Sophomore midfielder Ryan Stevens is the son of NHL Hall of Famer Scott Stevens, who was famous during his playing days for his bone-jarring body checks. But Ryan lost interest in hockey at a young age and fell in love with lacrosse, a decision his father supported. That move has paid off, as Stevens is currently fourth on the team with 13 goals in 2011.

In a contest under the lights at Harvard Stadium on a chilly Tuesday evening two weeks ago, University of Massachusetts goalkeeper Tim McCormack picks up a ground ball, and, sensing he has an open field in front of him, begins to run.

He hits midfield—much farther out than the typical goalie’s domain—when suddenly, BOOM!

McCormack is blindsided by a massive hit he never saw coming.

The shot was delivered by Harvard sophomore midfielder Ryan Stevens, whose talent for decking an opponent almost seemed innate.

In fact, it is.

Ryan is the son of NHL Hall of Famer Scott Stevens, whose bone-jarring body checks gave him a reputation as one of the league’s hardest hitters during his career.

The defenseman played 22 seasons in the NHL from 1982-2004, most notably for the New Jersey Devils, whom he captained to three Stanley Cups in nine seasons. The 2000 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for Playoff MVP, Stevens finished his career­­—which also featured stints with the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues—with the most games ever played by an NHL defenseman, during which time he never had a negative plus/minus.

Ryan is the middle child of three in the Stevens family. Growing up with an NHL superstar for a father, he says, had its benefits and downsides.

“Obviously it was different,” Ryan says. “Anywhere we went [my dad] would be recognized. All my friends knew who he was. That definitely changes the way people act towards you, the way you make friends–you have to make sure your friends actually like you for you.”

As a ten-year-old in 2000, Ryan had the chance to celebrate the Devils’ second Stanley Cup with the squad, an experience Scott remembers sharing with his son.

“It was nice, he was part of the celebration,” the elder Stevens says. “It was a pretty cool memory for him to be there for that, and to be old enough to remember it.”

But it was around that point that Ryan’s interests started to move away from the sport for which his father was so well-known.

“I started off playing hockey when I was really young, three or four,” Ryan says. “I played everything pretty much. I think I was nine or 10 when I told my parents that I didn’t want to play hockey anymore, that I wanted to play other sports and that lacrosse was going to be my sport.”

One of the reasons for his decision stemmed from expectations that he would be able to fill his dad’s big shoes.

“There was a lot of pressure to be good, when I just wanted to play and have fun at that point,” Ryan explains. “I remember I’d be an eight-year-old, and everyone would be looking at me, expecting me to be great. It was a lot of attention at a young age.”