Former NHL player seeks new pro talent

Sheehy, who works out of his I-C-E Hockey Agency office in the Twin Cities, was on hand in the stands earlier this month for a men’s college hockey game at AMSOIL Arena when he spoke about being an NHLPA certified agent and being among the next group of inductees in the Bronco Athletic Hall of Fame.

“It’s always an honor when you’re being honored by your hometown,” Sheehy said. “I played with a lot of my close friends, and that’s part of the Minnesota culture. I had the good fortune of playing with some really, really good players, and it will be a lot of fun to go back and see a lot of family, see friends, and guys I’ve played with.”

Sheehy said he doesn’t think his induction into the Bronco Athletic Hall of Fame is because of how he played hockey in high school.

“It’s surely isn’t for the best high school player, because I was far from that,” he said. “But I guess it was over a career and I just never gave up.

“My fortune came after I left International Falls and what I did after that.”

While growing up in the Falls, Sheehy said he was fortunate to have high school head coach Larry Ross and several other coaches who influenced his life.

“I just was always coached by first-class individuals that cared who you were as a person first and hockey was really second,” he said.

After graduating from high school, Sheehy attended Philips Academy in Massachusetts for the 1978-79 school year, earning letters in cross country. hockey and track. After being accepted into Harvard, he played college hockey for the Crimson, which qualified for the NCAA hockey tournament during his junior and senior seasons.

Following his career at Harvard, Sheehy signed a National Hockey League contract with the Calgary Flames, for which he played from 1983-88 and then again during the 1991-92 season. He played in the 1986 Stanley Cup finals, losing to the Montreal Canadiens.

Sheehy also played professionally with the Hartford Whalers and Washington Capitals. He closed out his professional play with two seasons in Slovenia and also represented the United States at the World Hockey Championships in 1985 and 1992.

Following his pro hockey career, Sheehy graduated from the William Mitchell College of Law and has been a lawyer/agent since 1994.

Sheehy’s older brother, Tim, who was among last year’s inaugural group of inductees into the Bronco Athletic Hall of Fame, is based on the East Coast and works with him representing NHL hockey players.

“It’s fun to be able to do your own thing, but also work with your brother and work in the game that you love,” Neil Sheehy said.

Tim Sheehy was part of the 1964-65 Bronco boys hockey team that won a state championship and will also be inducted the evening of April 20 at the Hall of Fame banquet being held at the AmericInn in International Falls.

Next month’s inductees will also include former head football coach Frank “Butch” Larson, former athletic director Walt Scheela and former Bronco hockey player Mike “Lefty” Curran.

When looking for hockey players who have the potential to continue playing in the NHL, Neil Sheehy said their speed on the ice is important.

“You have to really be able to skate to play in the National Hockey League, so you look for guys that can skate and bring something special to their game, because it takes something special to play in the National Hockey League,” he said.

Neil Sheehy said he tries to use some of his experiences in his 11 years as a professional player to help the players he represents, many of whom are from Minnesota.

Though he is now based in the Twin Cities, Neil Sheehy said he still regards International Falls as his home, where he continues to visit, and is also looking forward to next month’s induction ceremony.

“I think it’s going to be a night to see friends and guys I’ve played with and people in the Falls community to really celebrate the Falls,” he said.