About
What is BDH
Hockey, military service, hard work, adversity, leadership, accountability, and the lessons learned through all of it.
The Game
Why hockey shapes who you become.
The Game
Why hockey shapes who you become.
There's something unique about the game of hockey. Beyond the competition itself, hockey teaches discipline, accountability, resilience, teamwork, and how to respond when things do not go your way. It teaches players how to overcome adversity, how to compete, and how to continue showing up when things become difficult. Over the years, the game gave me opportunities and experiences that helped shape who I am today. I was fortunate enough to play junior hockey at some of the highest levels in North America, including the Canadian Hockey League and the United States Hockey League, before continuing on into professional hockey. I was also lucky to grow up and play here in Central Massachusetts for some of the most respected coaches and hockey people in the game.
Hockey brought incredible experiences into my life. I've been recruited, signed, injured, traded, and waived. I've worn a captain's letter, played in all-star games, and spent countless hours on buses, in locker rooms, at practices, and on road trips with teammates who became lifelong friends. Every experience both positive and difficult taught me something valuable. The game constantly reinforced the importance of preparation, accountability, consistency, and mental toughness. It taught me that long-term success rarely comes from shortcuts or talent alone, but rather from doing the small things correctly over and over again.
What the Game Taught Me
Preparation. Accountability. Consistency.
- Discipline, accountability, resilience, teamwork
- How to overcome adversity and keep competing
- How to respond when things don't go your way
- Long-term success comes from doing the small things correctly, over and over
- Preparation, consistency, and mental toughness over talent and shortcuts
Why Military Service
A promise. A purpose. The same lessons, doubled down.
People often ask why I chose military service after hockey, and the answer is actually very simple. When I left home to pursue hockey and gave up NCAA eligibility at that time, I made a promise to my parents that one day I would return to college (Masters, Bachelors, Associate… accomplished). The military became the vehicle that allowed me to fulfill that promise. That path eventually led to deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, experiences that reinforced many of the same lessons hockey had already started teaching me: discipline, leadership, preparation, resilience, accountability, and learning how to work as part of something bigger than yourself. Both hockey and military service taught me that trust, professionalism, and commitment to the team matter far more than individual recognition.
Service · Discipline
Trust. Professionalism. Team.
What 'Built Different' Means
Not gimmicks. Not shortcuts. The work, repeated.
When people ask what "Built Different" actually means, the answer is not complicated. It is the combination of hockey, military service, hard work, adversity, leadership, accountability, and the lessons learned through all of those experiences. It is attention to detail. It is consistency. It is preparation. It is learning from failure and learning from success. It is shared experiences with teammates, coaches, mentors, and players. It is mentorship, resilience, and earning respect through work ethic and professionalism. That mindset became the foundation of Built Different Hockey Development LLC.
The BDH Standard
Development. Habits. Hockey IQ. Character.
BDH is not about gimmicks, shortcuts, or social media highlights. It is about development. It is about helping players build confidence, strong habits, hockey IQ, character, and an understanding of what it truly means to compete both on and off the ice. The reality is that long-term success in hockey usually belongs to the players who consistently execute the fundamentals at a high level and embrace the process of continual improvement. That mindset applies not only to hockey, but also to school, careers, relationships, and life itself.
The Goal
Help players become better hockey players, better teammates, and more resilient people.
My goal with BDH is simple: to help players become better hockey players, better teammates, and more resilient people through the game itself. I sincerely appreciate everyone who has supported BDH so far and trusted me to work with your players. This is only the beginning.