Last Friday, freshman Wade Macleod scored two goals, including the overtime winner against conference rival BC as the men’s hockey team split the weekend series. This performance earned him this week’s Northeastern News Player of the Week honors.
Hockey has been Macleod’s passion since he started skating at the age of three.
“I started playing at a young age, and just stuck with it,” he said.
The sport runs in the family, with his father and two brothers also playing. MacLeod chose to play primarily hockey during his life, rather than spread his time between different sports, he said.
Before attending Northeastern, MacLeod took a few years off from school after high school. He played for a Canadian junior team in Merit, British Columbia, his home province.
“[Playing for the Junior team] was just another stepping stone for college,” he said.
After those two years off, MacLeod has been transitioning.
“It was a little hard at the beginning getting back into the swing of things, getting back into going to class and studying,” he said. “But I think I transitioned well … but once you get into a routine it’s not too hard.”
MacLeod came to Northeastern and immediately left his mark. In his fourth game, MacLeod had an assist on a Tyler McNeely goal against Maine. MacLeod is tied for second in goals, and is outright second in both assists and points this season. Junior Joe Vitale is the leader in all three categories.
Right now MacLeod is in general studies, but he is trying to get into the business administration program.
MacLeod didn’t start following the Beanpot until three years ago when he started to look into colleges. He said it was a selling point for him when considering Northeastern.
“It’s way more competitive here,” he said. “Playing in the Junior Leagues was way more wide open; there are more teams. But [in]Hockey East every night is a battle. There are no off nights.”
The difference in competitiveness between the Junior leagues back in Canada and the Hockey East Conference is enjoyed by MacLeod.
“It was definitely nice. It would’ve been nicer to score in a final game though,” he said. “It would be nice to win a Beanpot in my four years.”
– Jared Shafran,
News Correspondent
