Boasting an impressive 13 goals and 14 assists in 21 games, St. Thomas winger Alex Gaffney is among the leading scorers in men’s college hockey.

The Tommies men’s hockey team plucked the 23-year-old West Orange, N.J. native out of the transfer portal — and seemingly out of the blue.

The 5-foot-9, 177-pound Gaffney, who spent four years at Harvard, would beg to differ with that last assessment, and he has a compelling background to help support his argument.

Start with Gaffney being identified as one of the best young players in the country when, at 16 years old, he was invited to take part in the U.S. National Development Team’s 40-man camp in Michigan. There he found himself among players who now have become familiar names.

Brock Faber, the former Gophers defenseman currently starring for the Wild, was his roommate. Matty Beniers (Michigan, Seattle Kraken) and Landon Slaggert (Notre Dame, Chicago Blackhawks) were among the forwards.

When the intensely competitive camp ended, Gaffney stood as the leader in goals and points. But it wasn’t enough. He wasn’t selected to the team.

“They said I was too short,” Gaffney said.

“I’ve heard that my whole life,” he added. “So, in one ear and out the other. I can go up against anyone.”

Yet, all these years later, the disappointment, the sting from being passed over, remains.

“I carry that chip on my shoulder,” Gaffney said. “Every setback I’ve had, there’s a chip on my shoulder. And I’ve had plenty of setbacks — because of things I can’t control. So, I always carry those.”

Rather than returning home after not making the national team roster, Gaffney stayed in Michigan to play junior hockey for the USHL team in Muskegon. He played two seasons in Muskegon before splitting a final USHL season between Omaha and Waterloo.

Gaffney totaled 22 goals through his first three seasons at Harvard. His senior season ended just four games in after he suffered a concussion. The injury became a long-term issue as lingering headaches led to setback after setback as he pushed to get back onto the ice.

Gaffney was cleared to return at the end of March, but Harvard’s season had already come to an end.

“It definitely was tough,” Gaffney said, “but I was at peace with everything because every day I gave it everything I had.”

Gaffney — whose love for the game quickly evolved from the days his mother would wake him at 5:30 a.m. to attend private lessons before school — wasn’t ready to give up on his dream of one day playing in the NHL.

Ivy League schools do not allow athletes to compete as graduate students. So, having earned his undergraduate degree, Gaffney entered his name into the transfer portal.

“If no other colleges wanted me, I was going to ride it out in the ECHL,” Gaffney said. “That would have been a grind, but again, I would have given it everything I had. Coming here, it gave me the opportunity that, if I did my job, I would be in a much better position to become a pro.”

Gaffney knew his numbers at Harvard didn’t jump off the page, but he was confident he could be a productive player if another program would give him an opportunity.

“St. Thomas was the first real offer I had,” Gaffney said, “and it was the best one I had.”

While his faith and the belief in his abilities never wavered during the dark times of the past year, Gaffney can’t help but smile when considering his current lot.

“When I was going through the concussion symptoms — or even two weeks into the portal, when I had no offers — if you asked me if I would be in this position right now, I’d tell you no way,” Gaffney said.

St. Thomas head coach Rico Blasi was familiar enough with Gaffney’s game to know he could help the Tommies.

“He was an offensive-minded guy who could skate,” Blasi said. “We knew he had a good motor. His second effort is really good. He never gives up on pucks. That’s the way he needs to play to be effective.”

Upon his arrival, Gaffney quickly established good chemistry with Tommies captain Lucas Wahlin, and together they have helped lead the offensive attack.

While the Tommies knew they were adding a player who had offensive abilities, Gaffney’s production clearly has exceeded expectations.

“It’s a credit to him,” Blasi said. “He’s worked really hard, especially last year when he was hurt; getting himself healthy and making sure he was ready to play at a high level.

“Sometimes it takes guys a little bit of time to understand what you can and can’t do at this level. Maybe sometimes watching isn’t a bad thing.”

Gaffney is a believer, because he lived it.

“I learned a lot from being away from the game for so long,” he said. “I learned to appreciate every moment at the rink. I learned to appreciate being on a team, being a teammate.

“All the small things, the bus rides, because they can go away so quickly. I see hockey in a different way. I see this team in a different way. I see opportunities in a different way. I didn’t compete for so long, so I’ll never lose that.”

Had he been given the chance to play a full senior season at Harvard, Gaffney believes he would have resembled the player he has become with the Tommies. It stems from his decision to change the way he plays the game, which began to take shape late in his junior season.

“I learned to think the game a different way,” he said. “I worked on my skating. I’m more comfortable handling the puck, which allows me to be more comfortable with my head up. I’m able to see plays.”

And now he’s reaping the benefits off all the hard work. Happy to be a Tommie. Happy to be doing what he loves to do. Happy to be making a difference.

“I’m grateful that the coaching staff believed in me and has given me the opportunities,” Gaffney said. “In the end, that’s all that I needed.”

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