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Men's Ice Hockey
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Spotlight on Will Boardman
11/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
In any team sport, perhaps the most underrated aspect of winning lies in the defensive part of the game.
A staple of Dartmouth men's hockey in recent years has been the defense. The Big Green has been ranked in the top-20 nationally for the last three seasons, killing 82.3 percent of the opponents' power play opportunities.
Last year at Dartmouth, three names were the foundation for the Big Green's work at the blue line ? Grant Lewis, Ben Lovejoy and Mike Hartwick. With each player consistently playing more shifts than anyone else, the trio quickly established itself as the face of the defensive corps.
“We lost a lot on the blue line,” said head coach Bob Gaudet. “Grant, Ben and Mike defined our defensive unit for four years.”
But waiting in the wings was another blueliner ? a tough and gritty player with a team-first mindset. Will Boardman has been a staple for the Big Green, playing in 43 games during the last four seasons.
“Will's a veteran player that we've come to rely on to work hard,” Gaudet said. “He's got a great attitude about the game. He comes every day and works at it.”
As a senior, Boardman is the only true veteran defenseman for Dartmouth.
“There's definite pressure this year because we are so young,” Boardman said. “I look around and realize that I have played the most of all our d-men this season.
I have felt some pressure to play well, to be a leader on and off the ice. The younger guys come to me with questions ? not so much hockey related ? so hopefully I've been able to help in that respect.
“But with being an upperclassman comes responsibility and with that comes pressure,” added Boardman.
Though he finds himself thinking about decisions regarding the team more often, Boardman says he just wants to be a solid role model and enjoy his senior season.
“As a senior, I just try to help the young guys with any problems they might have,” he said. “I try to give them insight into the situation, since I'm in my fourth year and have probably been through the same thing myself.
“Underclassmen make up half of our team,” Boardman said. “I think the older guys have really embraced them. While I may be more of a quiet leader I try to just make sure I'm working hard every shift, play physical and strong with the puck and hopefully the newer guys will be influenced by that.”
Boardman knows all about having someone older as a mentor. He made his decision to come to Dartmouth based on the influence of former players Dan Shribman '07 and fellow defenseman Ben Lovejoy '06.
“I grew up in Vermont and of course always knew about Dartmouth but it was being at Deerfield Academy that solidified my decision.”
Boardman also knew he wanted to pursue an Ivy League education. “During my sophomore year in high school I really started doing the research and right away Dartmouth was in the running,” Boardman added. “After Dan and Ben came here, they would tell me about it. I felt even more like it was the right choice. I liked the sense of community and knowing the kind of education I was going to get.”
In addition to all his endeavors on the ice, Boardman has also excelled in the classroom, being named Academic All-ECAC. He is also beginning to plan for life after college, as he will graduate in just a few months. As a lifelong hockey player he would love to stay involved with the game but he's also realistic.
“I did an internship last summer and was offered a job for after graduation,” Boardman said. “I know I'm not going to play much hockey after I graduate so I just want to make sure I enjoy this year.”
There's another team at Dartmouth that will feel the loss once the affable Boardman departs. He's been a member of the men's lacrosse team for the past three seasons as well.
“It says a lot about him that he has been able to play two sports at the Division I level,” Gaudet said. “You don't see athletes have his commitment very often. He's really applied himself academically as well as athletically and he's been able to prioritize his time ? that's a credit to him. I think it's been helpful for our team to have guys who are that athletic and have the wherewithal to play and keep their grades up.”
“I had always played hockey but I picked up lacrosse in high school,” Boardman said. “My brothers had always played lacrosse but I was the one that decided to go the other way and keep playing hockey. I think it helped me, kept me focused.”
Boardman hopes that for his final year he's not only a good influence to his hockey teammates, but also to a special lacrosse player, his younger brother Adam '11.
“It's been awesome having my brother here,” Boardman said. “We do our own thing but still spend a good amount of time together. It's been fun to have him around and I know he'll enjoy his time at Dartmouth as much as I have.”
? By Heather Croze
Players Mentioned
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