Every game is a "home" game for Swavely, Doherty

Connor Doherty and Steven Swavely may play for rival North Division teams, but the two share a special bond that only a handful of players throughout the league can say. Every game they put on a different jersey, but each player is putting on a sweater that represents his hometown.

“You feel an obligation to represent the front of that jersey,” Swavely said. “You’ve got to represent it with class and pride.”

Doherty is in his third season with the Worcester Railers. The defenseman grew up in Holden, Mass., about an eight-mile drive to downtown Worcester and the DCU Center. Swavely, who is in fourth season with the Reading Royals, is a Reading native, and grew up hoping one day to play for his hometown team  Both players have only played for their hometown teams in the ECHL and find themselves incredibly lucky for the opportunity to represent where they are from.

Swavely attended Royals games with his family growing up, as they were season ticket holders for many of the team’s early years. Catching a game meant driving only minutes down the street to the arena with his parents and two siblings instead of trekking to Philadelphia to see the Flyers or the AHL Phantoms at the time. He attended almost every home game, whether it with his family or as bonding time with his youth team, the Junior Royals. Like any young player, he hoped for the chance to play for his hometown team professionally.

“I always told myself I would really enjoy a chance to be able to do something like that, to play for a team I watched growing up, and luckily it came true for me,” Swavely said.

Swavely is one of two Reading natives to don a Royals jersey in the franchise’s history. The other is his older brother, Jon, who wore the jersey first during the 2013-14 season. It was fitting for his brother to lead the way, as Swavely said he’s the one who paved the way for his passion of hockey.

“It’s pretty special because a lot of guys, even if they are from a big hockey town, don’t get to do what my brother and I have because it’s what an organization needs at the time,” Swavely. “It’s a lot of luck and right time, right place sort of thing. That’s what happened for me.”

For Doherty, Worcester was home to a few professional teams throughout his youth. He remembered the buzz downtown before a game and the excitement that surrounded hockey in the city. Worcester welcomed hockey back in 2017 for its inaugural ECHL season as Doherty began his rookie season there.  The 26-year-old felt fortunate to be a part of the 2017-18 team that gave the city hockey again with games on the weekend to look forward to and as Doherty said, “entertainment for some random Wednesday nights.”

“It’s not every day you get to play where you grew up,” Doherty said. “I remember going in elementary and middle school to all the Worcester games, watching those guys and thinking how cool it was. They were my idols. Being on the other side of that now, I know I’m contributing to giving the city something to look forward to.”

Suiting up in one’s hometown has numerous advantages, but for both Doherty and Swavely, the biggest is family support around the corner. It’s more than snagging home-cooked meals from mom or easy Thanksgiving travel. Their families offer a breather from hockey and a way to clear their minds during the season.

“It’s cliché to say, but you’re home,” Swavely said.” The mental aspect of playing in your hometown is pretty important. You’re comfortable with the surroundings. You know people around you and your family is nearby.

“Emotional support is always needed and most guys have to do it on the phone being away from home, but Reading is ten minutes from where I grew up,” Swavely said. “Seeing my family, and not only immediate, but those who live in the area, it takes your mind off hockey. That’s important to be mentally fresh for every game and when you go to the rink.”

Doherty has had multiple injuries throughout the years and his family’s proximity during those times made all the difference for him. He’d run home for a meal and have friends nearby to make the low points of the season, or recovery from an injury, more bearable.

“Throughout the season, you go through ups and downs,” Doherty said. “It’s just that support where even if you’re going through a tough time, maybe not playing your best, or have any injury, it’s a lot easier for me to reach out and see some friends or family as opposed to guys who have to travel across the country. Family has definitely helped me through some of the slower times during the season.”

The family support is endless for the two veterans. At any given game, each has their own cheering section filled with family and friends. Ticket requests can run high on the weekends, but Swavely sees it as an added hometown bonus at this point in his career and a way to give back to his devoted entourage.

Swavely played college hockey at the University of Maine and his parents would fly up to see him play. He realizes how special it is for his family to be able to get in a car nowto attend a home game.

“I get a lot of heat for putting 15 to 20 tickets down every game, but that’s just the advantage of being so close to home,” Swavely laughed. “It’s always been special for me and my family to have everyone be able to drive ten to fifteen minutes to the arena and watch a game.”

Doherty also takes care of his family at games. On any given night he’ll leave five tickets under his name, but occasionally all his cousins, aunts and uncles will head to a game for a family night. The defenseman has been fortunate to play nearby most of his life and see his family always in the stands, whether in college or professionally with the Railers. He can’t picture a game without his family there.

“My family has been very supportive throughout my whole hockey career, and I almost couldn’t imagine moving far away where they aren’t able to be at home games,” Doherty said. “After tough games it is nice to see them and get your mind off the game. I can’t imagine coming out of a tough game and not seeing my family there.”

Along with the abundance of family in both areas, these players have the support of the community they grew up in, whether they’ve kept in contact with them or lost touch over the years. Childhood teachers have contacted Doherty after games with messages of encouragement and excitement about his career.

“I’ve had my school teachers reach out and be like, ‘I brought my kids to a game and we saw your name, hoping for the best,’” Doherty said.“Knowing that people from my pastare involved in what I’m doing and showing support has been very touching.”

That hometown support carries over to each team’s dedicated fan base. These hometown boys have the chance to connect with the fans on a local level. Both field city-specific answers to fans’ questions, like asking the best places to eat around the city. Being local also means the two will occasionally bump into fans around town.

“During the off season, I’ll bump into fans at the golf course or restaurants and catch up with them,” Doherty said. “But definitely throughout the season whenever we have events, fans ask me questions about what I like to do in the area and if I’ve been to certain places they’ve been. There’s a connection with that as opposed to some of the guys who aren’t local.”

Fans of a team like to make connections with new players added to the roster. When Doherty and Swavely first started in their respective hometowns, they initially felt eyes on themselves from fans that looked at the lineup and saw each were local guys. They’d be greeted by fans saying, ‘oh it’s the hometown guy,’ at events. Both see the attention they received at the beginning as more of a curiosity of the local kid.

“You figured a lot of eyes would be on you because a lot of the fans can relate and say, ‘Oh here’s a guy from Reading,’” Swavely said. “They’re going to watch you and wonder what you’re about more than a guy from somewhere they don’t know. I felt that more initially, but now in my fourth season, the fans are accustomed to me.”

The two have seen success in their careers playing in their hometown. Swavely has accumulated over 100 points in just as many games since the 2016-17 season. Doherty was named an alternate captain for the Railers this season, an honor he doesn’t take lightly. He uses it as an opportunity to lead by example and show his commitment to his community. 

“To be able to wear that in a local spot is definitely pretty cool,” Doherty said. “Hopefully I’m able to give back to the community and also show on the ice what they expect of me.

“I want to give a connection to the kids from the area that maybe they see someone  from here and it gives them a role model to follow,” Doherty said. “I hope some of the local players and kids can look up to me and get a good representation of what can happen if you work hard.”

Swavely and Doherty take pride in putting on their jerseys every night. They realize it’s an accomplishment to reach this level, and a unique outcome to do it for their hometown. Doherty hopes local players and kids will see his name and city on the roster and realize they could be in his skates one day.

“There’s opportunity around,” Doherty said.“And it’s worth going for.”