The 2023-2024 season was the Clemson hockey team’s most successful to date. The team collected 10 wins in the fall semester — more than it had the entire previous season — and made significant showings in the College Hockey South DII playoffs and the AAU DII national tournament, both accomplishments it had yet to achieve in the same season. According to forward Conor Brydges, last season was the feather in the cap of his experience as a Tiger.
Since joining the team in the fall of 2021, Brydges has had a front-row seat to watching the program’s development; from missing the playoffs with a 9-10-0 record his first season to going 17-12-1 and making playoffs and nationals, Brydges describes his experience with this growing program as nothing short of an honor.
“Watching the program develop has been incredible,” he said in an interview with The Tiger. “Being part of some historic seasons has been an honor, especially being surrounded by the most amazing group of teammates who I consider brothers. We hit some bumps in the road, but with our backs to the wall, the only way to go is forward. A little adversity never hurt, and with the young guys we have now, Clemson hockey will only keep growing.”
The Fairport, New York, native began his hockey career at five years old; his interest in the sport sparked from his father’s and brother’s experiences playing in their youth.
“I was late to my first practice,” Brydges explained. “So, when I got there, my dad helped me quickly put on my equipment, but I was getting ready so fast I never put my pants on, and then I stepped on the ice and fell right on my (expletive).”
And thus, the forward’s career as a hockey player was born.
Being from New York, Brydges did not grow up a Clemson fan. Instead, he was introduced to the University by some close high school friends.
“After learning more about it, I realized it was the only school I wanted to go to,” Brydges said. “It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Before graduating high school, Brydges knew he wanted to extend his hockey career into his college experience. When he discovered Clemson’s club hockey team, he was sold.
“I had heard about how much college hockey was growing in the South,” he added. “I looked into it and saw Clemson had a team and got to take some sweet road trips, so I was very eager to join.”
Since then, Brydges has found his closest friends and made lasting memories with the team, his favorite of which being Clemson’s trip to Charleston, South Carolina, to play Coastal Carolina last fall.
“(We got) two road wins and got to spend time in an awesome city,” Brydges said.
Brydges is a senior financial management major and hopes to start a career in the southeast, working either in media or entertainment finance.
