Staten Island Native Thrilled for College Hockey Career

By Lianna Jordan

Most children grow up with expectations of becoming a professional athlete. Jonathan M. Lee, a Staten Island native, just wanted a chance to play college hockey. At 8 years old, Lee found his way to the ice rink and never looked back.

He grew up following in the footsteps of his older brother. Five years his elder, C.J. Lee began playing hockey and taught his younger brother everything he could. Eventually, C.J. went on to play Divison I college hockey at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

After making the trip to see his brother during his four years of college, Lee decided that attending RPI was the right choice for him.

Lee’s parents, Larry and Marisa, had worked together so Jonathan could succeed. From countless drives to and from ice rinks, thousands of dollars worth of equipment and all the love and support he would need.

After graduating from St. Joseph by-the-Sea High school in Staten Island, New York, Lee competed in the Eastern Hockey League, or EHL, for two years after graduation.

The EHL is an American Tier III Junior ice hockey league. It is one of the most prestigious junior ice hockey leagues with hundreds of notable alumni. It was in this league that Lee learned about himself, ice hockey and life.

The now 20-year-old, rose to his highest point when he lead his team, the New Jersey Rockets, to back-to-back Keegan Cup championships and a silver medal at Junior Nationals in Minnesota.

When life and hockey seemed to be falling into place, misfortune struck. Lee tore his medial collateral ligament, which is one of the four major ligaments in the knee. After surgery and eight months of physical therapy, Lee finally got back on the ice.

When colleges started to call, Rochester Polytechnic Institute was one of them.

“Everything fell into place for me. I didn’t know if I would be able to get back on my feet after my injury but I did and the colleges I pursued showed interest, as well,” Lee said.

Lee’s performance in the 2013-2014 EHL season would determine his fate at RPI.

“I put in extra time in the rink, increased my weight in the training room and began a new cardio plan to enable myself the best chance at a scholarship,” Lee said.

Hockey seemed to be going great until he was checked into the boards during a game.

Lee was slow to get up. He had a shooting pain in his shoulder. After seeing a specialist, Lee and his family learned he tore his acromioclavicular, or AC joint, in his shoulder. Another injury seemed to crush his dreams.

After another long road to recovery, Lee talked with his coaches and parents. It was then that Lee learned playing Divison I ice hockey at a notable school may be out of the question.

Coaches saw him as a liability because of his injuries.

Would Lee walk away from his passion or try and start over with different schools? Lee decided to start over.

On the ice, college coaches noticed him again.

Franklin Pierce University, a Division II school in New Hampshire, pursued Lee. He visited the school and the coaches and said this is a school where he could flourish.

“The road to recovery was very long for me. I was nervous and insecure when I got back on the ice. My confidence didn’t come around until I met the coaches at Franklin Pierce. This was always the school for me, it just took me a little longer to realize it,” Lee said.