He changed his decision once formally and a thousand times mentally, but now that it has been announced, he's comfortable with the path he has chosen.
Aaron M. Israel '96 wants to be a Philadelphia Flyer.
And starting next season, the sophomore goalie for his year's Harvard hockey team will have his chance. He and the Flyers of the National Hockey League announced on Wednesday that Israel will forego his final two years of collegiate eligibility to turn professional.
Israel expects to sign a four-year contract sometime next week that is rumored to include a signing bonus in excess of $200,000.
"The money they offered is good, but that wasn't one of the important things for me," Israel said. "It was really a tough decision, the kind of thing that I went over back and forth in my mind. At one point [in April], I told Philadelphia that I was going to stay here."
But a multitude of factors conspired to make Israel change his mind.
"The timing was just so perfect," he said. "It's such a great opportunity--to get to do something like this--and it was just too much for me to pass up."
Israel helped backstop the Crimson to the NCAA Final Four in 1994; his 12-2-2 record and 2.30 goals against average were among the nation's best.
But Israel shared duties all year-- all of his first two years, in fact--with fellow sophomore Tripp Tracy, and Israel could only see more of the same on the horizon.
"It's really tough when you're only playing every other game, when you have to sit on the bench once every weekend," Israel said. "It's going to help me a lot if I get to play in twice as many games."
The situation in the Flyers' organi- "Dominic had a good start for us but falteredlate, and Tommy was in the kind of slump that lotsof second-year players have," Flyers GeneralManager Russ Farewell said. "[Israel] is a reallygood prospect, and although I would have to expecthe'll start the year in Hershey, he'll have achance at the big-league camp to prove himself." "We know we're getting a solid, stand-up goaliewhose style is very good, his size is good and hedoesn't make the first move," Farwell added."We're optimistic that he'll become a very goodplayer." "I'd love to get called up and dress for a gameor two [in Philadelphia] next year," Israel said."It all comes down to how well I play." Among the other Flyers prospects Israel will bevying against at training camp: former CrimsonECAC foe Neil Little, who graduates from RPI thismonth. In weighing the pros and cons of leavingHarvard two years early, Israel had lots ofadvisors: among them Matt Mallgrave '93, nowplaying in the Flyers organization; senior BrianP. Farrell, who knows the NHL's ins and outs aswell as anyone at Harvard; Ted Drury, who leftschool a year early after the 1992-93 season tojoin the Calgary Flames (and is now with theHartford Whalers); and, of course, his parents,especially his father. "My dad was leaning for me to stay at thestart," Israel said. "But now I think he agreeswith me. Of course, seeing as he's a schoolteacher, I'm pretty sure that he's going to makeme return for my degree." Israel plans to attend summer school at Harvardfor four years starting this summer, taking twoclasses a term, and then return for his "senior"year when his career is finished. "I consider finishing my education one of themost important things I have to do in my life,"Israel said. "I know that when I have kids, I'mgoing to want them to know that I finished what Istarted." Harvard Coach Ronn Tomassoni, one of the lonedissenters against Israel's choice, didn't thinkit to be in Israel's best interests for him leavecollege this early. "My school of thought is that there are veryfew guarantees in life, and one of them is youreducation," Tomassoni said. The two discussed Israel's future on severaloccasions during the off-season, but even whenIsrael initially chose to stay in school,Tomassoni sensed that "it might be something we'dbe battling." "Nevertheless, he's a big boy, and he can makethis kind of decision for himself now," Tomassoniadded. "I wish him only the best." "I kind of looked at it the other way around,"Israel said. "I figure that school is somethingthat will always be here, but this opening won't,necessarily." How the team Israel leaves behind will react tohis loss remains to be seen. "We'll really miss him," junior captain-electBen Coughlin said. "He was very valuable in histwo years here, and we wish him nothing but thebest of luck. But we're confident that Tripp andHermsy [junior Steve Hermsdorf] can get the jobdone." Harvard has relied on a goaltending rotationfor the last six years; before the "Tripp'n'Izzy"tandem, Chuckie Hughes '92 and Allain Roy '92similarly split time between the pipes for theirfour years. But now Tracy gets the brunt of the load, andHermsdorf figures to back him up. Israel himselfdoesn't necessarily think this is a bad thing. "[Tripp and I] has such distinct styles outthere; I don't know how tough it was for everyoneto adjust to us on a night-to-night basis," hesaid. "It might be almost better for the team." "We're still in pretty good shape in goal,"Tomassoni said. "But had we known earlier thatthis was going to happen, we would have recruitedanother goaltender." No matter what, Tracy is ready for thechallenge. "I'd be lying if I said [Israel'sabsence] doesn't create a big opportunity for me,"he said. "You know, it really stinks sometimes--you playone night a weekend, and there's nothing you cando about it," Tracy said. "And although it'll be achallenge to physically prepare myself for nextyear this summer, I think I could play every gameif that's what Coach wants form me." Tracy has never played on back-to-back nightsfor the Crimson, although he did shine in theBeanpot Tournament championship game againstBoston University during his freshman year on onlytwo days rest.
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