Jude Brower was only 7 years old when he first lobbied Brian Riley for a spot on the Army Black Knights hockey team. It was a short meeting with the long-time head coach, but one that would change the life of the 22-year-old Mahopac native.
“He told me that if I kept my grades up that I’d be able to play here, which is pretty cool thinking back on it,” Brower recalled shortly after the end of his sophomore season at West Point.
“I never really thought about it again until my first year Juniors when they reached out to me. I accepted right away because I knew how much of an honor it would be to play for West Point.”
The same holds true for Owen Nolan, another Mahopac native. He was slightly older, 15 at the time, when he emailed Riley inviting him to come watch him play.
“Being so close to Mahopac, I’ve always known what West Point was all about,” said Nolan, who along with Brower is part of the Black Knights up-and-coming defensive corps.
“I wanted something different for college. I wanted a challenge. I think this is probably the number one place in the world to go to school and be challenged. There’s something new that you have to accomplish every day.”
Despite both growing up in Mahopac and playing at the Brewster Ice Arena, the two weren’t as close as they are now. Both spent time in the Westchester Express program before their hockey paths diverged.
Nolan would start one Covid-impacted season in Surrey, British Columbia before joining the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas. Even though his time in Texas lasted only 19 games, he credits his time under long-time Brahmas head coach Dan Wildfong for helping develop his defensive chops that would be needed to excel with the disciplined Black Knights.
Brower also had to navigate the Covid minefield, as he headed south with his Boston Jr. Bruins teammates to play their NCDC games. The pace of play gave him a sense of what life would be like at the college level.
Still, little could prepare each of them for what life is like at a service academy. The rigors of being a student athlete are tough enough, but when you throw in all the additional requirements that come with being a cadet at West Point it takes time management to a whole other level.
“It gets pretty busy around here. I’m normally not done until about 7 p.m., and then it’s time for homework,” Brower said. “We have a lot of weeks where we have a couple of big assignments due. Those weeks you definitely have to hit the books hard.
“It’s definitely a challenge, but they surround the hockey team with a great group of officers who give us good insight into what’s it like to be an officer, and they take time out of their day to help us out.”
With great responsibility comes an even greater amount of respect that you’re among the select few that attend one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions.
“That’s one thing I struggled with when I first came here. When you’re inside this place, you’re like, ‘this is stupid, why am I doing this?’” Nolan said. “But then you go home or you play an away game and you see how people look at you and respect you, and you’re like, ‘Wow, I am a little different.’ It’s definitely cool.”
Growing up so close to the academy gives both cadets the ability to go home for a good meal and a little time away from the military grind. And their teammates appreciate it when they get the invitation to join them.
“I rarely go home alone. I’m always taking guys with me because we all appreciate a good home cooked meal,” Nolan said. “The food isn’t great here but it gets the job done. So to get the boys home and get them a meal and just hang out is great.”
Like a number of their past and present teammates, both players are aiming toward careers as field artillery officers once they receive their commissions. And with the leadership skills they’re developing, coupled with their love of the game, the thought of coaching at some point down the road is a strong possibility.
“It’s definitely crossed my mind because I love the sport so much,” Brower said. “I’d love to give back anyway I can.”
Before that day comes both players feel like they have some unfinished business of helping the Black Knights return to prominence in the Atlantic Hockey conference.
The discipline and dedication needed to succeed in the classroom is something that sets the military academy teams apart from most of their opponents. They may not be the most skilled team on the ice but one thing that’s for certain with any Brian Riley-coached team is that they won’t be outworked by anyone. And they’re ready to show that next season.
“I think that’s something we got away from a little this year, which we’re going to bring back,” Nolan said.
“Our compete level is what we bring every night. We might not out-skill our opponent, but we’re definitely going to compete harder than our opponent and work harder. When we bring that to our game, no matter who we’re playing, that’s when we find success.”