Post-hockey career not necessarily easy adjustment
By Michael Fornabaio
February 21, 2010
For the first time since he was a kid, Bob Lachance needed to figure out what to do next.
Four years at Boston University had prepared him for eight years of professional hockey, including a short stint in his home state with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Two and a half more years in Europe, and his hockey career was just about over.
“Playing hockey, you’re kind of in a dream world,” Lachance said. “You think you’ll be playing hockey forever. You don’t realize there’s life after sports.”
Since the Bridgeport Sound Tigers debuted in 2001, 262 men have played for them. Of those, 68 are not on a professional roster this season. From Matt Eldred in 2003 to Jean Desrochers earlier this season, each has had to face a transition.
“You start out in high school hockey, in junior,” said Peter Ferraro, who is sitting out his first professional season since 1994. “You make strides to the Olympics, to college, and once you hit pro: `This is the pinnacle, what I’ve always dreamt of. What’s after this?’”
February 21st, 2010
