Callahan Relishes NHL Experience

The following article featuring former Yale standout Joe Callahan appeared in the May issue of USA Junior Hockey Magazine.

By Joshua Boyd

If Alexander Ovechkin is coming down the wing at you, and you’re the defenseman, you don’t want to be too aggressive. He could burn you.

That’s just a little bit of the advice that former Boston Jr. Bulldog defenseman Joe Callahan can pass along, speaking from experience after playing in his first 18 NHL games this past season with the New York Islanders.

“It was great, it was quite an experience and one I worked my whole life for,” said Callahan, now 26 years old. Along with his 18 games for the Islanders, he played 56 American Hockey League games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Isles’ top affiliate.

“It took me a little longer, where some kids maybe make it the first couple years. This was my fifth year of pro hockey, so I think that helps me appreciate it a little more,” said Callahan.

Bulldogs head coach/general manager Mike Addesa was thrilled to see Callahan reach his dream.

“Many kids think ‘Someday I’ll play in the NHL,’” Addesa said. “We are so happy for him.”

Callahan played for three years with the Bulldogs from 1998-2001, before embarking on a three-year college stint at Yale University.

“He had tremendous hand skills, excellent puck control, and he was a very intelligent player with very good hockey sense,” said Addesa, who used Callahan as both a forward and defenseman, though he’s been only a defenseman since juniors. “He was very strong physically, in every part of his body. He played physical, too, but not in a fighter sense. He finished his checks and could really play through people.”

Callahan returns the flow of compliments.

“Without putting down any coach I’ve had in pro hockey, Addesa is the best coach I’ve ever had,” he said. “I was a good player in high school, but he completely changed me around in order to get me to play at Yale.”

Fast forward five years after Yale, and Callahan was able to skate in almost a quarter-season’s worth of NHL games.

“The more I played, the more comfortable I felt,” said Callahan. “I was able to make the little adjustments you need to make, especially when I played 13 games in a row. As a defenseman, I felt the [NHL] was more controlled, a little less scrambling. In that way, it was easier than the AHL, but obviously there are some tougher things you have to make adjustments for.