From the Torah to the Rink: The Unconventional Journey of Yeshiva University's Hockey Star, Sol Feder.
Sol Feder's journey from Maimonides School to Yeshiva University is like something out of a sports movie – the one with a twist of Torah and a dash of ice.
Sol, a young hockey enthusiast from Brookline, Massachusetts, honed his skills on a friend's backyard rink and was determined to make his mark in the world of pucks and goals. Even as a kid, he knew that hockey was his calling.
"I'm very competitive," he told Jewish Boston in 2022. "Especially when the game's on the line, I love to be out there at the last second. I love the camaraderie," Sol recalled with a grin.
However, being a Jewish hockey player isn't always a smooth skate, thanks to those pesky game schedules conflicting with Shabbat. Sol faced these hurdles head-on, even switching his game schedules to ensure he could play without compromising his faith, "I would make all these Select teams as a player or goalie, but when coaches found out I couldn't play on Shabbat, they said no to me." Feder told themarvzone.com. Hockey players come and go, but players who wear their Kippot proudly – that's a rarity.
Early Hockey Roots in Brookline:
Sol's dedication to the game was unwavering, and he knew the support of his parents, who willingly woke up at 6 a.m. to drive him to practice, played a significant role. "I get to go play hockey! It was never, 'I can't believe I have to go.' I couldn't wait to get out there,"
"I wasn't afraid to wear my yarmulke and whatnot in a locker room. Some people have never seen one, and they're like, 'What is that on your head?' And you explain it, and it's an interesting feeling."
The young skater's journey took a surprising turn when Maimonides High School didn't have a hockey team. Then, the heavens – or rather, his athletic director – smiled upon him.
On December 21st, 2019, at 4:24 p.m., the offer came: Beaver Country Day School needed players for their hockey team. The catch? They wanted to merge with Maimonides. Sol jumped at the opportunity like a slapshot to the net. "I've never said yes to anything so fast in my life," he said.
His coach, Matt Gallant, who was keenly interested in Judaism, altered the hockey schedule to accommodate Sol's school commitments. They may not have been the best team out there, playing more like a JV squad in a varsity league. Yet Sol was grateful to play competitive hockey alongside Areiel Greenberg, a YU Roller Hockey Star, and his brother. Together, they dominated the scoring charts, each boasting around 40 points.
Translating Jewish Values into Hockey Success:
Sol also fondly remembers his time at Jewish day school, where you could explore it even if you weren't head over heels for Judaism. He appreciated the small class sizes, the personal touch, and the camaraderie it offered, especially during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Even if you don't love Judaism, I think if you send your kids to Jewish day schools, you're giving them a fishing line to at least try and see if they like it. If they don't, they don't. But from a technical standpoint, I loved having a 35-person class. I knew everyone; I knew all their names. During COVID, we were in-person the whole time," he said.
"A big thing in Judaism is patience and trying not to fall into people's traps. In Judaism, that's someone enticing you to do something you shouldn't do. I'm implementing it into my game. My penalty minutes have gone down overall".
In Israel, Sol donned jerseys for various teams, from the Jerusalem Bears and HC Tel Aviv(Twice), which he called the "old-man league with guys from Europe," to the more intense Petakh Tikvah Wings of the Israel National League.
What sets the 5-11 174 IBs Center apart, besides his skills, is his work ethic.
"Everyone wants to be good. Everyone wants to want it. I think people would rather do other things than go to the gym, run, or optional practice. Everyone does the big stuff, but it's the ones that come 10 minutes early onto the ice or stay 10 minutes late [who succeed]."
Sol's love for hockey intersected beautifully with his Jewish identity in Israel. He upheld Shabbat, kept kosher, and felt right at home among the diverse mix of people. He said, "You see Muslims, every type of Christian, every type of Jew, and then you see tourists. There's a place for everyone, and I think that's very appreciated."
Hockey Isn't Work, It's a Passion:
This past summer, the 5-11 174 IBs center took his passion for the game to the next level. Sol coached youth hockey, spent his third season as a counselor at the Warrior Ice Arena's Bruins Junior camp, and became the strength and conditioning coach for Boston University's Men's and Women's D1 ice hockey programs and alums. How did he land that gig? It turns out that years of working out with his trainer paid off, proving that training off the ice can be as crucial as mastering those dangles.
The 20-year-old has since taken his talents to Yeshiva University, where he made a jaw-dropping first impression in front of his roller hockey teammates.
On September 13th, He had five goals and two assists in the Macs' 13-1 win over the newly formed Narcs in ISCA Play. His teammates couldn't help but marvel at his prowess, YU hockey star Gabriel Rosenblatt put it best: "He's on another level. He's a showstopper. It's insane." "I watched all his games in Israel, he was their best player," said YU star Zach Levy, who had two goals and five points in Yeshivah's season-opening victory. "He's now our best player here."
"Sol's an awesome player and a great locker room guy. His intensity drives everyone", EITAN Levy, who had four goals and an assist in the win, said. "We normally don't take these ISCA in-house league games seriously because they're not NCRHA affiliated. But Feder has shown us it doesn't matter because, at the end of the day, it's hockey."
Sol's passion for hockey extends beyond the rink. With his father and friends' unwavering support, they're bringing an ice hockey team to Yeshiva University in 2023-24. The Macs will be in the ACHA M3 league and the Northeast Division along with Merchant Marine, SIT(Stevens IInstitute of Technology), SUNY Maritime College, Sacred Heart, NJIT(New Jersey Institute of Tech), and ST Thomas.
It's an exciting endeavor, and Sol can't wait to see it take off.
"We know we're going to stink the first couple of seasons and are mentally prepared for that," he joked to themarvzone.com. However, as Sol wisely noted, even the YU Roller Hockey team started slowly and became an NCRHA title contender. The dream is to replicate that success in ice hockey.
For Sol Feder, hockey isn't just a sport; it's a way of life. It's a game where patience, resilience, and an extra 10 minutes on the ice can make all the difference. And with his Jewish faith firmly by his side, there's no telling where this extraordinary journey will take him.
Now, that's a hockey story worth cheering for.
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