The Westborough High School Class of 2016 has some very impressive students. If you manage to find the college decisions facebook page for this year’s seniors, you would find some pretty remarkable schools that students have chosen: Carnegie Mellon, Yale, UPenn, and even UCLA. But there are some students who are choosing a different path, a path most people in Westborough do not necessarily think about taking.
Westborough High School has an extraordinarily high graduation rate, followed by another extremely high rate of students who go on to attend a college or university. If you graduate from WHS and do not continue your education, then you are the minority. Some members of the WHS Class of 2016 may not have posted in the WHS College Decision Facebook page because they are not continuing their education, at least right after high school. Some students enlist in the military, some take a gap year and work, but there is only one member of the Westborough High School Class of 2016 who is not going to college or the military. He is going to play hockey full time with the Boston Junior Bruins and that senior is Trey Howes.
Since freshman year, Howes was a strong and valuable player and leader for the Westborough High School varsity hockey team. Although some may say the WHS hockey program has struggled the past couple of years, many individuals have found success on the team and created something out of what many thought to be nothing. Before Howes’ senior season, fans and players were not optimistic about the team. Many thought that it would be a very disappointing winter. For Howes, it was the complete opposite. Even though the team ended with only four wins, the team’s record did not adequately represent their season. WHS superfan senior Jason Hurkmans reflected on the hockey season, “They weren’t the best team in the league but they fought in every game like it was their last, ultimately the reason why I would categorize them as a top tier team. Trey sparked life on the ice and his teammates followed his lead. Trey constantly leads by example and i’m excited to see what he’s capable of in the future, as he brings his hard work and talent to the Boston Junior Bruins team next year.” The team managed to draw in huge rowdy crowds almost every Saturday night.
Although the team rarely won, Howes would always put on a show for the Westborough Ranger fan section and parents. Whether it was his extraordinary handles or his rocket of a slap shot, the Rangers always had their eyes on number twenty nine. Although the team lost most of their games, they were almost always within a goal or two. Senior leadership from Howes and other players convinced and inspired the team to compete with anyone. In fact, the Westborough Rangers lost by one goal to the defending State Champions, the Shrewsbury Colonials.
Howes finished the season with just under thirty points, a remarkable effort for a team with a losing record. At the end of the season, Howes was given the Ed Belbin award, an award for a senior with the highest GPA on the hockey team. Howes was not only close to the top for points in a season, but he was the smartest kid on the team.
Although Howes is an above average hockey player, he does have some stereotypical hockey traits. Howes managed to be the runner up in the WHS “Best Hair” senior superlative, due to his luscious flow that would escape out the back of his helmet. Along with his hockey “flow” or “cheddar” you can find Howes wearing some form of hockey apparel at least three times a week. Even though Howes wears the look of a hockey player, he isn’t exactly built like one. Howes stands at 5’7 and about 160 lbs, a substantial difference to the average hockey player in the NHL. Even though Howes has this disadvantage, he still finds ways to succeed.
Having known Trey Howes for most of my life, I know that he is a hard working, driven, and stubborn individual. The reason Howes is so successful is because of his unbelievable work ethic and determination, something that is hard to find with an extremely below average hockey program. In the off season, Howes took it upon himself to become the best player possible to help out his team. He worked with a strength coach, personal trainer, and several advisors that gave him personalized workouts, stick handling drills, and shooting routines. As Howes would put it, he has “no days off” and we could certainly see that. Howes was one of the fastest forwards in the league, out skating several of his opponents to give his team opportunities they wouldn’t have if he wasn’t there. Howes also trains in the summer with Jordan Smotherman, a professional hockey player in Europe. Although Howes gets a lot of serious help from experts, he is also a self disciplined gym machine. He also credits a lot of his success to his step dad. Howes states, “ I am so thankful for my step dad, I wouldn’t be the player I am today without him.”
Although Howes has put in countless hours of work, he will have to continue to grind in order to be successful with the Junior Bruins. A change from high school hockey to a junior hockey league cannot be measured. Teammate and WHS hockey captain senior Dylan Kehoe comments about Trey and his decision to play Junior Bruins hockey, “I’m not shocked at all, the kid breathes hockey. He’s the hardest worker I know, so if someone deserves it, it’s him. Unreal.” Many people doubt Trey Howes and his decision, but his teammates know what he is capable of doing.
So where did Trey Howes develop such a passion for hockey? Howes says “John Tavares is such a role model, I love the way he plays and he has so much class. Plus, I love the team he’s on. Once I saw them play, I was hooked.” Howes started playing hockey at the late age of ten. Most of the very successful hockey players you see in the NHL start skating about the same time they start walking, so Howes had a late start, but that did not stop him. Howes started playing for the Triboro team and automatically excelled. He realized that hockey was the sport for him. Howes also played baseball and soccer around the same age, but hockey continued to take over.
As Howes got older and hockey became more time consuming, he decided to change teams. Along with the WHS hockey team, Howes played for the NorthStar Select team. Hockey was now a huge proponent in his life. Howes shed a little light on how important hockey is to him, “Everything I do is hockey, from playing it, watching it, to training for it. If by chance I’m not doing one of those three things, I am definitely thinking about it.”
Howes was faced with a very difficult question once his final high school hockey season ended, “Do I continue with the sport I love, or do I follow the normal path and go to college?” Well, Trey Howes is far from normal. When he decided to play Junior Bruins hockey, he did not have everyone’s support, “At first I had to convince my mom it was the right decision, I just had to map out my plan for her. My dad always supported me. I really can’t thank them enough for having my back throughout my decision.”
It’s not like Howes didn’t have any other options after high school. If Howes decided to pursue his academic interests right away, he was planning to apply to Bryant University, Boston University, Quinnipiac University, and Saint Anselm’s College. Although any of these college choices would have been spectacular, he decided to push his academics to the side for a few years. Howes plans to play hockey and work at NorthStar full time for the next few years with an end goal to hopefully be drafted to play hockey in college. Howes is not only a leader on the ice with his team, but in the classroom and even on the baseball diamond.
Howes has dedicated a lot of his time this spring to help out another WHS sport. Howes is the assistant coach for the Junior Varsity baseball team, working alongside Head Coach Jyringi. Some questioned the possibility of Howes even playing for the already very talented varsity baseball team, but Howes did not have enough time for that commitment. Howes continues his off season training for hockey and focuses on his school work while coaching the baseball team. On top of helping out in his school community, studying, and training, he also has a part time job. Howes works at the Northstar Hockey Rink, because where else would a high school hockey player work? People who don’t know Trey Howes don’t see the time and effort he puts into the sport he loves and the other important things in his life.
People think that hockey is one of the most time consuming sports to play in high school and it definitely is near the top of the list, if not first on it. Whether it be the 5:00 A.M. practices or the trips to Pure Hockey for gear, when in hockey season, it’s a constant thing to do. Playing for a junior hockey team is nothing like high school hockey, Howes spends an average of four hours at the rink from September through March. Not only do they practice every day, but they are constantly traveling, competing in massive tournaments all over the country.
Howes is going to have to grind the next couple of years in order to fulfill his unique dream, but with his work ethic and determination I believe he can do it.
