In September 2023, the Holy Cross men's hockey team gained two new team members: 8-year-old Bryce and 10-year-old Brodie Linton. The pair joined the Crusaders through Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across the country.
Bryce, who was diagnosed with an immunodeficiency, along with his older brother Brodie, were officially introduced at a signing day press conference at Holy Cross on September 25, 2023. Since then, the boys have participated in many activities with the men's hockey team over the past two seasons, including games, practices, and other team events.
Holy Cross' partnership with Team IMPACT is this month's focus in Atlantic Hockey America's “Building Champions” feature story, presented by JLG Architects.
About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT's unique multi-year program signs children facing serious illness and disability onto college athletic teams across the country, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved.
Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience. Through this process, the non-profit organization ensures everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win, which effectively builds confidence and independence.
Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched over 3,700 children with 800+ colleges and universities in all 50 states, impacting more than 93,000 student-athletes.
The five core values at the foundation of Team IMPACT include empathy, camaraderie, resilience, boldness, and champion. These shared values provide a framework that guide Team IMPACT's actions and beliefs both internally and externally.
Team IMPACT and Holy Cross
Holy Cross has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 14 years. In total, 28 children have been matched across various Holy Cross programs, including the baseball, football, cheerleading, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, swim and dive, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, and men's and women's track and field teams.
On Bryce and Brodie's signing day, head coach Bill Riga said, "Any time we can positively impact people in the community, we need to embrace it and make it happen. Seeing the smiles on Bryce and Brodie's faces was priceless and something that definitely made our day."
Since joining the Crusader hockey team, Bryce and Brodie have participated in practices, bus rides, team acitivies, games, and more.
In Team IMPACT's match story on Bryce and Brodie, Julie Creedon-Linton, the boys' mom, said, “The kids are always smiling and laughing when the players are around."
“On hard days—whether it’s a long day of appointments, labs, treatments—we remind the boys of the next time they get to be with the hockey team", Julie said. "This greatly helps them stay positive and look forward instead of wallowing in the present.”
This season, the brothers were along for the ride as Holy Cross secured its first Atlantic Hockey regular season title since 2006.
The Linton family and their connection with the Holy Cross hockey team serves as an example of the warmth and friendship that come from Team IMPACT's core values.
For more information about Team IMPACT, or if you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit www.teamimpact.org.
JLG Architects is the country’s architect of choice for college and university sports programs striving to win championships, top-tier athletes, and year-round revenue opportunities. JLG offers a full spectrum of services, from campus master planning and environmental brand building to architectural design for multi-use community, collegiate, and progressional sports and recreation facilities. Home to the nation’s only Certified Ice Rink Manager/Certified Ice Technician Architect, a robust roster of award-winning arena designers, and an elite multi-purpose event center and operational team — JLG breaks the ice for unrivaled design that builds campus and community pride.