Kevin McParlane is a senior at Orchard Park High School and just finished his fourth and final year of varsity hockey, in which he totaled 3 goals and 9 assists in 6 regular season games. Orchard Park finished third in Division 1 behind St. Joe’s and Williamsville North before losing in the large school semifinals to Niagara Wheatfield.
But with spring comes lacrosse season, and lacrosse is McParlane’s main sport. He’s committed to play at Mercyhurst next year, and he’s already a key factor in the Quakers’ early season success this spring.
Recently, McParlane took some time to talk to Icing The Fed about playing both lacrosse and hockey growing up, and he spoke of some of his favorite hockey memories from growing up and especially his Fed career.
Which came first, hockey or lacrosse?
MCPARLANE: I started off playing hockey when I was like 2 — I started skating when I was 2. So I think it was five years later I stated playing lacrosse, but hockey helped me a lot with lacrosse, like stick skills and that, knowing the game.
I was going to ask about the crossover. How did hockey help with lacrosse?
MCPARLANE: It helped me out a lot, playing hockey when I was younger. I had three older brothers; they beat the crap out of me, so I think that helped too. Lacrosse just kind of came naturally to me too.
What got you into hockey and what got you into playing lacrosse?
MCPARLANE: Playing hockey started off with my family. I grew up wanting to play, knowing to play. Lacrosse, I just saw it one day and I was like, “Oh, that looks interesting and I want to pick it up.” And I started to play for the OP summer team in our summer camp.
Why did you decide on Mercyhurst?
MCPARLANE: It’s a great team. They’re one of the top D2 teams; they’re having a great season this year. Coach Ryan, he’s the head coach there, and I like him a lot. When he was recruiting me, he did a great job with it, and I just fell in love with Mercyhurst when I first started getting recruited.
Any memories of hockey from growing up when you were younger?
MCPARLANE: Being out of town all the time. When I was younger, I grew up in different hotels — Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Canada a lot. I was all over the place, so that helped a lot too, being able to go anywhere and adapt to all that being out of town.
What do you love about hockey? What do you love about lacrosse?
MCPARLANE: Just the way it’s a free play. During the game, it’s not like a set thing, like you’re just running into things, doing your own thing, and kinda working as a team to score and just win games.
What’s the biggest difference between the two?
MCPARLANE: The amount of guys. Having 6-on-6 vs. 5-on-5 in the zone, I think it’s a lot different style. You can run different offenses. Hockey, there’s a very limited amount of offensive styles you can run, but lacrosse you can do so many different things.
What are some of your favorite memories from playing hockey in high school?
MCPARLANE: I started playing when I was a freshman. I’d say freshman year was great. The senior guys took me under their wing. It was a fun year to play with them. Sophomore year, we were actually pretty good. We finished third in our division. Didn’t do well in the playoffs — kind of a little curse we have — but hockey was great. It made me love high school. High school was a great time, and hockey just made me adapt to it so much better.
And then this year, you guys had a pretty good year. I know it didn’t end the way you wanted it to, but I know you guys were close too.
MCPARLANE: This year, hockey was great. We had a great group of seniors — we were playing together since eighth grade. Eighth grade, I think we were undefeated, so we just wanted to carry that into our senior year and try to go as far as we could, and we did pretty well, so it was a fun year.
Is there a game or moment from this year or from your high school career that you won’t ever forget?
MCPARLANE: Last year, we played Timon at Leisure, and it was a tie game all game, and there was about two minutes left and we got into a brawl. I’d say I would never forget that; it was the greatest moment. I mean it wasn’t smart to get in the fight, but it was a great moment. It was fun.
Anything you want to add about coaches or anything else?
MCPARLANE: Coaches were great. This year, we’re gonna have a great year for lacrosse, and hopefully we can go as far as we want to go — get through sectionals, beat the far west regionals, and keep going, keep working.
Special thanks to Bertram Smith for the photo.