Adelphi University Quill Awards 2022 — Honorable Mention for Best Sports Story
By DREW HECHT
For most high school students, committing to college is a huge milestone. For Jericho seniors Olivia DeGuire and Harrison Meirowitz it means a little more, as both are committed to play collegiate level hockey at their respective universities.
When It All Started
Coming from a hockey family, Olivia fell in love with the sport at a very young age. By the time she was four years old, she began skating. “My dad played hockey, and I always thought it was really cool. I always wanted to be like him and that’s why I started playing,” said Olivia.
Since first stepping onto the rink, Olivia has played for multiple teams including the Lady Islanders, LI Rebels, and Port Washington High School where she was named the team’s captain. Olivia is now playing goalie for her travel team Newark Ironbound Elite.
Harry, who started at a later age than Olivia, was quick to pick up the sport. Although he first put on the pads at the age of 7, he had years of experience skating. “Nobody in my family ever played hockey. My sister figure skated and I started figure skating. Her coaches recommended I try hockey and there was no looking back from that point on,” said Harry.
Getting Serious
Harry had the realization that he could continue his career at the collegiate level in middle school. He said, “My team was consistently ranked highly in the state and nation. I felt I was one of the better players on the team so I realized I could potentially take my career further and play at Division I colleges.” He acknowledges that playing in this intense setting has been an advantage because he was playing against better players, forcing himself to improve with the competition.
Harry currently plays as a defenseman for his travel team the North Jersey Avalanche. Playing for this team is a huge commitment and causes Harry to travel over an hour each week for practices.
Around 8th grade, when Olivia started getting looks from different schools and scouts, she began to consider the option of continuing her career at college. “The recruitment process was very stressful. It started with my travel team which was highly ranked. Scouts started showing up at my games and I started to receive invites to showcases. Then I had to reach out to some schools myself, introduce myself and let them know who I am. The last step is an invite to campus and based on the visit, they may give you an offer.”
Looking Ahead
In addition to the college experience, Olivia has a lot to look forward to as a college athlete. She is excited to continue her love of hockey while being a part of her new team at Stevenson University. She said, “Being a part of a team and the whole culture aspect of the sport has always been something I loved about the game.”
Harry’s competitive mindset has him excited for his next challenge playing hockey at Brown University. He said, “At the college level it’s a much more mature game. There are bigger, stronger players and I want to keep continuing to progress my skills and excel at such a competitive level.”