Ever since Kevin Gallagher was three years old, he has been on the ice leading his hockey team. Whether he was leading the team in scoring or encouraging his him as a leader, he has been out there doing what he does best, playing hockey.

Gallagher is currently first in the league standings after playing only six games. He has earned almost as many points, goals and assists, as players who have played up to nine games this season.

Even though he is only a freshman, he still is a major leader on the team. Besides having the most goals and assists on his team, he also leads the team much like captain Chris Sherlock, and alternate captain Ram Lowrie do.

“Ram and Chris and the other seniors are the main leaders on the team but when Kevin steps on the ice he motivates the other players to go for a goal,” Coach Sherlock said. “Undoubtedly he will be a major leader on the team for the next three years”.

Gallagher helps the other players by giving advice and helpinh in thedrills. This has put some pressure on him but he says he does it because he wants to not because anybody is making him.

However, the pressures of being a top player in a high school league has never fazed him. Being on the power play line, he sometimes feels pressure to score, but Gallagher says it just makes him want it more. He also says playing on the power line with Sherlock and Lowrie makes him feel like one of the best because he is playing along side some of best players on the team.

“When I see my name on the northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League Web site, I actually really like it,” Gallagher said. “I like that other coaches and players can see that I am at the top because I like when they try to shut me down. It just makes me play harder.”

Gallagher’s brother, now 21, has encouraged him his whole life to keep playing hockey. Gallagher’s brother has often given him pointers, and has been a huge reason why Gallagher still plays today and will probably continue playing as long as he can.

Gallagher moved here from Maryland in 7th grade, and wanted to play for McLean from the moment he found out there was a team.

The hockey team is not viewed as an offical team sport, but all the players still feel the Highlander pride of playing on a McLean sports team. However, Sherlock hopes it will become a school-funded sport by the time he has graduated.

“Every other sport gets to be within the high school so I do not understand why hockey can not be as well,” Gallagher said. “We do not even get to put the Highlander on our jersey.”

Gallagher is up for the challenge of going back to division one with his team next year. Coach Sherlock thinks that he has adequately prepared his team to play in the harder division. He knows this is a building year and has made sure to teach his young and new players everything he can to prepare them for the competition the following years will bring.

“I am glad we played in tier 2 this year, not so keen on the idea at first, but I think it has really helped us make this a growing year and we will be more prepared to go back,” captain Sherlock said.

Gallagher is not planning on stopping his hockey career any time soon. At number two in the league standings and number one on his team, he just wants to do bigger things.

“I love hockey, it is just that simple,” Gallagher said.