As a student intern equipment manager for the Merrimack College men’s hockey team, Spencer Marquis ’25 is part of a staff that fixes players’ equipment, properly stores sticks, skates and pads and makes sure that uniforms are freshly clean for games.
But for the Warriors’ season opener against Stonehill on Sunday, Oct. 6, Marquis found himself wearing a Merrimack jersey as the team’s starting goaltender. Due to injuries and ineligibility for Merrimack’s battery of goalies, the Brunswick, Maine native played in his first organized hockey game in nearly four years.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so why not take it,” Marquis, a sports management major, said the day after the game. “I knew I would have regretted it if I hadn’t jumped on it. And with the support of the team, and the coaching staff and pretty much everyone associated with hockey at Merrimack College, any nerves I had went away right after warm-ups.”
Marquis learned he would be on the Warriors bench as a player late in the week and didn’t have time to fully practice with the squad. He is no stranger to the goalie position, having played in high school and most recently for a men’s league about nine months ago. His brother was tasked with getting Marquis’ goalie equipment from the family’s garage to campus.
“I kept telling him just to have fun and enjoy it,” said Scott Borek, Merrimack’s head men’s hockey coach. “I’ve thanked him several times for stepping up and he has told me how equally appreciative he is for the opportunity.”
While Marquis professes he played “pretty OK” in the Warriors 3-2 loss to the Skyhawks, the consensus is his performance was better than OK recording 22 saves, stopping a penalty shot and limiting the Skyhawks to just three goals.
“I believe that is the first penalty shot against Merrimack since I’ve been here,” Borek noted. “And Spencer stood his ground. Not once all game did he default to ‘I’m not supposed to save this puck.’ And the whole team gathering around him after the game, that doesn’t usually happen after a loss. They respected what he did.”
Marquis’ appearance on the ice garnered some attention across the national college hockey landscape. A social media clip of his penalty shot save has been viewed more than 28,000 times.
“I’ve been getting messages from people all around the country and I’m just trying to soak it all in,” Marquis said.
Feeling the effects of a Division I-level game Monday morning, Marquis said he made sure to stretch. He did so while watching a replay of the game.
Bringing the Lawler Faithful to their feet!#GoMack x #MissionMerrimack pic.twitter.com/HUuJHJMnMc
— Merrimack Men’s Hockey (@Merrimack_MIH) October 6, 2024
