As students across Revere High School (RHS) iron down their weekend plans—hanging out with friends—attending sporting events or catching up on homework—one RHS student is always sure of something: he will be traveling across the country, playing hockey and competing at a higher level than most ever achieve—all of this, and he is not even 18.
Greyson Fairhurst is a senior at RHS, and while he wears the scarlet, white and royal blue during the spring when playing for the men’s lacrosse team, he achieves at the highest level far from the high school. Fairhurst competes at some of the highest levels of hockey, having logged playing time with groups like Team Ohio and the Wisconsin Windigo of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
Student-athletes face numerous challenges, but those struggles are amplified for Fairhurst, who must travel across the midwest to compete. Especially when in season, trips could take Fairhurst hours away, and with games leaking into the week, focusing on schoolwork becomes increasingly difficult. Fairhurst explained his hectic schedule and how he has learned to manage simultaneously as a full-time student and semi-pro hockey player.
“There’s nights I’d get home at 12 o’clock, 11:30, 11:45, and I’d still have geometry homework I’d have to complete. And that would be kind of tough. I’m always very sleep-deprived but you learn to deal with it. It’s hard to balance. But I’d be studying in the car on the way to a tournament or something, finding ways to get things done,” Fairhurst said.
Although it remains a hurdle, Fairhurst has had time to adjust to his intense travel schedule. He has played for junior teams and attended regional hockey camps since the sixth grade. Such a high-level commitment to a sport, especially at a young age, requires a special passion for the game. Fairhurst described how he first got into hockey and why he has stuck with it.
“It’s just like a way to like… hit people, you know? And then it’s also the sort of relationships you get out of it are different from other sports. Because with hockey it’s major travel. You go to different countries, and you get to meet a lot of new people. And I’ve always had a passion for it,” Fairhurst said.
Although he is now experiencing success with the sport, Fairhurst struggled early in his career. However, due to his passion for the sport, he molded himself into the player he is today. A significant factor in Fairhurst’s development was training with some of the top athletes in the world, even at a young age.
“When I was thirteen I played for the Brooklyn Sharks, and then from there I started going to camps for pro teams. I actually spent two summers in Canada where I shared ice with NHL guys. One of them was Johnny Goudreau who recently passed away, and he played for the Columbus Blue Jackets. I mean I was training with world-class Olympic figure skaters,” Fairhurst said.
One of the most significant accomplishments of Fairhurst’s career was being selected for and playing with Team Ohio, a virtual all-star team of high school players across the state. With the team, Fairhurst saw a great deal of success, even competing for a state title. He explained how he first found out he was selected for the team.
“I actually got called by their head coach when I was golfing. I was on hole nine at Sharon Country Club, and I was about to chip up on the green. And I got a call, and he said , ‘We’re looking for you to come play for us. I think you’d be a great fit. We think we have a state championship level team.’ And we actually ended up going to states,” Fairhurst said.
Following his time with Team Ohio last season, Fairhurst had the opportunity to train with the NAHL’s Wisconsin Windigo. The NAHL is one of the premier junior leagues in the United States, acting as an alternative for those who still want time to develop before going pro. While Fairhurst saw success with the organization, he suffered a knee injury in May, ending his time with the team. He explained his hopes to get back on the ice soon.
“I’m going to be cleared to skate hopefully by Thanksgiving, and I’m going to try to get back out on the ice as soon as possible,” Fairhurst said.
For the vast majority of Fairhurst’s hockey career, he could not transport himself to the various hockey events he took part in; therefore, the responsibility fell on his parents. Amy Fairhurst, Fairhurst’s mother, explained that while the schedule was demanding at times, it has been well worth it.
“Seeing him find happiness and success in both hockey and lacrosse has made all of the miles driven, late nights, freezing cold rinks and endless travel worth it. It’s all we want for our kids, right, to find success and happiness, be a good teammate and leader, work through adversity and learn life experiences along the way,” Amy Fairhurst said.
While Fairhurst has found success in the sport today, he initially struggled, mainly due to his later start compared to other players. While it may seem early, in the hockey world, Fairhurst’s first stepping on the ice for the first time in fourth grade set him back years in his development. To combat the head start some of his peers had, Fairhurst has had to work even harder to catch up. Amy Fairhurst discussed the ways in which the family has supported his development.
“Greg and I have supported Greyson with extra training to help him catch up to the kids who started skating probably five years before him. Extra skating lessons, small group ice time, synthetic ice and a net at home to practice stick handling etc, as long as Greyson has a passion for it, we have always been on board. Greg, Greyson’s Dad, even took up being a hockey goalie in his forties to be able to be on the ice helping Greyson practice,” she said.
Annabelle Fairhurst is Greyson’s sister and a sophomore at RHS. She competes on the varsity cheer team and with several national cheer organizations. Annabelle has had a front-row seat to her brother’s hockey career and experienced a similarly chaotic competition schedule. She explained how having a brother who is similarly involved works to support both of them.
“It’s easier for us because we do have a good relationship with each other. We just try to communicate as much as possible: text, call each other, just kind of check up on each other as much as we can. And when we can’t see each other as much, we try to talk,” she said.
As the weather gets colder and Fairhurst prepares for the most chaotic time of the year, he looks to compete at the highest level of his sport again, making his way onto the ice despite so much adversity.
To read more about Revere students competing in hockey CLICK HERE.
