Soccer. Hockey. Lacrosse.
Grand Island’s Austin Blair spent his time in high school playing three sports. He started playing lacrosse at a very young age and took up hockey a couple years later. He’s enjoyed playing hockey the most but feels he’s a stronger lacrosse player.
In his senior season, Blair captained a young Grand Island hockey team that was in a rebuilding phase. The Vikings finished 7-6-1-2 and lost to West Seneca East in the first round of the playoffs. But with a skilled group of sophomores that gained valuable experience this season, Blair feels that the future of the team is bright.
It was a different story for lacrosse. Although the Vikings didn’t go as far in the playoffs as they would have liked, the rebuilding that had started over the past few years finally showed some results this season.
Blair took some time to talk to Icing The Fed after possibly the biggest win of the season and what Blair felt was his personal best of the season, a 10-8 win over eventual No. 2 seed Williamsville North. Blair had three goals and two assists in the win.
He discussed his memories of growing up and playing sports, including his four years on the varsity lacrosse team, three on hockey, and two on the varsity soccer team that included a trip to states.
Which did you stay playing first, hockey or lacrosse?
I started playing lacrosse really early. I lived in Tonawanda but I came across the bridge to Grand Island because they had a youth program, so I started real young. I didn’t start playing organized lacrosse until eighth grade because I played baseball up until like seventh grade, and then I decided to play lacrosse.
But I started playing hockey in like third or fourth grade, but by that time I’d already played a year or two of instructional league [lacrosse] kind of stuff that they had on the Island.
Do you have any memories from growing up playing hockey?
I moved to the Island in fifth grade, so I had a lot of friends playing hockey on the Island already, so it was a good transition to the Island because I already knew some kids. But I’ve played travel and Grand Island hockey with the same kids throughout all my years of high school, so it’s been pretty nice playing with the same guys.
I think my best memory in hockey was sophomore year on varsity with our annual trip up north to Lake Placid. We beat the past year’s second-ranked team, St. Lawrence, in overtime, and that was pretty cool. It was a big win to start off the season, get the momentum going.
Is there a game or moment from high school that you’ll never forget?
It’s gotta be that one. And this past year, on our trip, I tied the game with 17 seconds left or so, against St. Lawrence, who, they’re an annual powerhouse. We ended up tying after overtime, but it was pretty memorable.
What went into your decision to play hockey?
Actually, I was debating playing either football or hockey when I was in third or fourth grade, whenever I started, and I just decided to play hockey.
Why did you switch from baseball to lacrosse?
To be honest, I wasn’t the best baseball player. But I had a lot of fun with lacrosse. My dad played lacrosse in high school, so he had a little bit of influence on that. But it was just a fun game for me, and it was pretty similar to hockey, so it went both ways and helped out.
What’s the biggest crossover? What did one sport do to help you with the other?
It definitely helps with your hands in both hockey and on the lacrosse field. And shots and stuff like that — a lot of the mechanics for shooting and passing are pretty similar. Just one you got the lacrosse stick; one you got the hockey stick.
What would you say is the biggest difference?
For me, hockey is a lot more athleticism, a lot more moving around for me as an attackman. I do a good amount of running on the field, but not as much as a middie or something like that. So it’s not like hockey, where you’re always moving your feet. You got downtime [in lacrosse] when the other team’s got possession and stuff like that.
Which would you consider your main sport?
I like hockey better than lacrosse, but I’m definitely better at lacrosse. I’m better at lacrosse, but hockey’s first love.
Are you playing either one next year in college?
It’s still to be determined. I plan on, if anything, playing club lacrosse, possibly hockey. Depending on the school I’m going to, maybe D3 lacrosse, something like that.
Do you just want to talk about this season for Grand Island hockey?
This year, I think we did what we expected we could do after the past season, graduating 14 seniors. It was kind of tough with the lack of experience — a lot of young players — but I think we made a statement during the season. We won some pretty big games. I think we were in a rebuilding stage, and I think the team’s got a real good future.
And then for lacrosse, how do you think it’s going this season and what are you expecting?
I’m expecting big things. Kinda the opposite from hockey. We started rebuilding when I was a freshman, and these past four years, we’ve just gotten level up, level up, level up, and last year was our first winning season in more than 10 years. We also beat Amherst for the first time in maybe 20. And this year, we’ve won some big games. Had a couple disappointing losses, but I think throughout the rest of the season, I believe we can definitely win out, and that was real exciting tonight. I think that was the first time I ever beat North, and ice always had a chip on my shoulder playing against them.
Do you want to just talk about tonight’s game a little bit? You had a hat trick out there.
Personally, I believe that was my best game of the season. I’ve always been more of a shooter, and this year I’ve been feeding a lot more, and tonight I started shooting a little bit more like I should be, and it worked my way. And I think I did a pretty good job taking my pole to the net. I dodged a decent amount. Coming off a little hip injury, so I wasn’t doing too much behind the net, but I think I did good. I had a few assists too, so I was all over the score sheet. So I think I had a pretty good game overall.
Anything else you want to say about the hockey program and lacrosse program here at Grand Island?
Hockey program definitely has a bright future. With all the sophomores we had this year, I think they can go to the finals, definitely, in two years when they’re all seniors, and possibly even next year. They got a bunch of skilled players, bunch of real good players coming up. And even on the JV team last year, there were a few kids that can definitely make an impact.
Lacrosse, there’s been a complete turnaround with coach Ted Lee. He’s done a great job with the program, and he’s tried to incorporate his systems and stuff all the way down to the modified level just so the kids already know what they’re doing coming up to varsity and they have a leg up already, unlike before, when we didn’t even have a modified program. He helped start that, so that’s been a real help, getting the modified program going. It’s getting a lot of kids better ready for varsity. And I think the program’s got a real bright future with Ted Lee. He’s done a great job.
What has it been like playing sports for Grand Island?
It’s something that I could never get back. I’m gonna miss it a ton next year. It’s just been a great time playing with all my friends, playing soccer in the fall — one of the best memories of high school. We went to states this year. Hockey, all my friends play hockey. And lacrosse, lacrosse is just a family and a ton of my friends play lacrosse too, so it’s just something I’m really gonna miss.
I guess I should have asked about soccer too.
Soccer, I’m not the best skilled. Grand Island’s a powerhouse. I get a good amount of playing time, but nothing close to hockey or lacrosse. I like playing, and all my friends play, so it was a good time.