January 31, 2012
Family business
Long Island native Matt Gilroy carrying big support system with him in first year with Lightning
by Wayne Fish/Columnist
Matt Gilroy (photo: Getty)
When you hail from a place that's pretty much off the hockey radar screen, it takes an extra strong family support system to make it to the top.
For North Bellmore, N.Y., native Matt Gilroy, the proof is right on his back.
The Long Island-raised Gilroy, a defenseman now in his third NHL season, wears the number 97 in memory of his kid brother, Timmy, who lost his life at age eight in a bicycle accident.
Matt and Timmy, just a year apart in age, were inseparable growing up in a household of eight children. They played hockey games together, with Matt wearing No. 98 and Timmy No. 97, their way to connect with the only hockey player they really knew, Wayne Gretzky (No. 99).
When his younger brother died, Matt took 97. Years later, when he played in college at Boston University (a program that has a policy against high numbers that are self-serving and flamboyant), he made a special request for an exception to BU coach Jack Parker, who granted his wish.
The bottom line is, the Gilroys stick together, and that's a big part of why Matt has made it to the pros -- first for two years with the New York Rangers and now with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"Every day when I come to the rink and see that number, I think what it means to me and my family,'' he said.
And what a family it is.
Matt's dad, Frank, once played basketball at St. John's and is in that school's Hall of Fame. His mom, Peggy Ann, stayed home and made sure all her kids were moving in the right direction.
"It's a great family,'' Matt says. "If I wasn't part of that family, I don't think I would be who I am today.''
At Boston University, Gilroy put together one of the finest collegiate resumes in recent memory. He became one of only three players (Chris Drury, Rick Meagher are the others) to earn Division 1 All-America honors three straight years, and he topped it off by winning the Hobey Baker Award as a senior as the best college player.
After getting the honor, Gilroy did a little research on Baker and learned that, in addition to being an excellent hockey player at Princeton, he had joined the U.S. Armed Forces in World War I as a test pilot.
In France, on the last day of his tour of duty, when he should have been heading home, Baker tested a plane that crashed, killing him.
"A guy like that, who's willing to fight for his country, go to war, you have to respect that,'' Gilroy said.
During his BU years, there was some interest shown by NHL teams that could have influenced him to leave early, but Gilroy chose to stay. He wanted to get his degree (in business management), he knew he might have a chance to play with his younger brother -- incoming freshman Kevin -- for one year and, as he says with a chuckle, "I was having such a good time in college I didn't want to leave.'
"You know, you only get four years to do that," he added. "Getting that degree was big for me and my family. Being able to play with my brother was also why I went back to school.''
BU is glad he did. Led by Gilroy's excellent two-way game, the Terriers made it to the NCAA championship game against Miami University.
One day after being named the Hobey Baker winner, Gilroy and his teammates found themselves in a 3-1 hole against Miami with just a minute to play. But they rallied, scoring twice, with Gilroy setting up Nick Bonino's tying goal with 17 seconds to play.
BU won in overtime. That made Gilroy just the fifth player ever to win the Hobey Baker Award and the NCAA championship the same year.
Later, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound backliner signed with the Rangers, played two seasons with the Blueshirts and said he learned a lot. Often there's a big period of adjustment for players who spend most of their developing years in college.
"It takes time,'' Gilroy noted. "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon.''
When his initial contract ran out, Gilroy realized it was time to move on. While it's almost every New York hockey-playing kid's dream to wear a Rangers jersey, sometimes a change of scenery can be a good thing.
Gilroy, 27, joins a young Lightning team which has a bigger need for his services. Eastern Conference finalists a year ago, they were mired at 14-17-2 in late December, seven points out of a playoff spot.
Through 29 games he had eight assists and a plus-4 rating, but was still seeking his first goal wearing the new sweater.
"Everyone from general manager Steve Yzerman to Coach (Guy) Boucher has made me feel welcome,'' he said, "It's exciting to be part of it.''
That's just the type of support Gilroy cherishes, from his dad and mom and family, to Parker, to his backers on the Lightning.
In a sense, it's all one more big family looking out for one another's best interests.
Wayne Fish can be reached at feedback@nyhockeyjournal.com.
