Sean McMonagle has done a lot of learning in life. This should come as no surprise given that he is an Ivy League graduate. Now, after 10 years of a professional hockey education, McMonagle is going back to school — although the Cardiff Devils defenseman hasn’t hung his skates up yet.
Even with a good brain between his ears, it was McMonagle’s heart that took him to Providence, R.I. Despite his Canadian upbringing, McMonagle felt the lure of college hockey.
“The opportunity you’d get to play hockey and get your undergrad, at the same time, was definitely something that was attractive to me,” the native of Oakville, Ont., said.
After looking at a few schools, McMonagle felt that Brown University was where he ought to attempt the growth from boy to man: “For me, it was mostly a feel thing. Obviously, the level of academics there was something that pulled me. That was just kind of a cherry on top, to be honest. I would have gone wherever I felt the most wanted and where I felt comfortable.”
Part of what had created that comfort for McMonagle were the peers he would come to call teammates. McMonagle enrolled as a true freshman. He knew there would be a learning curve that came with the jump, but was also aware that — being six years younger than his eldest teammate — his curve might be sharper than others.
Unfortunately, that attempt was made difficult when a severe charley horse stunted the start of his college career. His teammates helped him keep his chin up. “Everyone was very welcoming,” he lauded. “(I received) tons of support from players, coaches, university staff.”
Healthier as a sophomore, McMonagle made a stronger impact. Still, neither he nor the Bears figured out how to achieve the on-ice success they desired.
Instead of that misfortune creating a rift, it actually made the Bears a tighter unit. “We always had an amazing group of guys,” McMonagle emphasized. “I’m friends with the majority of guys I played with from Brown to this day. By no means were we happy about the way it was going, but what else can you do other than just keep working hard and trying to get better every day?”
As McMonagle was putting his work in, he evaluated his own play. He came to a realization: Maybe his skill-set wasn’t cut out for offense. It was a thought that had seeped in during his junior year. With injuries impacting the lineup as a senior, he approached the coaches with an option. “I wasn’t lighting it up, by any means, as a forward,” he flatly admitted. “As a ‘D,’ there’s just kind of a little less pressure, maybe, to be super-offensive. I really like seeing the whole ice in front of me. I like quarterbacking. I like breaking pucks out and just making good passes.”
The coaches agreed with his assessment, and McMonagle made the switch, rounding out his college career in the other zone. It’s a move that he believes continues to pay dividends.
“I’m pretty confident I wouldn’t be playing as a forward anymore,” he acknowledged. “I kind of fell in love with the game again as a D-man.”
While his passion for the game might have returned, the reality was that he was now about to attempt a professional career at a position that he hadn’t even been playing for two full seasons. He knew he was going to have to absorb a lot of knowledge — and quick. The Las Vegas Wranglers of the East Coast Hockey League were willing to let him continue the experiment.
“I’ve always been a guy with tools and skill. It was basically trying to really polish off being a defenseman,” he commented about his jump to the professional ranks. “Being able to gap up on guys was difficult, initially. Having the confidence to try and close that gap and not worry about getting burnt … I worked hard at it.”
Although he continued to make strides, the reality was he fell into a certain classification in the minor league ranks. Undrafted players starting in the Coast and recently having changed positions aren’t exactly a hot commodity. He contemplated his next step, ultimately deciding North America might not yield the greatest future. “Sometimes, I think I may have gone overseas prematurely, but, again, I’m really happy about that decision. It just kind of opened up a whole different world,” he said.
It has been a world he has explored in far more depth than he ever could have in the classroom. The tour began in Tingsryd, a small town in the middle of southern Sweden. With some friends playing nearby, he felt he would have some support as he made this major move. Now, he had to figure out what he was up against.
“All I’d heard was that it was really fast,” he said. “I didn’t know a whole lot outside of that. I was really blown away by how fast and skilled the hockey was.” Still not a fully formed defenseman, McMonagle and Tingsryd battled through a disappointing season. Nonetheless, it wasn’t such a paltry performance as to close the borders on him.
The next season, McMonagle trekked to the southern segment of Europe, playing with Alleghe in the Italian league. It might not have had the esteem of the Allsvenskan, but this team and league were beneficial for McMonagle. He found a coach willing to let him push his limits further. “Italy, I guess, was the first time I had a real leash,” McMonagle stated. He stretched that leash, putting up his strongest offensive totals since juniors.
After a detour to Germany, where he played for one of his former junior coaches, McMonagle returned to Italy. The chance to play in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga was a strong opportunity. Even better, his heritage provided him with a shot at international competition. His maternal Italian lineage coupled with two seasons playing for Italian-based Bolzano qualified McMonagle for Team Italia. Once cleared, he began helping Italy on the international stage. His increasing experience helped the team advance from Division 1 to the top tier. Despite being Italian by blood, not birth, he found a grateful group of teammates.
“The first time I was just kind of trying to stay out of everybody’s way and feel guys out,” he noted. “For the most part, everybody was really accommodating, really nice. You want to represent them as best as you can, and have them feeling good about allowing you to help represent them. Obviously, you take it just like you’re representing school or where you’re from.”
After two more seasons in the EBEL (with two different teams based out of two different countries), McMonagle returned to Scandinavia for the 2018-19 campaign. Norway’s Frisk Asker was pursuing a championship, and it felt McMonagle could help the team get there. “(Frisk) seemed to really want me, and it sounded like they had high aspirations,” he recounted.
Despite a shakier regular season than fans and pundits expected, Frisk solved its problems when it counted. “(Our) power play got really hot in the playoffs. It just kind of snowballed. It was an amazing experience.” After years of being mired in, at best, hockey mediocrity, McMonagle finally had a championship to his name.
One would think that would serve as the highlight of his season and career, but he actually had one trick left. This sleight of hand involved a shimmy to the left — which the goalie bit on — before pulling the puck to his backhand and going bar down. Those hands from his days as a forward didn’t fail him in his biggest moment. The goal came in the shootout in the game between Italy and Austria in last spring’s World Championships. That shot (which McMonagle confirms likely will be the last one he ever takes for Team Italy) saved the red, white and green from demotion, enabling Italy to return to the top tournament in the next World Championship.
Despite the success he found in Norway, McMonagle relocated to the United Kingdom in preparation for his post-hockey transition. One of the perks of the Elite Ice Hockey League is that it offers players the opportunity to pursue a masters degree while playing (given that the EIHL schedule roughly mirrors that of college hockey, it would appear a great fit). McMonagle felt it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. “The big draw for imports is you can come over and play in the UK, and also do your MBA,” he said.
After four years of balancing the classroom and locker room, McMonagle has signed on for two more.
As at Brown, that does not mean he has lost his focus on the ice. With the Cardiff Devils in 2019-20, McMonagle set a career high by posting 34 points through 46 games (like most leagues, the EIHL shuttered for the rest of the season out of concern for the coronavirus). Yet, he downplayed the achievement, attributing any success to the lessons he has acquired along the way.
“You’re doing the same thing everywhere you go. Away from the rink, yeah, it can be different. (Otherwise), treat your teammates well, be professional, be respectful. Hopefully, set a good example for young guys.”
McMonagle wouldn’t promise a firm decision, but he certainly has turned his eyes toward the future — whenever that may be.
“I would imagine I’ll end up in sales one way or the other,” he predicted. “I’ll take everything I’ve learned from hockey and put that toward whatever my next profession is. (I’ll) go at it hard and with an open mind. Be positive and good things will happen, I’m sure.”
