LYNN — Jets senior goalie Jack Gallant knows what it’s like to face adversity. Shortly after he was born, doctors noticed something troubling.
“Two days after I was born the doctors noticed something wasn’t right,” Gallant, who attends English High, said. “I was born with a congenital heart defect. I had surgery that same week. They said if I didn’t have that surgery I would’ve been 100 percent fatal. That has had a really big impact in my life. It’s amazing that I’m out there playing hockey now.”
Fast forward to the 2017 hockey season, Gallant’s junior year. He was slated to earn key minutes for Lynn as a defenseman but found himself in a unique situation when the Jets were without a goalie in tryouts.
“Jack Gallant put on the pads during a summer game and from what I heard he didn’t look too bad,” Lynn coach Mike Roberts said. “A lot of people asked him to try and he said, ‘I’m a defenseman.’ I asked him to give it a try and he did it. Within the first 10-15 minutes in practice I asked, ‘Are you sure he’s never played goalie before?’ He looked fluid and he moved great side to side.”
The rest was history. Gallant earned himself the starting goalies’ role for the Jets and has backboned them to two Division 3 North state tournament trips since then.
“It was amazing what me and my team have accomplished over the last two years,” said Gallant, who hopes to study emergency management at Mass. Maritime. “Going into the first two weeks of the season last year our backup goalie was still playing football. My coaches wanted somebody to step in so our team could have somebody to shoot on in practice. I gave it a go because I’m always there for the team. A few weeks went by and the coaches thought I was getting pretty good at it.”
Gallant and his senior teammates (Lynn has eight seniors on its roster) have set themselves up for a season to remember. Like most teams, the Jets underwent their share of ups and downs along the way. They started the season with a 7-7 tie at Somerville after losing grasp of a 3-goal lead in the third period and followed with a 9-3 loss to Gloucester. Lynn progressed as the season took its course. The Jets finished the regular season with a 12-4-4 record.
“After the Somerville game it was a little bit of a tough time,” Gallant said. “It has to do with our top scorers. Brian Clougherty and John DiFilippo score a lot of goals for us. Our defense can hold strong when it needs to. For us, it’s just about staying out of the penalty box.”
This season, Gallant holds a save percentage of 82.2. He logged his first career shutout in a 3-0 win over Latin Academy on Jan. 2. Gallant said mental toughness and support from his teammates are the keys to his success between the pipes.
“Sometimes I get angry playing in net when I let goals in,” Gallant said. “Being a goalie was hard to commit to because other teams’ fans will try to distract me. I just learned to try ignore them and stay strong for my team. It’s all about my team. Their support has helped me stay in net.
“Our coaches have really supported me during the past two years and I couldn’t be here as a goalie without them,” Gallant said. “My teammates have supported me. The eight seniors keep the team in check. I’m grateful that none of them have left to play for another team. We’ve all stuck together. I’m grateful that they’ve supported me.”
Gallant and his family haven’t forgotten what transpired shortly after he was born. The Gallants help raise money for Boston Children’s Hospital and other related organizations in showing gratitude for the efforts doctors made to save his life.
“Me and my parents do fundraising for Boston Children’s Hospital because they saved me when I was a child,” Gallant said. “They did what they could to save me and I’m really grateful for that. We do fundraising for them. One of the organizations we got into is called ‘Miles for Miracles.’ My mom ran a race to raise money for them. I was there supporting her. I was her patient partner for the race. It was a great experience.”
The road ahead in Division 3 North is Gallant’s final go-round in high school hockey. In order for Lynn to make a run at a state championship and avenge last year’s semifinal round loss to Swampscott, Gallant has to bring his best to keep opposing teams away from the net.
“We’re going to need Jack’s A-game and the defense in front of him,” Roberts said. “If we can limit our defensive turnovers and our forwards can get pucks out, if we can do it in front of him, we know he’s ready to go. Jack’s mentally focused and he’s going to give us a chance to win. He gave us a chance against Swampscott last year and he’s going to do the same this year.”
No. 3 Lynn begins its postseason quest Saturday (1) when it takes on No. 6 Shawsheen at Woburn’s O’Brien Rink.
“To get to a state championship would be amazing” Gallant said. “After Swampscott knocked us out last year we all felt horrible for the seniors. I wanted to play my best for those guys. This year I wanted to do the same for the seven other seniors in my class. I’m hoping to get them as far as possible. They’ll support me and I’ll support them in the tournament to get the wins we need.”