Syracuse鈥檚 Marielle McHale overcomes ups and downs of college hockey
ALBANY, N.Y. (BVM) — Marielle McHale is a forward on the Syracuse women’s ice hockey team. She grew up having the passion of hockey instilled in her by not only her dad, but the person she calls her role model.聽
McHale recalls her start in the sport back to her early childhood, having games around 6-7 a.m. McHale was always ready before game time, making sure to get in some extra practice in the driveway before heading off.
鈥淧laying hockey in college is not always easy and you know you’re gonna have a tough practice with school and everything,鈥� McHale said. 鈥�That memory makes me think about why I play and have played my whole life.鈥�
As a college hockey player, McHale has faced one of her biggest challenges within the sport. Starting with her freshman year in high school, McHale had gotten her first serious concussion and had to sit out for four months. Prior to that, she had experienced two other concussions earlier on in the sport. It was a challenging time for McHale, who would have to sit out and watch her teammates play the sport she loved after just recently moving to a new boarding school.
鈥淎ll my friends were on the team so it made it hard,鈥� McHale said. 鈥淚 felt pretty lonely and anxious. I am a very active person so when I wasn鈥檛 allowed to do any activities, I would go to bed at night not even tired and I would just sit In bed all day because I wasn鈥檛 allowed to do anything.鈥�
During her sophomore year of college, the redshirt junior forward was faced with the challenge again after taking a hard hit to her head. She knew immediately what was happening and hid it from her coaches until the game ended. It was a big game for McHale because it was played in her hometown and many family members were in attendance.聽
鈥淚 just thought it would be a month or two and I’d be better by Christmas break, but my eyes were messed up,鈥� McHale said. 鈥�I had headaches all of the time and it was just a lot worse than my other ones.鈥�
The newest concussion had created some unfamiliar territory for McHale. The routine of hockey had been such a big part of her day and she now wasn’t able to hangout with the girls during that time. She would just sleep in and then see the trainer. McHale felt very lonely and anxious during this time.聽
鈥淚t is also not something you have a timeline on, you don鈥檛 know when you鈥檒l get better,鈥� she said.聽
After going home for Christmas break, McHale hoped to see some changes, but she actually felt worse. She came back and had a meeting with her team doctor and trainer who advised McHale that it wouldn鈥檛 be worth it for McHale to come back for the year.聽
聽鈥淚 went into the locker room and burst into tears,鈥� McHale said. 鈥淢y teammates were really supportive and kind and all texted me saying I wasn鈥檛 alone which was really nice.鈥�
After taking the rest of the semester off, and the summer to get back on her feet, McHale would focus her time on eye therapy and small workouts. She progressively made it back to where she could play again by the following year. The junior forward wasn鈥檛 nervous to be back skating but did worry about the contact. She knew she couldn’t go out there scared or she would get hurt again.聽
鈥淪tepping on the ice for the first time after that was crazy,鈥� McHale said. 鈥淚 thought I would forget how to skate. I wasn鈥檛 nervous for the actual skating part, just the contact. It’s always scary but I eased back into contact when I got back. You can’t go out there scared. If you go out there scared, you’ll get hurt again. I had a lot of support from trainers and coaches getting back, which was nice.鈥�
McHale is now back in full game mode, scoring her first goal this season against Union.聽
