Earlier this month, Clemson club hockey player Santiago Diaz received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: an invitation to attend the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ (ECHL) 2024-25 season training camp.
“My dad called it a miracle,” Diaz said in an interview with The Tiger.
There’s no better word to describe the club hockey player’s journey.
From joining Clemson’s club team the year before to potentially playing in a league composed of former NCAA Division I hockey players, some of whom were drafted to National Hockey League teams, this opportunity is nothing short of miraculous.
Diaz elaborated on the unprecedented invitation: “Thinking about the likelihood of someone who never played juniors or even some sort of NCAA hockey getting an invite to training camp is unheard of,” he explained.
“Throughout this whole process over the last half year of training for this, before I even knew if it was going to happen, my dad would always tell me that if it happens, it’s a miracle. Why would a professional team that was at the top of the league last year take a risk with me? It puts it into perspective, and you can see God’s hand in it a lot.”
Diaz was a new addition to Clemson’s team last season, but he quickly asserted himself as a significant member of the record-breaking team, recording 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 16 games.
The 2023-24 season was Clemson’s most successful in program history. The Tigers placed second in the College Hockey South Division II playoff tournament, which they missed the year prior, and advanced to the quarterfinal round in their second-ever AAU DII National Tournament appearance.
Diaz commends his former players and coaches, especially at Clemson, for their roles in his journey leading up to this unprecedented opportunity. In fact, he believes his brief experience as a Tiger played a prominent role in teaching him what it takes to be a better player.
“Every team I’ve played for, every coach, and all my teammates have shaped me into the player I am today,” Diaz said. “Playing for Clemson last season really showed me the areas I lacked and needed to work on. Also, because the group of guys was so great, I was able to get my confidence up and mature mentally in the game.”
However, his lifelong career as a hockey player was only half of the reason Diaz believes he was awarded this illustrious opportunity. He credits it equally in part to “God and a lot of hard work.”
Diaz explained the rigorous training camp process: “Training camp started (Oct. 5) and technically goes all the way up until the season starts on Oct. 18. You have practice and a lift every day as well as recovery and off-ice preparation with the guys.
“It’s been great so far. The team is awesome. From my understanding, guys will eventually start to be sent down from Ontario, and that’s when I’ll get a better idea of my chances to make the team. For now, all I can do is perform to the best of my ability every day.”
However, the Swamp Rabbits received nine players from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, on Oct. 8. As a result, all players signed to a professional tryout, Diaz included, were released from training camp.
Despite the setback, his confidence and hope for the future refuse to yield.
“I think God still has a story to tell here,” Diaz said. “I’m going to keep getting a little better every day and see what doors open and which ones don’t. I’m thankful for the experience, but it’s not over yet.”
