Former Pro Hockey Player Speaks to Students About Wellness

West Roxbury, Mass.— A month removed from completing his bike ride across America, former professional hockey player Richie Crowley decided to fit one more visit into his itinerary.

In early November, he visited Catholic Memorial School where he spoke to Mr. Larry Rooney’s freshman theology class how he used the bike ride to advocate for a healthier lifestyle.

The talk fit into CM’s Men’s Health Awareness initiative in November, according to Mr. Rooney. Mr. Rooney, the Associate Director of Admissions and Hockey Coach at CM, coached Mr. Crowley at Thayer Academy and identified Mr. Crowley as a role model for those looking to live a healthier life, both mentally and physically.

“When we talk about men’s health, we think about proper physical health and proper nutrition,” said Mr. Rooney.

“But a big part of what he’s trying to advocate for is mental health too. Our kids need to hear that side of the story too.”

During his time at Thayer, Mr. Crowley joined the U.S. National U-18 hockey team at 16-years-old and later played for Brown University. Over a three-year span, Mr. Crowley played for professional teams in France and Italy. He said that when he retired, he began to re-evaluate his identity beyond the “athlete” label. For the first time, he dedicated himself to eating healthier, sleeping better, and taking care of his mental health.

While he found success in this newfound lifestyle, he wanted to understand why others struggled to find that same result.

“I didn’t know what it was like for individuals who are not me—individuals who don’t live in Boston or Los Angeles,” said Crowley, a Canton native.

Aware of this, Crowley decided to set off on a “Wellness Ride” to learn more about the barriers to wellness for those living in Utah, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and throughout the rest of the country.

He also raised over 2,500 meals to donate to organizations that provide food for individuals in need of healthier options.

He began his journey in Saunderstown, Rhode Island on July 1^st and completed it in Los Angeles, California on September 22^nd.

The so-called “food deserts” that he encountered along the way left him in shock.

“Some people might need to go 30 miles in either direction just to find some healthy food,” he said.

“It wasn’t necessarily even the barrier of having money. It was about having the education and having the convenience.”

Looking back on his journey, Mr. Crowley referred to the cross-country bike trip as his second dream after playing professional hockey.

He wanted the students in Mr. Rooney’s class to never forget the importance of chasing their dreams, no matter how lofty they may seem.

“A great personal tragedy is that of a dream deferred,” he said.

“You’re at the age where there is so much opportunity for dreams. Having the chance to it gave me such a sense of fulfillment. Don’t be ashamed to go after your dreams.”