By Jared Shafran

Ryan Maguire is an anomaly. He holds a spot on the roster of two varsity sports.

Maguire, who has freshman eligibility in baseball, just finished his first season as a forward on the men’s ice hockey team. He’s also set to travel to Virginia with the baseball team to play a weekend series against George Mason tomorrow.

“At times it’s overwhelming,” Maguire said. “I have done it my whole life and I just try and learn from the past.”

Maguire said he never missed a hockey practice or team meeting this season.

“When the season was dwindling, I went to baseball,” Maguire said.

Both coaches seem not to mind, despite the fact the seasons overlap. The hockey season ended March 16, while the baseball team started the season in Fort Myers, Fla., with an exhibition game Feb. 28.

“Coach [Neil] McPhee understood because he was a two sport athlete when he was a student here at Northeastern,” Maguire said. “He helped me through it at times.”

Ryan also was quick to say that his teammates were always at his side and accepted him as a member of the team even with his split allegiances.

In high school, Maguire was heavily recruited in both hockey and baseball. When the time came to choose a college, Maguire, who is from Arlington, decided he wanted a change of scenery.

Maguire chose to play baseball for the Red Foxes of Marist College in New York. Two years later, he decided that after taking two years off from hockey, he missed the sport and wanted a chance to play again.

Once he decided to come back to the Boston area to play baseball, Maguire gave head coach Greg Cronin of the hockey team a call and asked if there was a spot on the roster for him.

“I called Coach Cronin from Marist and he gave me the opportunity to play,” Maguire said. “I am grateful for that.”

Maguire said he worked hard for the hockey team this season and achieved his goal of taking the ice in a Beanpot Tournament game.

“I knew it would take work to get ice time,” Maguire said. “I will be in the same position next year.”

Although the hockey team is finished for the season, Maguire is only halfway done.

“I am still getting my swing back,” he said.

Maguire has played in 10 of 12 games for the baseball team so far this season and has tallied eight hits. His primary positions are second base and shortstop.

“I am enjoying every minute of it,” Maguire said.

A criminal justice major, Maguire hopes to play professionally someday in either sport. However, if that does not work out, he wants to work in the criminal justice system, possibly as a state police officer.

However, for now, being close to home is something that is important to Maguire.

“My parents are a big influence in my life and I wasn’t able to see them as much when I was away,” Maguire said.

Going from hockey to baseball is a big change, he said. He added that the games are very different from each other and baseball is much more laid back than hockey.

“A lot of individual work needs to be done to perfect yourself and make the team succeed,” Maguire said. “Hockey is more about teamwork; you have to work hard in practice and make your teammates work just as hard to be successful.”

Maguire said he plays both sports because he can’t decide which he likes more. He said he sometimes favors the sport he’s more successful in, but that changes often.

For Maguire, there is another problem with playing two sports at the collegiate level: He has almost no free time.

“It comes and goes,” Maguire said. “Between school, basketball and hockey, I am usually looking forward to Sunday afternoons and lounging in front of the TV.”

When he has time, Maguire said he makes sure he sees his friends and family as much as possible. However, he said he hopes to continue playing both sports at Northeastern for as long as he can.

“I try to look at it realistically,” he said. “I might have to choose one if I decide to go professional.”