Justin MacLeod

Go to Road Snacks: Tushaar Anathy ’28 and Jack Ide ’26

March 20, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

Tushaar Anathy ’28. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

On long road trips, Tushaar Anathy ‘28, a Northwood Varsity hockey player, always comes prepared with his go-to snacks packed in his bag. Tushaar knows that what he eats can have a big impact on how he performs on the ice. Before getting into the order, Tushaar mentions, “This food is my go-to road snacks every time I wouldn’t switch it,” as this is his main order, which consists of snacks found in a gas station.

Without further ado, here is Tushaar Anathy’s gas station order. Blue Gatorade, Sour Airheads, and beef jerky

Looking at this meal, Tushaar says, “This order hits the right balance. Beef jerky helps with the protein to recharge for any games or coming events, the sour airheads take care of any sugar cravings, and just hit the right spot. Blue Gatorade is my main drink. I feel hydrated after I drink it, and it gets me ready to go for my games.”

Jack Ide ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

On long road trips, Jack Ide ‘26, a Northwood Varsity hockey player, also always comes prepared with his go-to snacks packed in his bag, and Jack knows that what he eats can bring his game to another level, giving him the energy to lay out kids on the ice. Before getting into this order, Jack mentions that “This is my main snack to get on a road trip. Usually, I don’t really switch the order because this gives me the energy I need for the weekend.” This would be a typical order for Jack and can be found in a gas station.

Without further ado, here is Jack Ide’s gas station order. Bottled water, White Monster energy drink, Beef jerky, and a chocolate chip cookie.

Looking at this meal, Jack says, “This order is my main order; it hits all four of my bases. Beef jerky helps with the protein to refuel for my games. A chocolate chip cookie to take care of the sweet tooth and enjoy a treat. For drinks, I get two waters and a Monster energy drink. The water is for the ride to stay nice and hydrated on the bus, and the Monster is for before games to give me the boost of energy throughout the game.”

These are the main go-to snacks on long road trips for Tushaar Anathy ‘28 and Jack Ide ‘26, an order they can enjoy and refuel on before the games.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Peak Pathways: Two Students Aspire to be Hockey Workout Influencers

February 26, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

Murphy (left) and Demers. Photos by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Ryan Demers ’27 and Colten Murphy ’26 have been working on a training influencer project for Peak Pathways on the Instagram account @Better.Lift. According to the school’s website, “the Peak Pathways Program at Northwood is a flagship academic offering that provides students with a transformative, year-long independent study experience. This customizable program empowers students to take ownership of their education by pursuing in-depth projects on topics they are passionate about, fostering personal growth, and preparing them for success in high school, college, and beyond.”

“Having a hockey training account on Instagram is a fantastic way to share your skills, workouts, and progress with others who love the game. It helps you stay motivated, connect with other players, and build your personal brand while showing your dedication and growth on the ice,” Colten Murphy ’26 said. “Starting this account has been a massive help for athletes, but also for us because showing that we are staying committed to the game and trying to reach the next level,” Colten added.

“I knew I wanted to do something like this to build an account where young hockey athletes can receive training and advice on reaching the next level,” Ryan Demers ’27 said. “Someone who helped me through this project is Sam Lyne ’24. He has been giving a step-by-step process on how to run this type of account and how to maintain it for people who will remain watching, like the video, and drop the follow button,” Ryan added.

“We created this hockey workout account to help young players understand what it really takes to improve and reach their goals. It shares simple drills, workouts, and training tips they can use on and off the ice to build strength, speed, and confidence,” Ryan Demers ’27 said.

“The account shows that progress does not happen overnight, but through hard work and consistency. By following along, young athletes can stay motivated, learn new skills, and develop strong habits that will help them grow both as players and as people,” Colten Murphy ’26 said.

This account is amazing if you don’t understand the workouts or don’t know what you are doing during a workout. It gives you all the advice you need in one place to reach the next level and chase your dreams.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Colten Murphy ’26

February 24, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

“I first fell in love with hockey with my dad. We went to an NHL game to watch my dad’s favourite team. At that moment, I wanted to play hockey too.

“The best thing about Northwood is the community because everybody is treated like family, and everyone looks out for each other. On my first day, I was nervous, but within a couple of hours, I was already accepted into the Northwood community, with friends, teachers, coaches, and teammates treating me like family.

“I transferred to Northwood for a better education and a better hockey program, as Northwood has both of those things. When I first visited Northwood, I knew it was the right school for me.

“My favourite place to eat at Lake Placid is Soulshine. The bagels at that place are to die for, and I usually get a bacon-and-egg bagel.

“Someone who inspires me is my dad, in hockey. He pushes me to my limits, knows I can handle it, and, in the end, makes me a better player and better person, and I am grateful to him.

“Being at Northwood helps me set up my life for the future. Learning to be independent, how to deal with setbacks, and overcome them, whether that’s in the classroom, on the ice, or in life.

“If anyone asked me about Northwood, I am proud to say that Northwood is my second home. I am truly thankful for this school leading me to a better future.”

As told to Justin MacLeod ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Varsity Hockey Goes 3-1 in League Play

February 10, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

Recently, the Varsity team travelled to New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts, for a United Tier 1 Hockey League weekend. This was their second league weekend. Entering the weekend, Northwood was 3-3 in the league and was looking to add to its win total this weekend.

The Varsity team in action in Lake Placid earlier this season. Photo: Jacob Slagel ’26.

The Varsity team played its first game of the weekend against Velocity Academy. During the first half, Northwood was all over Velocity, up and down the ice, controlling the game at the right pace. Northwood starts the scoring with Elliott Murch ’27 sniping one past the goalie, taking the lead 1-0. Then, Velocity came off hot, scoring two goals on Luke Hurlbut ’26 back-to-back to take the lead 2-1, and that is when the team needed to wake up. Northwood answered back with a goal before the end of the first half, and Andrew Sherland ’26 tied the score at 2-2.

In the second half, Northwood came out with a different mindset, slowing the game down to the Northwood brand of hockey. The Varsity team scored a goal to break the tie by Justin MacLeod ’26, making the score 3-2. The team was all over the Velocity, scoring another goal by Jett Travis ’27, making the score 4-2. Velocity was finding no life in the second half, with Northwood scoring the finishing goal by Griffin Mangan ’26 with an open net goal, taking the win 5-2 over Velocity Academy.

“I believe that the team plays great all over the ice,” said Harry Vant ’26. “The team was able to bounce back on Velocity to secure the win and play the Northwood brand of hockey,” Harry added.

The Varsity team plays its second game of the weekend against Epic Academy. In the first half, the game was back-and-forth, with neither team able to score first, but Epic took the lead on a goal by Ethan Nau ’26, 1-0. Northwood took the goal to heart and answered back with a goal by Jackson Marchione ’27, who was able to sneak one past the Epic goalie, tying the game 1-1.

During the second half of the game, both teams have been going back and forth for many minutes, draining down period down to its final 8 minutes with Epic Academy scoring a goal on Ethan, making the score 2-1. Northwood was not done scoring a goal with 5 minutes left on the game clock by Jett Travis ’27, making the score 2-2. The game-ending Epic came down the ice at speed and scored the game-winning goal, winning 3-2. Epic Academy took the win over Northwood 3-2.

“It sucks to lose, but the team played a great game up and down the ice playing a 200-foot game,” Drew Tulloch ’26 said. “The team just needs to put this game behind us and focus on the next game moving forward and come out with the W,” Drew added.

The Varsity team plays its third game of the weekend against the New Hampshire Avalanche. In the first half, Northwood came off slow; they weren’t pounding the puck or being physical. Then, Northwood had a wakeup call by the Avalanche, almost scoring a goal to open the scoring. Northwood switched its mindset and scored the first goal on a beautiful play by Elliott Murch ’27, who set up his linemate for the score, making it 1-0 at the end of the first half.

During the second half, Northwood came out flying, scoring a goal on the power play by Drew Tulloch ’26, a snipe from the blueline bottom right corner, making the score 2-0. The game was going back and forth until Northwood scored again by Justin MacLeod ’26, a snipe in the high slot, passed the Avalanche goalie, carrying the score 3-0. Northwood takes the win over the New Hampshire Avalanche 3-0.

“The team played amazingly all over the ice. The structure we played in all three of the zones was perfect,” Ryan Demers ’27 said. The goals scored during the game were incredible. Scoring three beautiful goals was fun to watch,” Ryan added.

Varsity plays its final game of the weekend against Northeast Academy. In the first half, the teams went back and forth, with both goalies securing the pipes. Deep into the first half, Northwood was able to find a goal on the power play by Drew Tulloch ’26, a snipe from the top of the circle, zooming past the Northeast goalie, making the score 1-0 at the end of the first half.

In the second half, Northwood came out flying on Northeast. Northwood was putting up the shots, but the Northeast was holding the fort well throughout the second half. Until Northwood scored another goal by Justin Macleod ’26, making the game 2-0 for Northwood. The Varsity team takes the win over Northeast Academy 2-0.

“The team played amazingly throughout the game, structures, and systems. Overall, the team did their job,” said Luke Hurlbut ’26. “The team played amazingly this weekend, and now I am excited for the South Kent weekend,” Luke added.

The Varsity team had a great weekend, going 3-1, and is now 6-4 in this league. Let us hope the Varsity team remains hot throughout the rest of the season.

Filed Under: Sports

The Prep Hockey Team’s New Workout Program

February 9, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

Prep players during a mid-season workout. Photo by Charles Pigeon ’26.

The Prep team has started a new workout plan with the new Tony Greco workout app. Tony Greco is a hockey trainer known for working with players on skill development, conditioning, and overall on-ice performance. He focuses on improving skating, puck control, strength, and hockey IQ, often tailoring programs to each athlete’s age, level, and goals, from youth players to more competitive levels.

“So, we started doing this program during January, and you can just see already the team is showing less fatigue at the end of the third period. That was the kind of problem for us, not playing a full game. The team played in a tournament at St Andrews, one of the biggest prep hockey tournaments, and we won after playing 5 games in a row, with the help of Tony. We played the game we wanted to play, as I believe this would bring us to the next level,” Prep hockey player Charles Pigeon ’26 said.

“The reason for bringing Tony’s workouts for the team is that Tony knows what he wants to do and work on. Tony and I have known each other for a long time now, and pretty much the whole hockey community knows Tony,” said Pigeon. “He’s a famous trainer on social media and works with high-level hockey players. Tony brought many young stars to the top of their game and created a workout app for athletes. I would want to bring this experience back to Northwood so players can receive the best training and reach the highest level of hockey,” Pigeon added.

“The team adapted to Tony’s workouts pretty well from the first time because it’s a different workout and it attacks different muscle groups, so guys were getting sore, but once they knew the rhythm of the workouts, it started to get easier for them,” Pigeon added.

“The Tony Greco workouts are better than our previous workout, and the team can agree with Tony being the right choice. The feedback I would get from the team after the workouts is that they enjoyed it and want to keep doing it. In the old workouts, there was a lot of heavy lifting and strength building, not much speed or cardio, and I feel like you need more speed throughout the season. That’s the team, and I agree that Tony is the best workout you can for building speed, strength, and Explosiveness,” Pigeon said.

@tonygrecotg

If your legs get heavy during games, it’s probably not a conditioning issue. Most players are strong enough. The problem is your ankles can’t handle the force when you’re in that low skating position. This bodyweight circuit fixes it. Hold low positions under fatigue so your body adapts to maintaining your stride when lactic acid builds up. Do this 2 times a week and you’ll feel the difference by your third period.

♬ original sound – Tony Greco

Tony Greco trains big guys like Ty Felhaber, Claude Giroux, Brandt Clarke, Dean Letourneau, and Jack Quinn.

The Tony Greco workouts are working for the prep team, and they will continue to use the Tony Greco app for the remainder of the season because they believe it is the best way to reach the top of their game.

Filed Under: Sports

Pre-Game Ritual: Jett Travis ’27

February 9, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

Jett Travis ’27. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

This edition of student-athletes’ pre-game rituals features Jett Travis. This is part of a series of articles about student-athletes’ pre-game rituals. Read them all here.

Jett Travis ’27 is a first-year Junior and member of the Northwood Varsity hockey team, and he had a unique pre-game routine. Jett adds, “Every time I do this routine, I feel like I can play at the best of my game.”

“My day starts when I wake up, and I do a couple of stretches. Then hop in the shower and listen to music that fires me up for games. I keep jamming out while I put on my suit.”

“I hop on the bus that takes the team and me to the Olympic Center. The moment I stepped off the bus, the mood changed to all business. Before entering the locker room, shoes must be removed to keep the floor clean. Change into the warm-up gear to get comfortable and get my skates sharpened by Coach Tommy Spero before the coach’s meeting.”

“After the meeting, I throw on my AirPods and turn on the band AC/DC before I grab my tape bag and my game stick. I step into the arena and start taping my stick with white tape: the knob and halfway down the blade, from middle to toe. It always must be black tape.”

I would play soccer with the team for three games, and during warm-ups, we used a dynamic warm-up that got my legs moving. A good there-and-back of High knees, Butt kicks, Side shuffle, karaoke, Super Marios, Leg risers, can openers/closers, Hamstring stretch, and sprints.

“When it comes to hitting the tunnel, that’s when everyone and everything is blocked out of my mind, and that’s when I know I’m ready for this game.”

“If something is working, why switch it up?” Jett said. Jett has stuck with this routine for many years, and it shows that it keeps him at the top of his game. As it does not seem Jett is slowing down anytime soon.

Filed Under: People, Sports Tagged With: PreGameRituals

Varsity Hockey Completes Weekend Sweep

January 21, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

The Varsity team played another weekend at home at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, where they faced Culver Military Academy, South Kent, and Ontario Hockey Academy. This was a weekend the boys will never forget.

Photos by Jacob Slagel ’26

The Varsity team had a special person on the bench that weekend: Gino Riffle, the Headmaster of Northwood School. Gino worked with the defensemen throughout the weekend and was truly impressed with the team’s performance.

The first game was against Culver Academy. The varsity team was hounding Culver in the first half, leading to a goal by Drew Tulloch ’26 from the blue line on the power play. The boys were fired up to score the opening goal, and shortly after, Northwood scored again by Elliot Murch ’27, pushing the lead to 2-0. Northwood and Culver were back and forth until Varsity found another goal by Drew Tulloch, sniping one from the blue line again. Northwood ended the half up by 3, and Culver was showing no signs of life at the end of the half.

The second half began with Northwood still putting their foot on the gas, with Northwood opening the second half with a goal by Willem McArthur ’28. Culver could not find a goal, with Luke Hurlbut ’26 playing an amazing game between the pipes, not letting anything through. Varsity was not stopping there, pushing the lead 5-0 with a goal by Matthew Kernan ’27, who was able to sneak one past the Culver goalie. Varsity wanted to seal the deal with another goal at the end of the half by Jett Travis ’27. The Varsity won game 1 6-0.

“I was truly impressed with the team’s performance this game; they really brought out their full effort by just taking over the show,” Drew Tulloch ’26 said.

“I was really impressed by Luke Hurlbut ’26. The saves he made throughout the game were unbelievable. Luke was able to stop every puck, and Culver couldn’t figure out how to score on him,” Harry Vant ’26 added.

In the second game, Northwood went against Culver Academy again. Northwood was excited for the rematch against Culver. Varsity opened the scoring again in the first half, with Elliot Murch ’27 shooting one from the top of the circle’s short side. Throughout the first half, Northwood and Culver were really battling it out, but Northwood came on top at the end of the first half, scoring a goal by Willem McArthur ’28, ending the half 2-0.

In the second half, Northwood and Culver battled back and forth, neither knowing who would score next. Shortly after, Northwood forward Griffin Mangan ’26 sniped one short side on the Culver goalie, completely shocking the goalie and sending his water bottle flying in the air. Ethan Nau ’26 played an amazing game against Culver, allowing no pucks to get past him. Northwood sealed the game 3-0, taking their second win of the weekend.

“The game was much closer than the last one, but I was dialed in the net, not letting any puck pass me, so I was not worried at all, and we were able to take the game 3-0,” Ethan Nau ’26 said.

I was happy that we took game 2, and I was impressed by Willem. He is really stepping up despite his young age. Willem is pushing his hardest to get the win, and I respect that,” Andrew Sherland ’26 added.

In the third game, Northwood went against South Kent at Saranac Lake. South Kent came out flying, scoring a goal right away on Luke Monaco ’27, but Northwood was able to answer back with a goal by Carson St’ Louis ’27, a tap-in rebound on the power play. Northwood was not ready to end it there; the team ended up scoring two goals before the end of the first half, with Ray Peters ’27 and Jackson Marchione ’27 taking the lead 3-1 at the end.

In the second half, Northwood came out hounding South Kent. The team was physical, throwing bodies around and making the right play, but the wave turned the other way, and South Kent scored two goals back-to-back, tying the game at 3-3. Northwood was not ready to give up; they turned on the jets and absolutely went beast mode on South Kent, scoring two goals back-to-back by Griffin Mangan ’26 and Jett Travis ’27, making it 5-3. By the end of the second, Northwood came out on top, taking their third win of the weekend.

“This game was most likely to be the best game of the weekend, with South Kent being a good team, but our team was better. We came out with the win and showed who was really on top,” Ryan Demers ’27 said. “I was impressed with our defensive game that day; we were really boxing them out,” Ryan added.

“I really enjoyed watching this game. The team was pushing hard and scoring on the chances that were given to us,” Ray Peters ’27 said.

In the Fourth game, Northwood faced Ontario Hockey Academy, and Northwood came into the game with one goal in mind: to complete the weekend sweep. The Varsity came out hot, scoring two goals 15 minutes into the first half by Jett Travis ’27 and Jack Pitts ’27. Northwood and OHA were going back and forth throughout the rest of the half until Northwood found another goal by Willem McArthur ’28, who was able to tuck one past the OHA goalie, bringing the score 3-0 at the end of the first half.

In the Second half, Northwood came out slow with OHA finding a goal 5 minutes in the half, seeking one past Luke Hurlbut ’26. Shortly after, Northwood was able to find a goal by Elliot Murch ’27, sniping one from the top of the circle. After both teams went back and forth, OHA found another goal on the powerplay short side on Luke, but he wasn’t fazed by it. Northwood wanted to seal the deal with Griffin Mangan ’26 sniping again short side on the goalie, and the young guy on the Varsity found his fourth goal of the weekend and his second goal of the game by Willem McArthur ’28. Northwood came out taking their fourth win of the weekend, 6-2 over OHA.

“I’m proud of the performance by the Varsity team this weekend. They really showed what this team can do, and I am excited for our next weekend,” Jack Ide ’26 said.

“Another person who stepped up this weekend was Griffin; he played an amazing weekend, scoring three goals and using his speed to gain the advantage,” Carson St. Louis ’27 added.

Overall, the Varsity team took the weekend by storm to complete the sweep, and the Varsity picked a good weekend to get hot because the 46th Annual Northwood Tournament is just around the corner.

Filed Under: Sports

Dorm Room Tour: Luke Hurlbut ’26

January 16, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

Welcome to the room of Luke Hurlbut ’26, and Luke said, “It’s home sweet home.” Luke is a two-year senior and plays goalie on the U18 Varsity hockey team. Luke lives on Second East in one of the best single rooms, and he feels at home.

Luke’s single room is one of the best in Main, and it is neat, as he keeps it looking professional and makes sure nothing is lying around. Many people would walk in and out of Luke’s room to chill.

Luke Hurlbut’s ’26 dorm room. Photo by Justin MacLeod ’26.

Luke really brought his personality into his room. Besides hockey, Luke really enjoys lacrosse. He plays lacrosse as a second sport, and his lacrosse sticks hang on his dorm wall. You can see Luke has many things in his room, like flags, jerseys, photos, a TV at the end of the bed with an Xbox game console hooked to it, and his hat collection hanging. Luke’s room is treated with respect by anyone visiting.

Luke Hurlbut’s ’26 dorm room. Photo by Justin MacLeod ’26.

This is Luke’s bed, with a nightstand next to it, holding many of his things. Luke makes his bed every morning to start the day with a clean slate. Luke said, “Making my bed as soon as I wake up starts my day fresh, as this has just become a routine.” Luke has two mattress toppers on his bed as he said, “I like to sleep with comfort so I can get the best possible sleep.”

Luke Hurlbut’s ’26 dorm room. Photo by Justin MacLeod ’26.

Next is Luke’s desk, which he always kept friendly and organized. “This desk is where I do all my homework and where I can be the most focused on completing any assignments teachers give me,” Luke said. Luke has his day-to-day stuff on his desk, including snacks, school supplies/work, supplements, chains, and water bottles.

Luke has a machine that sharpens hockey skates and lets many of his teammates use it if they need it.

Luke Hurlbut’s ’26 dorm room. Photo by Justin MacLeod ’26.

Lastly, Luke’s closet is neat and organized with his jackets, sweatshirts, shirts, and suits hanging, and bins filled with clothes, hockey stuff, towels, and bedding. “My closet is filled with many things that I use daily,” said Luke.

Overall, Luke has a great single room filled with many things of his interest. As many people would say, Luke’s room is a good single room.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Jack Ide ’26

January 13, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

“My favourite thing about Lake Placid is walking around the lake into town. The food is always good, and it’s a fun time with friends. I also enjoy playing golf at the Lake Placid golf course. The mountains in the background of the course are truly impressive. During my free time, I usually train, study, rest, and hang out with friends.

“This is my first year at Northwood, and it’s been amazing every step of the way. On my first day, I was nervous, but in a couple of hours, I was already accepted into the Northwood community with open arms, with friends, teachers, coaches, and teammates treating me like family.

“I transferred to Northwood because it was to further my education and improve in a better hockey program. Being from Texas, hockey isn’t big because it’s more about the Cowboys and Football players, but hockey is where my passion lies. I found out about Northwood through a buddy of mine, and after visiting the school, I knew I should attend here. The community is filled with unmatched culture and trust.

“Someone who inspires me is my dad. He pushes me to my limits and knows I can handle it, and in the end, it makes me a better player and better person, and I am grateful to him.

“Being at Northwood helps me set up my life for the future. Learning to be independent, how to deal with setbacks, and overcome them, whether that’s in the classroom, on the ice, or in life.

“I am thankful for Northwood for setting my life for the better and preparing me for the worst. This is an all-around school, and I am proud to say Northwood is my second home.”

As told to Justin MacLeod ’26. Photo by Mr. Aldridge

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Griffin Mangan ’26

January 9, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

“The first time I got into hockey was from my father, who played pro, and I started skating around 2 years old. Since then, hockey has been my source of happiness. I transferred to Northwood to gain a better education and play on a great hockey program.

“When I first found out about Northwood, it was from my father because he played hockey against Northwood’s team back in the day. Once I got the chance to visit Northwood, I felt like it was a no-brainer that I should come to this school to pursue an excellent education and hockey program.

“The best thing about Northwood is the community because everybody is treated like family, and everyone looks out for each other. My first year, I was nervous, then in a couple of hours, I was already accepted into the Northwood community with open arms, with friends, teachers, coaches, and teammates treating me like family.

“Living at a place like Lake Placid has its perks from summer to winter, as Lake Placid is a nice place with a lot of history and many things to see in such a small place. Lake Placid offers activities I enjoy, besides hockey, such as skiing and golf. During the wintertime, Lake Placid is a wonderland of snow, and getting the chance to ski on top of Whiteface Mountain with friends is a blast. As Lake Placid transitions into summer, I like to play golf at the Lake Placid Club, with excellent greens and mountains in the background.

“Being at Northwood helps me set up my life for the future. Learning to be independent, how to deal with setbacks, and overcome them, whether that’s in the classroom, on the ice, or in life.

“If anyone asked me about Northwood, I am proud to say that it was the best two years of my life. I am thankful for Northwood setting me up for the future.”

As told to Justin MacLeod ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.