitely a possibility. Times are very weird right now, so I’m keeping my options open and just trying to focus on the now.”

John Smark