Gwizdowski ready to lead Lions

Alan “Gwiz” Gwizdowski wears many hats. He’s a talented photographer, graphic designer, student, marathon runner and golfer. But the most important piece of headgear he’ll be donning this Fall is his hockey helmet. Gwizdowski has been handed the captaincy of the Emerson hockey team, and he’s not taking the task lightly.

“No matter how busy I am with school, once we step on the ice it becomes all about hockey,” Gwiz said. “I don’t even think about anything else.”

Quiet by nature, Gwizdowski lets his stick and skates do most of the talking, delivering timely offense in critical games and giving 100% at every practice. He has worn the “A” as Emerson’s assistant captain for the past two seasons, earning his honors through skillful play and a fierce commitment to conditioning.

“He does the right thing, all the time, and that’s the epitome of captain material,” said former captain Matt Porter.

Gwiz met all his predecessor’s criteria for someone he’d want captaining the team:

Nearly insane amount of love for the game?

Check. Gwizdowski’s been on skates since he’s been a tot, and still gets excited when the lagoon in the Public Garden freezes over.

Never wavers in dedication to the club?

Check. He’s had to miss a few games and practices for school activities, but how many of those opportunities did he sacrifice because there was a road game and he was one of the few players on the team who had certification to drive an athletics van?

Extreme confidence, intelligence and aware of the people around him, their needs, abilities and possible shortcomings?

Check. When he’s on the bench, he studies his teammates. If he notices something that could help their game, when they hop back over the boards, he gives them tips for improvement.

Believes in the team and is a positive force without losing his realness?

Check. In the darkest moments of last season, Gwiz was the player that kept believing, continuing to go for goals in games that already looked like lost causes and never losing his head or picking a fight.

“If you’re not on your game [as captain] and don’t believe you can win,” he says, “nobody will believe they can win. Even if you as a single player have an off game you have to keep everyone else riled up.”

The team has come to him for offense and inspiration, but they’ve also come to him for help training. Having run the Boston Marathon three times, Gwizdowski is a prime source for fitness and nutrition information, and he’s more than willing to share what he knows. Known to run 60-70 miles in a week, he shared one of his routes with the team — up and down the inclines of Beacon Hill — that left more than a few of his less fit teammates gasping for air.

But lazy Lions of 2008 beware, captain Gwizdowski plans to reward only those who make the effort:

“If they don’t try, they don’t play,” he says. “We have plenty of kids who want to be out on the ice and if they try harder and are more deserving then they will play.”