Richard Boyd was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease when was 14 (Photo by China Wong)
Facing Off Against Adversity
1/2/2019 3:20:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
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By Leah Wyner Special to UNHWildcats.com
Putting on the UNH uniform was a childhood dream that senior defenseman Richard Boyd (Delray Beach, Fla.) was able to reach, but the journey to get there, and stay there, has not been easy. Boyd was only 14 years old when he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease. Recognizing and learning to live with this disease while also playing Division I hockey is a challenge Boyd has learned to not only overcome but does to show young athletes that they can do the same.
Growing up in Florida, it seems unlikely that hockey would be a young boy's favorite sport, but for Boyd and his family that was the sport they grew up on. Along with his two brothers (R.J. and Sam) and his sister (Maggie), Boyd started out playing street hockey, which then progressed to roller hockey, until they finally made it onto the ice rink. Boyd playing youth hockey in Florida.
At age 14, Boyd was preparing to attend Cushing Academy, a preparatory school in Ashburnham, Mass. to play hockey, when he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease.
"I was scared," said Boyd. "I was only 14 and in the eighth grade. I didn't really know what it was."
Transitioning to a different school far from home is always hard, but for Boyd he was also learning to transition to a lifestyle that best suited him and his physical condition.
"My whole life had changed," recalled Boyd. "My diet had changed, I could now only eat certain foods and my parents were worried if I continued to lose weight what would happen since I was up at school."
Boyd was comforted by the fact that his older brother Sam was up in the New England area as well. And at Cushing, Boyd was supported by a great group of friends and a highly-accommodating school, so adjusting to his new lifestyle was much less daunting. Boyd (Left) with his brothers R.J. (Top) and Sam (Right).
Playing hockey at UNH was a goal Boyd had since he was little. While living in Florida as a child he would go and watch the Florida College Hockey Classic each year.
"I remember one year UNH came down and I watched them, and I thought that is the team I want to play for," recalled Boyd.
Attending high school in New England he continued to admire UNH that much more. During his senior year at Cushing, Boyd was contacted by UNH and was offered a scholarship to become a Wildcat. Boyd accepted without hesitation.
After four years at Cushing, Boyd was ready to take on college and remain right in New England at UNH. Boyd with his siblings R.J., Maggie and Sam (Left to Right)
Coming to UNH, Boyd was more comfortable with his new lifestyle, but he knew there would still be challenges, especially with the occasional flare-ups that can occur for people with Crohn's Disease.
"When you have a flare up, there's times when you don't know if you are going to have a good day or bad day," said Boyd.
Two years ago, Boyd went through a major flare-up, so it was hard for his body to retain energy, making it that much harder to go to class and hockey practice. As he began to lose weight it got to the point where both his teammates and his coaches were worried about him. He ended up having to take the season off, something he had hoped he would never have to do.
"I remember the day I found out I wasn't going to play the rest of the year, that's what hurt me the most because I couldn't play," remembered Boyd. "I never wanted people to have to worry about me and put the focus on me and not put the team first."
What he also remembers though, was how supportive his roommates were, who just happened to be his teammates as well. Their initial message to Boyd when he heard he could not play was, "Don't worry about it, just get healthy."
Boyd says those four teammates, Dylan Chanter, Michael McNicholas, Adam Clark and Jason Salvaggio made the biggest impact on him and his recovery from the flare-up he experienced his junior year. Boyd with his teammates Michael McNicholas, Adam Clark, Jason Salvaggio & Dylan Chanter at Madison Square Garden.
Looking back on the time of his flare-up and having to tell his teammates about his condition, Boyd now realizes how much support they would have given him from the start.
"One piece of advice I'd give to young athletes is to reach out, don't be afraid to speak to your friends, speak to your parents, speak to your coaches about where you're at because they're only going be there to help you. They're never going to look at you the wrong way, they're only going be there to support you and help you through whatever you need. I'd say don't be afraid to reach out to people in your support group and tell them how you're feeling, if you're not having a good day."
Clark, who graduated in 2018, saw firsthand what Boyd went through his junior year. "He battled every day and maintained that positive attitude he is known for and he really persevered through it," said Clark. "I have so much respect for him as a person." Boyd with his girlfriend Taytum Geary. Boyd lost 60 pounds during his junior year.
After overcoming his flare-up and returning to the rink, things seemed to come full circle for Boyd one night at Dartmouth, when a mother who had heard about Boyd's story reached out to him because her son too had Crohn's Disease, and Boyd met with her son after the game.
Boyd knows the struggle of juggling this disease with sports, so he emphasized being open about it.
"To meet a little kid like that, I just told him to find that one best friend you have, or your parents or your coach that you can always talk to, so when you're not feeling good, you're not having a good day, you can always go to them." The Boyd Family (Maggie, Karen, Sam, Don, Richard, R.J.)
He believes that raising awareness for the disease is necessary because young children and athletes like him will be more open to sharing their struggles, which in turn will help them continue on their athletic aspirations.
"I think people that live with it struggle in darkness because they don't want people to know. I think it's just raising awareness for people to speak up, to not be afraid and tell people how you're feeling."
Although his journey has consisted of ups and downs due to his battle with Crohn's Disease, Boyd has proved resilient, having played in 105 career games at UNH.
UNH head coach Mike Souza has coached Boyd for four years and has witnessed his determination to not let the disease prevent him from reaching his goals.
"Rich has such a strong character and has shown great perseverance," said Souza. "The most impressive thing is he doesn't let having Crohn's Disease affect him in terms of the way he approaches each day and how he interacts with his teammates, and that is a testament to what type of person he is." Boyd has played in 105 career games as a Wildcat (Photo by Joey Walker)
Being a member of the UNH hockey program is everything Boyd dreamed it would be when he was watching the Wildcats play in Florida all those years ago.
"Being able to represent UNH and so many guys that came before me that paved the way for guys like me, there's no other feeling like putting that jersey on."
Boyd has learned to face the obstacles with great resolve, thanks to help from his teammates, coaches, family and his own courage to keep a childhood dream of playing hockey alive. On Friday, Jan. 4, UNH will hold Crohn's Disease Awareness Night at the game versus Merrimack at 7:00 p.m. on NESN at the Whittemore Center. All the proceeds from Chuck-A-Puck during the second intermission will be for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's New England Chapter. Also, as part of Fan Appreciation Fridays, there will be the second trading card series giveaway of the season.You can buy tickets by calling the Whittemore Center Box Office at (603) 862-4000 or by visiting UNHWildcats.com.
