Senior Brian Greenblatt was excited about Good Counsel’s prospects as he prepared for the 2016-17 hockey season. He was a returning captain and was looking forward to leading a team that included four other seniors.

So, too, were the seven freshmen who were about to face the rough and tumble of MAPHL “AA” Division, arguably the best high school conference in the Washington metropolitan area.

Little did Greenblatt know that his first true test of leadership would come before the season would even begin.

As the Falcons were holding tryouts, the head coach had to suddenly step down, throwing  the season—and the entire program—into uncertainty.

“It was a dark situation,” said Nate Cook, who had just started helping out with the junior varsity players when he was asked to take over as head coach. “I thought I bit off more than I could chew, but I didn’t want to give up on the kids.”

Nor was Greenblatt going to give up on his teammates. He had multiple meetings with the athletic department to keep the program on track while Cook got his sea legs and he became the person that Cook would turn to for help with everything from line combinations to scheduling games.

“He’s been a godsend,” said Cook. “Brian was my lifeline. He is a player everyone likes and looks up to. He gets people fired up.”

It’s Greenblatt’s passion for hockey that drives him. He not only captained his high school, he has worn the “C” for his Tri-City Eagles travel team, and works at the pro shops at both the Rockville and Laurel rinks.

“He doesn’t just love hockey, he lives and breathes it 24-7,” says Cook.

The situation Greenblatt was now facing certainly tested that passion. However, it turned out that the challenges that were ahead only made him love his sport and his teammates even more.

“We knew it would be a tough year, but we were going to keep our heads up and try to stay focused,” Greenblatt recalled.

With a depleted roster, which included defections and injuries, the losses mounted quickly. Some games were played with as little as eight players.

Greenblatt suffered a concussion during a tournament with his travel team and had to miss a couple of games.

“It crushed us,” says Cook. “It was an empty feeling not having him in the locker room for those games.

“He competed hard in every game and I was putting him out there every 30-45 seconds,” Cook added. “By the middle of the second period he was cramping up, but when it was time for his shift, he went right back out.”

The final MAPHL regular season standings show that Good Counsel finished 0-13 and scored a total of nine goals. But what the numbers don’t illuminate are the lessons Greenblatt has learned and the outstanding leadership he demonstrated.

“I really believe you can’t measure success by wins and losses,” Greenblatt says. “What I am proud of most is that our younger players really developed. And I know this may not make sense when you look at our record, but hard work really pays off. As a team, we kept it together and never backed down.

“I put all of my blood, sweat and tears into this team, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and the way we came together as a group. I knew that if we just had fun, it would work out in the end.”

Greenblatt admitted, however, that it wasn’t one big joy ride. “There were times when I got frustrated and times when we had our heads down,” he says.

During a 10-0 loss to Landon, Greenblatt called a time out with only a few minutes left in the third period.  He pushed his team to skate hard and try to score. A goal would not have put the Falcons back in the game, but it spoke volumes about his uncommon perseverance in the face of adversity.

“He’s a special kid,” Cook says. “I see how he interacts with people. He’s a phenomenal player, too. As a defenseman, he skates very well and plays at a very high level. When he is on the ice and near the puck, he is captivating to watch.”

His talent was recognized when he was voted First-Team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference for the 2016-17 season. This is the first year the storied league included ice hockey.

He appreciates the individual recognition, but is quick to credit his teammates for making him the player—and the person—he is today.

At Good Counsel’s last practice of the year, “players were hugging and crying and saying that they would never forget this season,” Cook recalled. “I think one of the main reasons for that feeling was Brian. He really stepped up.”

And what was Greenblatt’s assessment of what could have been a most forgettable season: “It was the best year of my life.”

The Falcons may still get the benefit of Greenblatt’s knowledge and experience, as he plans to attend the University of Maryland in College Park. Coach Cook would welcome his continued association with the program.

“Character means more than anything,” Cook says. “He could have easily left the team when there was so much uncertainty, and most of the team would have left with him. But he believed in them and they believed in him.”