Typically, on Wednesdays at 8:55, Northwood has seminars where each grade gathers to learn about health, study habits, and other important topics. Wednesday, October 22, was different. We had a guest speaker, Brian Riley, a hockey legend and the head coach at the US Military Academy at West Point for 21 years before retiring last year.
Brian Riley speaks to students and faculty in the auditorium on October 22, 2025. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.
At the beginning of his talk, he looked out at all the Northwood students and staff and asked for just 45 minutes of our time. He promised that this talk would change our lives and our mindsets — and for me, and many others, it truly did.
Throughout his talk, he spoke about Northwood’s values and what it truly means to be a leader. He shared stories about two of the greatest leaders he had ever known, Thomas Kennedy and Derek Hines, both of whom played for Brian at West Point and later gave their lives serving our country in the military. He explained what made them such strong leaders — how they always put others before themselves, and how even on their toughest days, they were still people you could rely on. He did not describe them as the most talented hockey players, but rather as those who consistently showed up, worked hard, and led by example. Their legacies will be remembered forever.
That day at practice, my team couldn’t stop talking about Brian Riley’s message and how it had inspired us. Our coach asked us to spend ten minutes that night writing about what we learned from his talk. My key takeaways were to embrace the hard — everyone has bad days, but how you handle them matters; be a leader in every situation; first impressions matter — always give a firm handshake and make eye contact.
Brian Riley’s words made a lasting impact on me and many other Northwood students. His lessons reminded us that being a great leader is not about talent or success — it is about character, effort, and how you treat others. I will carry those lessons with me both on and off the ice.
