Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 76

32 Issue #76 March 2019 www.sportsenergynews.com

presents Then and Now:

Cornwall Colts Edition… Eric Sefchik

By Carrie Seguin Some of the players that Sefchik
played with as a Colt include Jason
“There are three things that come Lepine, Ryne Gove, and Ian Boots.
to mind right away when I think Sefchik was the third leading scorer
about my time with the Colts: the on the squad (22 goals).
Si Miller, the Colts’ community, and
Following his time with the Colts,
the boys.”
Sefchik attended the United States
Eric Sefchik originally of Military Academy at West Point,
Lakewood, Ohio explains how he New York. He attended school for
came to play with the Cornwall 4 years, studying management with
Junior A team. “I was looking to a systems engineering focus. “I felt
play junior hockey in a league that it was most applicable to my role
has a pedigree for sending players in the Active Duty Army following
to high level athletic and academic graduation, as well as for follow-up
NCAA programs. The CJHL was employment in the civilian sector.
a great fit – it has the right number I currently utilize my degree every
of teams that play the right way: single day. I am an operations

skilled and physical. manager for the print and lamination Photos Submitted
departments at Graphic Packaging Military Academy following three It’s really great to interact with
Sefchik only played one year with
the Colts during the 2005-06 season. International. I manage 48 hourly years of junior hockey was quite young hockey players and provide
employees and 3 supervisors across the culture shock. The most difficult them guidance, knowledge, and
He averaged just over a point per
game with a total of 55 points in 53 three departments. My college major part of attending West Point was experience.”
has allowed me to utilize different improving on my time management
games as a power forward. Before Sefchik is married now and enjoys
coming to the Colts, he played skill sets, leadership principles, and skills. There are only so many hours family life. “Christine and I are
management models to effectively in the day and with competing
junior hockey in the North American both out of the Active Duty Army
Hockey League (NAHL) with the inspire and lead my teams.” interests between academics, and have moved back to Cleveland.
Central Texas Blackhawks. Being a leader and leading teams athletics, and military requirements, We enjoy spending as much time
is not new to Sefchik. During I had to learn how to prioritize and
“I enjoyed my season in as possible with our families. We
his fourth year of college, he was still achieve success in all areas. The also love going to local food, beer,
Cornwall,” states Sefchik. “The Si best part about attending West Point
Miller Arena was a great barn to named Captain of West Point’s and lifestyle events, and we enjoy
men’s hockey team. “The role of was obviously getting to play NCAA supporting all things Cleveland
play junior hockey in. It filled up Division 1 hockey. The treatment a
so quickly and you could feel the Captain meant everything to me. sports. In May, we will celebrate the
What made it even more special player receives from the coaching arrival of our first child, Zoe Marie!”
crowd’s intensity, like the crowd and support staff in a prestigious
was right on top of you. The Colts is that my captaincy was voted on
by my teammates. There were no program like West Point’s is second
community was unbelievable. The to none.”
unwavering support and love for assistants that season, just me as
the Captain. Having the respect and Today, with schooling and active
the team throughout the community
is something you truly cannot trust of the 26 guys on that team, to duty behind him, Sefchik still finds
be their leader at a school that breeds time for hockey. “I play men’s
comprehend until you move on and
have time to reflect about it. And, leaders was an unbelievable honour. league once or twice a week. I also
There are no cons to leading a team help Russ Sinkewich, best friend
the boys...we had a great group that
hung out together all the time. Some playing the greatest sport in the and former Colts’ teammate, who
world.” founded a skill-based, small group
of my best times in Cornwall were
during the off-hours, just hanging During his time with Army, Sefchik hockey program that runs out of
with the boys. This group had so logged 123 games and tallied 80 the northeast region of Ohio. The
much personality. The laughs were points. “Attending the United States program provides on and off-ice
nonstop.” instruction throughout the year. Photo Submitted