5. Chapter 5
Star Forward Leo Harrison Discusses Upcoming Hockey Season
Sitting in the restaurant where Leo Harrison’s parents met twenty-five years ago, he spoke to me about his plans for the upcoming season and how his passion for hockey was born.
Harrison wasn’t a prodigy who learned to skate as soon as he could walk, but hockey was in his life from the beginning.
“My dad and my aunt are huge Bruins fans, so I was watching hockey with them as soon as I was old enough for my eyes to focus on the TV,” Harrison says.
An interesting start for the future Bruin, himself.
When asked about his childhood, Harrison details memories of watching games at home with his family and regularly visiting TD Garden to watch his favorite team play live.
“One of my favorite memories of watching the Bruins was in Chicago. That’s my aunt’s hometown, so we got tickets to see them play the Blackhawks when we were visiting her family.
I still remember being what felt like the only ones in black and yellow in a sea full of red—at least where we were sitting.
But the Bruins won that night. It was a great game. ”
For someone whose father loves hockey as much as Leo Harrison describes, you would have expected his parents to lace up his skates at an early age.
But Harrison says he was five when he got his first pair, and not from his father at all but rather from his aunt.
She bought them for Christmas, thinking it would be something he’d enjoy, but never did she expect it to be the gift that would lead to his future career.
“I think she was shocked when she realized how good I was,” says Harrison.
“That same year she also got me private lessons and by the end of the last session, I was truly in love.”
Speaking of love, the hockey star, who is known for his rather casual reputation on campus (but let’s be fair, which of the players on our team isn’t?), might just be willing to settle down if the right girl came along.
“I’m very open to the idea of a relationship.
I just haven’t found my person yet,” he says. What a beautiful sentiment that is.
But calm down ladies, Leo Harrison has more important things on his mind this year than finding love, like securing a spot in the Frozen Four for BU and finally making his Bruins contract official when he signs on the dotted line at the end of the season.
“Right now, my number-one focus is on the upcoming season,” says Harrison.
“We’ve got a great new group of guys joining us this year and I think we’re ready for this.
We can secure a championship for BU. I’m sure of it. ”
Check out Leo Harrison in action at the first game of the season on Friday. Rumor has it, he looks even better on skates than he does at the afterparties you’ll all be attending.