By Warren Kozireski —
Holy Cross assistant captain Liam McLinskey is in familiar territory atop the Crusaders and American Hockey Association scoring chart just like last year with 18 goals and 35 points through his first 31 games this season.
His father played soccer at West Point and his brother is a baseball player with Notre Dame right now. But he and a handful of his cousins, New York Rangers draft pick Drew Fortescue, C.J. McGee, who is currently playing in the ECHL after winning a national championship with Quinnipiac, William Fortescue, playing club hockey at the University of Tampa and 18-year old Jack Fortescue with the Jersey Hitmen, decided hockey was their path.
“My uncles growing up were all hockey players and my mom’s sisters live pretty close, so we all grew up playing hockey together,” McLinskey said. “We always said it was my grandpa; he gave us the good genes.”
The 6’3”, 185 lb. right wing picked up his 100th career point Feb. 2 against Canisius surpassing the milestone in just three seasons and is playing in all situations as his team vies with Sacred Heart for first place in the conference.
“Mainly just focusing on our team…we’re on a little bit of a streak right now, so taking it one game at a time, win a league championship and hopefully win the playoffs.”
McLinskey was a Hobey Baker top ten finalist last season and is a nominee again this year along with being one of 26 finalists for the Walter Brown Award, given to the best American-born Division I player in New England.
“It means everything; it’s a huge honor and there’s no words for it . I can’t thank my teammates and family enough.”
The soon-to-be 24-year-old (Feb. 20) spent many of his development years with Don Bosco Prep and the New Jersey Hitmen programs. His final season with the Hitmen, he exploded with 24 goals and 67 points over 44 regular season games and added three more points in four postseason contests.
“I went there (Jersey) when I was a bantam minor, trusted in the program and played high school close to it so I was able to do both. And got to play with my friends in high school hockey and club hockey, the best of both worlds. Trusted the process…and made a commitment out of it.”
Then it was off to Quinnipiac University as a 20-year-old freshman, where he played just two games before transferring to Holy Cross.
“It was mainly just that I needed an opportunity to play, came here and it worked out,” he said about his transfer.
Now the Economics major is winding down what is probably his final collegiate season. Though he will leave his name in the Crusaders record book, he is not sure what is next or what comes after hockey.
“Not too sure to be honest. Just trying to make it last as long as I can.”
(Photos by Holy Cross Athletics.Hockey)
