When No. 30 skated on to the ice and settled between the posts on Jan. 25, he not only saved the game for the Amherst men's hockey team, but he may very well have salvaged their season as well. In that game against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, first-year goalkeeper Sean Lynch blocked 12 shots in a full-game effort that resulted in a 5-4 win and the snap of a four-game Jeff losing streak. Since that contest, Lynch has continued to make headlines with his superior play against Middlebury and Williams Colleges, which recently earned him NESCAC Men's Hockey player of the week honors.

For a boy who originally hoped to be a baseball player or figure skater, Lynch has devoted much time and affection to his once-third-choice sport of ice hockey. Lynch spent countless hours practicing on the homemade rink that his dad fashioned for him each winter in their Essex, Vt. backyard. After years of playing for local teams, Lynch made the bold decision to move to Concord, N.H. his senior year in high school and play in the prestigious Juniors League. This move meant Lynch would play in a tough league that is considered just a step below the minor leagues, but it came at the cost of having to live alone for an entire year. When talking about the lengthy schedule and many demands of the league, Lynch reflected that, "I am rather nostalgic for that time now since it was such a pivotal year, but I'm also glad that it is behind me."

Lynch's foray into the world of semi-professional sports continued after he graduated high school. He spent two more years in the Juniors League, and his award-winning play helped his team to win the Interstate League title and go on to play in the National Championships. Lynch's net-minding abilities earned him recruiting visits from a number of schools, including the Air Force Academy. However, it was the combination of encouragement from former schoolmate Marc Russell '05 and the hands-off, easygoing style of Head Coach Jack Arena '83 that brought Lynch to Amherst in 2002.

There is an inescapable optimism about Lynch that comes out in his response to almost any question. He believes goalkeeping is the safest position on the ice. Lynch's "occasional broken finger, concussions caused from players crashing into the net and a puck to the head while not wearing a helmet in warm-up" don't seem to stir up any personal alarm. He proclaims to go into every game expecting to win. And when it comes to his dreams of playing hockey in Europe after graduation, Lynch commented that, "I know people will tell me that I can't, but the only 'can't' will be in waiting to prove them wrong."

It's a tall order to be the rookie thrown between the posts mid-season, replacing a senior and being expected to salvage the team's season. However, Lynch, an Eagle Scout and academic, a boy older than his years, has gone above and beyond his duty. When the Jeffs take the ice this week to begin their post-season journey, look for the man in goal to be the answer to their dreams.

"Sean gets stronger as the game goes on. He makes huge saves for us in the third period that keep us in the game and give us a chance to win," said teammate Beau Kretzman '05.