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Scally leaves wrestling for hockey

Thursday, January, 24 By David Willis
Staff writer

One day, Jordan Scally had an epiphany.

"It was about two weeks before the (winter) season was about to start," said Scally. "I just woke up one morning and said to myself, 'I have to play hockey.' "

For three seasons, Scally was arguably Whittier Tech's top wrestler. But when the opportunity arose to return to his first love on the ice, the Wildcats senior could not pass it up.

"It's been great," said the Georgetown resident and now Amesbury High defenseman. "It was time to change sports. I had been away from hockey for a few years. But I am getting back into it and I am coming into my own."

Scally loved hockey from the start. Shortly after his family moved from Salem (Mass.) to Utah, the four-year-old Jordan begged his father, former Lynn Tech hockey player David, to let him join his brothers, future Pentucket players Sean and Nick, in the local youth hockey program.

And when the Scallys moved to Georgetown when he was 11, Jordan quickly enrolled in the local midget youth program, becoming a standout defender.

When Scally reached middle school, another sport began to intrigue him | wrestling.

"It had always interested me," he said. "I had always been a strong kid, so I figured I might be good at it."

For two winters, he juggled the two sports and performed well in both. But when high school came around, Scally enrolled at Whittier, a school without a hockey team. "I looked into getting a waiver to play hockey (at another school)," he said. "But I just decided to go into wrestling."

And Scally did not simply participate in wrestling, he began to excel.

As a sophomore, the 171-pounder took third at the Commonwealth Conference meet. After that season, he was named team captain for his junior year. He backed that up by winning his weight class at the CAC meet, then taking third at the Division 2 State Meet.

But through his success, he longed for his time on the ice. "Wrestling is a difficult sport," said the 5-11, 190-pounder. "I missed the fun of playing hockey. I used to have to cut weight all the time to stay at the 171 weight class, especially my junior year. That's probably a big part of why I started considering playing hockey."

Then, while training a month before this winter season was about to begin, Scally received news that Whittier may be teaming with Amesbury to form a co-op hockey team. "I thought it was people joking around," he said. "I had heard about a co-op team before, and it never seemed to happen."

But, after both school committees approved the plan, the partnership became a reality. And it put Scally in a tough position.

"It was a very, very difficult decision," said the 17-year-old. "I faced a lot of criticism. Everyone thought that I was so good (at wrestling). But it was my own decision. You have to try not to think about it."

After plenty of consideration, Scally made the decision to strap on the skates. But, while he had played plenty of pickup hockey and had worked on his skills during the summer, he had not played in an organized league since the summer after his freshman season.

"Any time you change a sport it's going to be difficult," he said. "I had to get my hockey legs back under me. I noticed that all the lifting for wrestling had slowed me down. But I am getting back to where I was."

Scally's physical play quickly earned him a spot on the Indians' top defensive line. And through nine games, he has added a pair of assists.

The carpentry student must now juggle the strange hours of hockey practices, often 9 p.m. or later, with school and his job with Favreau Construction, where he does everything from remodeling to roofing.

Despite Amesbury's struggles (0-9) and that he still must deal with criticism while walking through the halls of Whittier, Scally says he had no question he did the right thing.

"I was worried I would have regrets," he said. "But I haven't regretted it for a second. We are having a tough season, but it has been fun all the way.

"It's tough. I try to take a nap before practice. But it's nice not having to cut weight every day. I actually get to have fun now."

And his contributions have not gone unnoticed. "He has been a pleasure to have on the ice and in the locker room," said Amesbury coach Peter Cignetti. "He gives 100 percent in every game and practice. He is a lot more mature than the other kids. He keeps the team in order and has been wonderful."