There are the conventional ways of becoming a Division I hockey player. And then there's the unconventional route, which is often the longer, tougher journey.

Paul McAvoy '21 chose the latter, not because he sought a different path, but because it was his only option.

In North America, hockey players generally come from Canada and the northern U.S., where popularity for the sport is greater, and any frozen pond in the heart of winter could become a makeshift rink for people itching to play.

It's also where you'll find the most competitive youth leagues, the places where college hockey coaches look for talent.

McAvoy grew up in Richmond, Ky., a state more known for horse racing and college basketball than its hockey players. The nearest NHL franchises are in Nashville and Columbus, Ohio. The number of ice rinks in Kentucky could be counted on one hand.

The hockey scene in Kentucky, and neighboring southern states, is up and coming, but usually overlooked when college hockey coaches are recruiting. 

"Hockey is so unfamiliar for a lot of people in Kentucky," McAvoy said.

McAvoy discovered the sport at age 5, when his father, a huge hockey fan from Detroit, brought him to a Kentucky Thoroblades game. At the time, the Thoroblades were an AHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks. 

From that moment on, McAvoy wanted to become a hockey player. He played with a local youth team until age 12. Wishing to reach Division I hockey, McAvoy knew he had to leave home — and leave early.

He moved to Huntsville, Ala., where he found the next best option for youth hockey. He lived with a host family. Teens who leave home to play the sport are usually high school juniors or seniors. McAvoy was 13 and just starting high school. 

Huntsville was the start of a journey that took McAvoy to Cleveland, Dallas, Cleveland again, and Norwalk, Conn. He spent a year in each city, living with host families along the way. Each stop also meant enrolling in a new school. 

"I like to call it the suitcase life," McAvoy said. "I always had a suitcase by the door. I never knew when I was going to leave next or go somewhere else."

He was playing hockey regularly, and learning from coaches who helped him develop his abilities. He was also on teams that crisscrossed the country for games. 

But it was a difficult life, especially as a 13-year-old. He was homesick. His mother was hesitant about him moving away. But his parents, who are nurses, supported his decision, and traveled to see him whenever possible.

Moving away at a young age, however, had its benefits.

"Looking back at it, it was a great experience," he said. "I learned a lot about living on my own. I had to learn to cook, do laundry. Traveling was super cool. I don't think I would have ever got to see the country as I did. I learned a lot about myself. I gained independence.

"The most rewarding thing was making friends — friendships I still have today."
 

At Norwalk, he spent a year in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), a stepping-stone for aspiring collegiate student-athletes.  

It is the norm for older teens to play several years of junior hockey before they land on a college roster. After the EHL, McAvoy, seeking the next challenge, made the jump to the BCHL, the top league in British Columbia.

He joined the Surrey Eagles at age 19 and played there for two years. The BCHL has produced numerous players who reached the NHL. It's also a prime spot to be noticed when D1 college programs come knocking.

It was there where Colgate Head Men's Hockey Coach Don Vaughan found him.

"We would never have seen Paul McAvoy if he was playing hockey in Kentucky," Vaughan said. "Paul knew that, too. You'll be hard pressed to find another Division I player from Kentucky."

McAvoy is the first student-athlete from Kentucky to play for Vaughan, who is in his 29th year as Colgate coach.

Playing in Surrey, a city outside Vancouver, allowed McAvoy to travel across British Columbia. He did it alongside another future Raider, Jeff Stewart '21, who hails from Surrey. 

"A hockey player coming out of Kentucky is pretty unique," Stewart said. "Leaving the house at 13, you're still in middle school. I can't imagine myself at that time. I was nowhere near ready."

Colgate's coaching staff monitored McAvoy while he played for the Eagles, visiting him on occasion while staying in touch.

Vaughan said McAvoy's leadership abilities caught his attention. He described McAvoy as a professional, a team-first player who does things the right way on and off the ice. 

"He was a leader on his team, which is what we were looking for," Vaughan said. "The fact that he left home at such a young age, and was able to maintain his academics — and that's not easy to do — showed us he had great resolve. He really wanted this. It speaks volumes for who Paul McAvoy is as a person."

McAvoy was sold on Colgate during his first visit to Hamilton. 

"When I got here, I was blown away," he said. "I got the sense that this was the perfect place for me. I didn't consider any other place. More than anything, I was excited they would give me an opportunity to prove I could play."
 

Colgate's state-of-the-art hockey arena and its exemplary academics were also big factors in his decision.

"For me, academics are important," he said. "Growing up, I always took pride in my academics, reading and writing. As a Colgate student, I kind of took every opportunity possible. I wanted to explore."

McAvoy immersed himself in his studies while becoming a leader on his team, and in April last year he earned Colgate's most prestigious student recognition, the 1819 Award, which is given to those who demonstrate character, scholarship, and service to others. 

As a double-major in psychological science and English, McAvoy wrote two theses. One of those projects was a memoir on his journey to Division I hockey. Now he's wrapping up a Master of Arts in English. 

"The 1819 Award was icing on the cake," McAvoy said. "It's one of the greatest honors I've ever had. It was unexpected. Just to know people support me and think highly of me was cool."

On the ice and in the locker room, McAvoy is known for his preparation and his commitment to improving his body, which includes training and a strict diet. He's also the first person to show up at the arena for practice and games.

"He is like a good teacher," Stewart said. "He's always someone who is hockey first. He's always here the earliest, putting in the extra work."

One of McAvoy's biggest honors was being named captain for two consecutive years. 

Josh McKechney '21, a co-captain, said McAvoy's presence was one reason why the players chose him to wear the "C."

"He leads by example," McKechney said. "He's kind of been idolized by his teammates for a few years now. He's very organized and easy to talk to and very mature."

McKechney, a Calgary native, played his junior hockey with the AJHL, the top league in Alberta, where the sport is paramount. He praised McAvoy for the path he took to Colgate.

"It's definitely unconventional in comparison to what I'm used to growing up," McKechney said. "There's so much hockey in Western Canada. There are a lot of places to play nearby. But for him, he had to find the right places to play. Kudos to him for grinding it out. He made the right choices."

McAvoy said he wants to play professional hockey after Colgate. He also hopes to become an inspiration for others who have to take the unconventional path to becoming a hockey player.

"The constant traveling and moving around has shaped who I am," McAvoy said. "It was definitely a big risk I took."