When Ohio took the ice last weekend, many Bobcat fans noticed the familiar No. 17 jersey of Josh Fodor flying around and recording a key assist in the Bobcats’ 5-4 win Saturday night.
Fodor’s speed and intellect are apparent to everyone watching. However, he almost used that speed to skate away from the game.
During his sophomore season, Fodor, who is studying communication and sports business, had the third-most goals on the team and was a key part of an Ohio squad that was a game away from a national championship.
But while he was succeeding on the ice, Fodor was struggling off of it. He attempted to balance the rigorous six-month hockey schedule with academics while also keeping his love for a game he’d played since the age of five.
After the season, Fodor considered his options, sat down with Coach Dan Morris and told him he needed some time away.
“Basically, I just needed a break,” Fodor said. “I’ve been playing hockey religiously since I was 15, so I really needed a break and try to get my grades up.”
Fodor’s coach was empathetic. When he was 18, Morris was reeling from years of playing junior hockey in his native Canada, where the schedule was so demanding Morris risked not graduating from high school on time — or at all.
Like Fodor, Morris made the difficult decision to focus on academics and re-examine his relationship with hockey. It was a choice that helped him appreciate Fodor’s mindset, he said.
“Josh and I are a lot alike. Understanding where Josh was coming from, I certainly drew on some personal experiences there,” Morris said. “Playing hockey all your life, it’s grueling. You get to college and you’re here to play hockey and it’s fun, and then real life and college kind of kicks in.”
After a year-long hiatus, Morris returned to the game rejuvenated, playing two more years of junior hockey in Canada before coming to Ohio, where he was a member of national championship-winning teams from 1995 to 1997.
Morris’ personal experience played a major role in Fodor’s decision to return to the team this season.
“He understood where I was coming from and that I needed the time off for myself,” Fodor said. “He was really understanding about it, and we parted on good terms. We communicated throughout last season, and it was always in the back of my mind thinking about coming back for senior year.”
Fodor’s teammates were also supportive during his year away.
“We all remained very close with Josh throughout that year; we didn’t hold any grudges or anything like that,” said defenseman Josh Holzemer, Fodor’s roommate for the past two years. “There were no hard feelings or anything because guys know how it is. Sometimes the game can wear you out.”
Fodor decided to return during the summer, and Morris was ready. Fodor went into Morris’ office with the news and received a surprise of his own: Morris had preordered a No. 17 jersey with the hope that the center would return.
Morris said that even before Fodor went on hiatus, they had a unique relationship as player and coach.
“He’s vocal. There’s always an interaction between Josh and me,” Morris said, “and it’s refreshing for some of the guys in the locker room to see that there is a two-way communication and that I’ll listen to what Josh has to say. And he’ll listen to what I have to say, and I don’t think that was there last year.”
Fodor doesn’t regret his year off, which helped him improve his grades and appreciate hockey again.
“It’s definitely an adjustment, going to college, balancing hockey with academics,” he said.
“Those first two years here, I was kind of testing the waters, and last year gave me a chance to figure it out and understand what I need to do and get where I need to be.”
cd211209@ohiou.edu
