St. Viator’s Jamieson finds varsity success

The first time Ryan Jamieson had any interest in playing hockey was in third grade, when friends Michael Dolan and Brian Martini suggested he get a pair of hockey skates to join them at a local suburban park. They played pond hockey on a baseball field that the park district had flooded.

“I picked up skating very quickly and immediately fell in love with it,” Jamieson said. “I would be on the ice as soon as I finished my homework and would be out there for a couple of hours. I have many great memories from being out on the ice on a Friday or Saturday night with (my) best friends who (also) love hockey. It did not feel like I was practicing — I was just having fun.”

Hours upon hours of fun. Jamieson often would race home after school on Friday. He’d then meet his friends at the park, and they played hockey from 3:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. – when the lights went off at the park.

Heading into his freshman year at St. Viator, Jamieson started meeting with Rob Rosmis for strength and endurance training several times a week at West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows. Bob Veller, the St. Viator junior varsity coach at the time, had an office at West Meadows — and Rosmis eventually suggested to Jamieson that he talk to Veller about playing for his team, even though Jamieson had never played organized team hockey.

Jamieson’s experience at that point was simply netminding when some of his friends played pickup hockey and they wanted/needed someone to shoot against.

After a few times doing this, Jamieson took a video camera to the rink so they could tape their shots.

Somehow the video got in the hands of Evan Poulakidas, who was the St. Viator varsity hockey coach at the time. Poulakidas is now in his first season as head varsity coach at Glenbrook North.

Poulakidas was immediately impressed — with the goalie. So he called Jamieson’s parents to ask how many years their son had been playing hockey.

They thought it was a prank call.

Poulakidas was serious — and he wanted Jamieson to play goalie for the St. Viator JV team. Poulakidas even scurried around to secure Jamieson’s needed equipment.

“I am very grateful to Evan and the St. Viator Hockey Club for giving me a chance to play,” said Jamieson, now a junior and the varsity backup goalie to all-stater Robert Schmidt. “I think (I picked up hockey so quickly) due to the fact I picked up skating very easily and I was a very good catcher on my travel baseball team.

“I have listened to my coaches and attended a number of off-season goalie camps since getting into hockey. Without all of my coaches and teammates, I would not be the goaltender I am today. Tom Reibel, Nic Reibel, Jim Murphy, and Bob Moretti were extremely helpful in teaching me the basics and then helping me progress as a goaltender. All of my teammates have been very encouraging, giving me tips whenever they notice me doing something wrong and giving me great defensive support.

“(Current St. Viator coach Chris) Lappin does a great job pointing out things I need to improve, but always (is) encouraging me.”

Jamieson, 17, has had quite an impressive season in the Catholic League, boasting a 9-1 record with 6 shutouts. Plus, he has a .929 save percentage. St. Viator is the No. 2-ranked team in the Blackhawk Cup state tournament.

“It is a very exciting experience for me and the rest of the team this season,” Jamieson said. “When I first started skating at the park (years ago), I never imagined I would make a varsity hockey team.

“When I’m not playing, I do my best to encourage Rob and the team. I know it’s impossible for the coaches to see everything on the ice, so I really get involved in the game and congratulate them when they make a good play. If I see my teammates start wandering from their responsibilities on the ice, I let them know. In the end, I know Coach Lappin is going to do what is best for the team. It is also very hard because I have to come ready to play every game because coach doesn’t want to burn out Rob and you never know if Rob has to unexpectedly leave the game for some reason.

“It truly is a privilege playing behind Robert. Not only is he a great goaltender, but he is a great instructor and really helps me with my game. Robert has taught me a lot of things, but I think the biggest thing he taught me is how to be a leader. We critique each other and it has made us the best of friends.”

Jamieson certainly has come a long way since his pond hockey skates. Heck, he’s improved vastly since his first game in a St. Viator uniform which easily could be classified as humbling, if not embarrassing: the Lions lost 9-0 to Glenbrook North.

“Obviously I was very disappointed after that game, but it will be a game I will never forget. My coaches and teammates were very encouraging,” said Jamieson who steadily improved that season, as did his teammates, and they ultimately won the Metro North championship.

“I was very happy with my team’s performance and feeling good that every single person on the team had contributed,” to the league championship, he said. “I thought what a year it had been, starting out with a 9-0 loss against GBN and winning Metro North outright.”

Now Jamieson and his varsity — yes, varsity — teammates are focused on winning the state championship.

“Going to hockey practice every day is one of the best things of the day because I still get that same feeling I (had) five years ago playing hockey at the park,” Jamieson said. “It is an honor playing for the St. Viator varsity hockey team. I use it as a motivation every time I step out on the ice. This whole hockey experience of mine has taught me that hard work really does pay off.”