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by Patrick McGuire ‘14
Nick Gajkowski ‘14, a mainstay on both the varsity Hockey and Rugby Teams talked with Eye Sports Editor Patrick McGuire ‘14 about the process of competing for two varsity sports, his teams’ recent success, and, of course, his infamous “Bone Saw” nickname. Nick has played hockey for Saint Ignatius for two years and rugby for one as well as a year in the Warrior Rugby program. Hailed as a menacing presence on the ice and a force on the pitch, Gajkowski earned himself a nickname that has stuck with him here at Wildcat High.
Q: Nick, you’re competing for Saint Ignatius on both the varsity Hockey and Rugby teams, what is it like to be able to play for your classmates on two teams?
A: It’s really a blessing to be able to represent my school on two varsity sports teams. I enjoy giving it my all to help my team win both on the ice and the pitch. I love that I’ve had the opportunity to call both the players on the hockey and rugby teams my teammates. They’re two really great groups of guys, and I’m lucky to call them my teammates, friends, and brothers.
Q: How long have you been playing Hockey and Rugby? Do you find it difficult to perform both sports at a high level?
A: It may be a little hard to believe, but I began playing hockey when I was 3 years old. I fell in love with the game from the moment I stepped onto the ice. Rugby, on the other hand, was different in that I only picked it up during my freshman year. It seemed like a really cool sport when I watched my brother play, and I liked the idea of getting to run around and hit people, so I decided to join the squad.
It is a little difficult to play both sports at the varsity level, but it’s definitely rewarding. Most of the difficulty comes because of the slight overlapping of seasons. Because of the success of the varsity hockey team the past two years, I have had to miss quite a few rugby practices. Last year I believe I only had 3 or 4 practices with the team before heading down to our tournament in Columbus, where we played last years national champions as well as other great competition.
The quick transition from hockey to rugby is also a bit tough to make physically. Though skating and running may seem very similar, they work your legs in pretty different ways. It makes the first few weeks of running tough. I’m not too special though, I bet the hockey players that play lacrosse go through the same thing.
Q: Do you find any similarities between your roles in both Hockey and Rugby?
A: II think because I’ve played defense for my whole hockey career, I’m very defensive-minded, which has translated into rugby, where I am a little more of a defensive player than offensive. Also, I have learned from hockey to be a smart player. Despite my nickname, I’m not really a reckless player in either sport. I play my position and do the smart thing, which I think that’s how I serve my team best.
Q: You have become a fan favorite for your chippy play on the ice, how does that feel?
A: That’s the part of this whole “Bone Saw” thing that I find strange. I’m not much of a chippy player, at least that I’m aware of. Regardless, it feels absolutely amazing to hear the student section chant “Bone Saw” during games. I love every second of it. The whole team really appreciates when students come to cheer us on, so please keep it up. I promise we won’t disappoint; we have a very talented and hard-hitting team this year.
Q: How did you get the “Bone Saw” nickname? Do you even know?
A: Well, I at least have an idea of how it started. It was during a home game last year at Brooklyn the first time the chant was started. Jason Augustine started the chant, but I’m not really too sure what his inspiration was for it. I think that would be a good thing to ask him about, and we could finally get to the bottom of this. Maybe he had just watched the classic Spiderman flick the night before with a couple honeys.
Q: Does the “Bone Saw” nickname reflect your hard-nosed style of hockey?
A: Not exactly. Though I’m not as soft as all my friends would be eager to tell you, I don’t really go out of my way to hit people. More often than not, I wait for opportunities to come to me. The only real similarity between me and Bonesaw that I can think of would have to be muscle mass. I think I have him beat by a little though. But in all seriousness, I can’t help but think this nickname would better suit someone like Kevin Spellacy. The kid is an animal on the ice. Luckily he already has a nickname, “Dozer”, or else “Bonesaw” might have another identity on the Saint Ignatius hockey team.
