Hockey is very important to Bruins prospect Zach McKelvie, but it's not at the top of his list.
According to ESPNBoston.com, the West Point grad was hoping to be heading to Providence of the AHL this season after signing a one-year deal with the B's in July of 2009. Instead, he's heading to Georgia to begin his training at Fort Benning in late March.
"The old rule when I committed to stay in the Army was that if you had a contract you could play immediately upon graduation for a two-year period, and they would evaluate you during that period, and they would determine at the end of that period whether you could keep playing or you could come back here to the Army," McKelvie, 24, told ESPNBoston.com in a phone interview. "But now the new Department of Defense Policy — which came out maybe a year and a half ago, after I committed — is that you have to serve two years first and then if you have a contract you can play after."
So his pro hockey career will be put on the back burner for now.
"Overall, in short, the decision by the Army and by West Point was that it's just not in the best interest for me to pursue hockey right now," he explained.
The second lieutenant of the United States Army missed out on last summer's development camp because of a shoulder injury, but he was able to skate in Boston's training came last September.
The winner of the fastest skater competition at the 2009 Frozen Four, McKelvie is currently serving as an athletic intern with the Army hockey team before heading down to his special training. Upon completion, he'll be assigned to a unit, likely in Georgia, and will await his deployment.
"It's frustrating on one side. At the same time, I can understand it," he said. "I have no problem serving in the military. This is what we train to do here. We train to be a part of this Army and help this country out. But at the same time. … I feel like they never should have, I guess, led me on. And at the same time, it's a pretty hard time to let someone play professionally. I totally understand that because of the situation that's going on."
Upon completion of his assignment, the B's brass will be looking forward to his return. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder seems to fit in perfectly with the Black and Gold's blue-collar play.
"I just like Boston's style," he told NHL Fanhouse last fall. "Hard-nosed, up-tempo … the way I love to play. I'm grateful the Bruins gave me this opportunity."
