This year, Declan Jason ‘26 decided to graduate from LT early in the year to continue his hockey career with the Janesville Jets in the North American Hockey League. In order to do this, he had to struggle through two gym classes and two English classes in the first semester of his senior year to make sure he had enough required credits to graduate and pursue his dreams of becoming a hockey star.

He also never took breaks and took any study halls offered, and had to spend his junior year summer taking Consumer Education online, just relying on a chance to play at the next level.

Finally, he was done with his excessive school work and graduated after the first semester finals. Although he doesn’t attend school anymore, he is still able to go to Prom and graduation. 

“Playing in Janesville is something that will help develop my skills and help me reach the goals that I will take with me to college,” Jason said. 

In Janesville, Wisc., Jason starts his day around 8 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, where he and his roommate leave their house around 8:40 a.m. to get to the rink at 8:50 a.m. He has a team meeting from 9-9:15 a.m. and then warms up and stretches before his practice, starting around 10 a.m. and ending no later than 12 p.m. Then, the team has lifts from around 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sometimes, the team participates in community service events like reading to elementary school students, visiting hospitals, and visiting the local YMCA. He usually gets back home around 3:15 p.m., except sometimes on Fridays and Saturdays, around 7 when he has games. The team usually meets up at the rink around 4:45 p.m. to prepare for games.  

“My favorite memory so far has probably been playing in my first game,” Jason said. “The atmosphere and the amount of fans there was something I’ve never played in front of before.” 

Each player on the team gets a billet family to live with from the Jets organization. The Jets have a billet coordinator who controls everything and figures out where players will live. The team is lucky enough to receive applications from families in the area to host players. The families let the players stay with them during the season, and all of the homes are only five to 10 minutes away from the rink. 

“Playing at the next level, juniors, is something that will help me develop as a player,” Jason said. “Playing kids that are way older than me helps me be quicker and stronger on the ice.” 

Jason first reached out to his counselor, Jane Bauer, in April of his junior year to tell her about his opportunity to play hockey at a higher level already in January of his senior year, Bauer said. Bauer then discussed his graduation requirements with him and developed a plan for him to complete his required classes. She also talked to his parents, who were also on board with an early graduation for Jason’s hockey career. 

“[Jason] had always loved playing hockey, and I recognized that he had this unique opportunity to pursue his Hockey development,” Bauer said.

Jason attended many hockey tournaments, which caused him to miss school. So, he had to find a balance between his academics and his hockey career, Bauer said. 

 “[Jason] was always a strong student and got to the college level in math and world language already in his junior year, so he could feel prepared for both opportunities,” Bauer said. 

Jason had taken Driver’s Ed outside of LT and also took a full schedule of classes in his first three years of high school, putting him in a good position to meet all of his graduation requirements, Bauer said.

“He has strong study skills and the intellect to go to college at a later date, but hockey has many factors that could start or stop a career, so I am glad he is going for it,” Bauer said. 

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