College and professional hockey rivalry gives new twist to Luke Tuch and Eamon Powell ties

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Syracuse, NY – Luke Tuch and Eamon Powell learned long ago that the journey through the hockey ranks is much easier – and more fun – when taken with a best friend.

Tuch, a Baldwinsville forward, and Powell, a Marcellus defenseman, have played for the same team almost every season since they first met in third year with the Syracuse Stars’ mite program. They experienced dozens of road trips together in youth hockey and two seasons in Plymouth, Michigan as part of Team USA’s national team development program.

Their paths eventually drifted apart a bit last season, but not by much. Both were freshmen in the same city, Tuch and Boston University and Powell at Boston College. They played twice last season, with Boston College making an overtime decision and Boston University winning the settlement.

It was their first time skating as hockey rivals, but certainly not the last.

Soon they will be making the biggest strides together towards professional hockey. Tuch, whose brother Alex is a forward for the Vegas Golden Knights, was a second-round pick by Montreal in the 2020 draft while Powell went to the fourth round at Tampa Bay. As a further twist to this development, Tampa Bay beat Montreal in the Stanley Cup final.

This summer, the duo are training with fellow CNY hockey players Anthony Angello (Pittsburgh), Joel Farabee (Philadelphia) and Thomas Harley (Dallas). Next week, Powell and Tuch will be back in Plymouth for a presentation of Team USA with the goal of competing at the World Juniors next winter.

“Since we were able to talk about hockey, we have had blood in our blood. We’ve always wanted to reach that next level, â€Tuch said. “So I hope that we have long hockey careers and that after our hockey careers we can come back to it because right now I think we are living in the present moment. We try not to take the lead and congratulate ourselves. There is still a lot of work to be done. “

After a recent skating at Syracuse University’s Tennity Rink, Powell and Tuch took a few minutes to remember and look ahead.

Why their personalities clicked

Powell: “I think we sort of come from a similar family. I think we really clicked from the start. I sort of had the same values. But of course, hockey also helped.

You Ch : “I would say we had the same work ethic. We liked the game as well. I think growing up we shared those same values ​​and didn’t really realize that we were pushing each other to improve. We did almost everything together. Outdoor hockey, street hockey. We’ve been pretty much best friends from the start.

Hockey aspirations

You Ch : “When we were younger, we used to watch my brother. I remember a time when we were in Michigan and we watched my brother play on the US national program when he was 17, we were 11. And we were like, “Oh, that would be. very cool. We didn’t say, ‘Oh, we’re going to make it to the NHL’. But we’ve always had that kind of mindset in our head. We want to reach this level.

Powell: “I think it was always just one step at a time. I think we both would have looked forward to it and said it might have been cool to play here and there. But I think just staying in the moment and where we were definitely benefited us in the long run. “

Their spotting relates as roommates

Powell: “He’s a nibbler, that’s for sure. It is not too messy. And it was so funny because even on the road to NTDP we ended up being roommates there, so it was kind of normal. We kind of had the same routine, we knew each other very well. It ended up working.

You Ch : “It’s the easiest. It’s the only thing I’m going to give him. He sleeps everywhere. You put this guy in a car, 30 minutes from the ice rink, he’s going to fall asleep. We would take four hour road trips to Toronto when we were younger and he would sleep for three hours. Even in the American program, we would come back, we had a long day, we would go to school for about four hours, go to the rink for about five and a half hours, and we would just have dinner and he would go to sleep right away. So no complaints. Not too wild. Not messy. I just stayed in his lane.

Play against each other in college

Powell: “Yes, we broke up. “

You Ch : “We got all four out of six points though.”

Powell: “We got there first in Hockey East, however.

You Ch : “We spoke before the game, we said good luck. I could watch him through the red line during warm-ups, have a little laugh. We are crazy about cinema. We love funny quotes from movies. We could have said one or two on the ice together. But at the same time, it’s a bit hard. There isn’t a lot of interaction unless you’re fighting in front of the net.

Powell: “It was really weird. You are sort of competing against each other in practice, there have been hundreds and thousands of practices that we probably had against each other growing up. So sort of being on the other side of that in a real game was pretty funny. You don’t really notice him until you are actually against him. But it was a really cool experience.

“I don’t think I was too much against him, or not a ton that I at least remember individually in net. But there were definitely a few times where I was there when it was coming down on my side or like a line rush or something like that. It’s really kind of weird to see him fall on top of me in a real game.

You Ch : “He scored that second game, but he didn’t even go into the net.

Powell: “It went in the net.”

You Ch : “It was kind of like he thought it was in, they all celebrated and then I think (the replay) was inconclusive. So the call on the ice holds.

Powell: “They thought it was on the goal line. I may have just sunk. Or maybe he wouldn’t have come in, I don’t know. He says it doesn’t go in, obviously. But I’ll take it as they come.

Interactions in the Stanley Cup Final

Powell: “I don’t think we watched the games together. We were just watching them at home. But we train every morning together, so we kind of recapped and hit the base after every game, so it was pretty fun to see how it went. I think Tampa Bay had a really good team this year. Montreal had a really special race. I don’t think anyone really expected them to do that. But it’s also a franchise that goes in the right direction. So I’m really excited for him and his progress.

You Ch : “I think we are prospects for these respective teams. We are not yet players. So obviously we’re going to be competitive. I think every kid that grows up has watched the Stanley Cup finals and playoffs. I would say it’s like anything else. But at the same time, we had fun with it. I think it’s quite unique to see how these two teams are in the final and we are drafted by them.

When they could quit college and sign a pro contract

Powell: “I think I kind of take it year after year. I think I’m in a very strong position at Boston College. I have been in contact with the staff at Tampa Bay, and even the Crunch here. They’ve been a big help, especially during these summers and those slack times, developing and working your skills and getting stronger and things like that. I think we’ve both come to the conclusion that now is the right time, and I feel comfortable stepping into this professional game, I think it will be the right time. But at the moment I think I’m just kind of headed for this next season here at Boston College and I’m hoping to race, be successful there.

You Ch : “I have no idea. I haven’t really given it much thought. I think last year with the season shortened, this year will be a full season, as normal as possible, hopefully. can do is focus on the season ahead and try to race your team and hopefully race for a national championship. â€

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