Bryan’s father was an assistant high school basketball coach at MKA so it only made sense for him to give hockey a shot. From “Learn to skate” at Clary with Roy Guidi to the Wednesday clinics at Branch Brook with Coach Warchol, there was never a basketball shoe purchase.
Bryan played for Montclair Kimberley Academy for only 2 years under Coaches Tom Preville and Ken Smith. In those 2 seasons, he had 21 goals and 36 assists, even as a defender. He was recognized as 2nd Team NJ All-Prep his freshman year and 1st Team NJ- All-Prep as a sophomore. MKA made the NJ State tournament those 2 years despite not having enough players to roster a team the year prior when Bryan was in 8th grade. In 1988, he made the USA Hockey Select 16 team. He was also a member of the football and lacrosse teams for the Cougars.
Although Bryan had his start in New Jersey, his career carried him to Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut for three more years. During his time at Choate, he was a year round athlete:
· Football: two-time captain, New England Champs in 1990
· Hockey: captain 1991
· Lacrosse: New England Founders League champions 1991
Hockey remained Bryan’s passion and as a rising senior at Choate, he was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 7th Round. As a senior, he was also recruited to play at Harvard University where he represented the Crimson from 1991-1995. Bryan’s team won three Ivy League Championships in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and in that same year Harvard made the Frozen Four.
Bryan never forgot his New Jersey roots and returned as a coach at Floyd Hall Arena for many years. He still skates with friends on weeknights and proudly watches his three children play college lacrosse.
