2002-03

Team Leaders

The Biggest Save!

by Tom O'Brien, Asst. Athletic Director/Director of Sports Information, Merrimack College

There was nothing unusual about that playoff game night on March 7, 2003 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Joe Exter was having another banner game in net, stopping 29 shots through 53 minutes to keep his team in its Hockey East playoff game against Boston College. His 18^th save of the night set a Merrimack College record for saves in a season and added to the many accolades he had already garnered. An incredible year for this senior goaltender was coming to a close and he seemed to be going out in Exter-like fashion, with the combination of skill, determination, and leadership rarely found in one student-athlete. Just as any other night in his career, Joe was putting forth his best effort, keeping his team within one goal of one of the top programs in the nation. Then...the unthinkable happened.

With just over six minutes remaining in the game, Joe and an opposing player rushed toward a loose puck. The two players arrived at the puck at the same time, resulting in a high-speed collision that left Joe unconscious on the ice. From the moment of that collision, Joe's fight for a hockey win stopped and the fight for his life began. He was rushed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston with what was described as a severe head injury and was listed in critical condition.

Lying in a coma at Beth Israel, the days to come would be a frightening time. It was uncertain if Joe would wake up. The severity of the injury was uncertain. And it was uncertain if Joe would ever come back to lead a normal life. The only thing certain was the strength of his support system, starting with his family and extending to the Merrimack community and beyond.

Joe had carried this program on his back for the entire season, taking it to a level that nobody expected. Now it was time for that program he had brought together to show its sense of community. It did so in a manner worthy of Joe Exter and everything he has always represented as a player and a person.

Expressions of support for Joe and his family began pouring in from everywhere. The Exter house in Cranston, Rhode Island and Merrimack College were flooded with cards, emails and phone calls carrying the message of hope in the days and weeks to come. The college established a prayer message board on its web site offering a way for people to express their feelings. This resulted in hundreds of posts from around the world with prayers and kind words. People all over campus and at hockey arenas around the country also wore blue and gold ribbons to show their support.

While the Merrimack students were on spring break that week, it did not stop them from showing their unequivocal support for their classmate from afar. Two days after returning from the break, a mass was held in the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher on campus. Close to 900 people showed up, packing the church to capacity. Students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni and many friends of Merrimack poured into the church to pray together and share their feelings. Joe's parents Mark and Donna also attended and received many hugs and encouraging words from those in attendance.

"I am certain that our time, our energy and our prayers are already making a difference in Joe's recovery," said Merrimack College President Richard J. Santagati at the time. "At a time such as this, we remember again how important we are to one another and how fortunate we are to find strength, comfort and love within our community."

Joe's friends, family and many others wished they could do more for Joe during this time. To say that those close to him knew he come out of this would be far from accurate as there was fear and doubt in many minds as Joe battled for his life. But those who knew Joe Exter knew that if anyone could come back from this, it would be him. And he did.

Nine days after the accident, Joe woke up and was upgraded to fair condition. This great news warranted a sigh of relief.

However it was still doubtful that Joe would fully recover. The doctors were not sure if he would regain his voice because of damage to his vocal cords. He was also having trouble swallowing and they were unsure if he would be able to eat on his own and return to a normal life. This is when Joe took over. Where the doctors may have had doubts, Joe did not.

"Early in the stages of my recovery, the doctors kept telling me things that I couldn't do, shouldn't do and wouldn't be able to do. This was not the stuff I felt like I should be hearing," said Exter. He decided to take charge, calling his doctors into the room and suggesting a different approach. "If that's the way you guys think, we are never going to get through this," he told the doctors. "I need to trust you and you need to believe in me. Then we can accomplish what we set out to do."

On March 27, Joe was moved from Beth Israel to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital where the doctors predicted he would stay until at least the end of the summer. His voice improved rapidly and he was soon able to eat on his own. On April 4, just eight days after entering the rehab hospital, Joe was discharged from Spaulding to continue his recovery from home. Joe was quickly shortening what was predicted to be a long road to recovery.

"The doctors said I would be in outpatient rehab for six months," Exter said proudly from his home in Cranston. "I finished in six days."

With that, Joey surprised yet another expert in the field of medicine. This latest surprise came just over a month after a frightening accident, the suddenness and severity of which shocked the hockey world. But the faith and love of his family and friends, the support of the Merrimack community and the will of Joe Exter allowed his story to have a happy ending.

"My family was my backbone. Their support, guidance and faith is what got me through this," added Exter. "They have always dealt with problems in life, big or small, with courage and have taught me to do the same. My family is the reason I am where I am today."

On April 11 he and his family attended the annual Merrimack hockey banquet, where Joe proudly accepted his team Most Valuable Player award. Joe spoke eloquently and cheerfully, bringing laughter and tears of joy to those in attendance with his patented smile rarely leaving his face. He truly appreciates and will never forget the way the Merrimack community was there for him and his family through this difficult time.

"The Merrimack community is so strong and the way they pulled together with support and prayer was amazing. Knowing that everyone was pulling for me made me want to get back to campus and definitely helped me to do so."

Over the weeks to come, Joe returned to the Merrimack campus. He began working out again in the hopes of some day returning to the game of hockey. "It was fun returning to campus. I felt it is where I should be and where I wanted to be; as a part of the Merrimack family."

The media and public attention has been relentless since the accident. Joe's story has appeared in several national publications as well as on numerous television stations. He has handled this attention without hesitation and with the grace and dignity of a seasoned veteran.

"I do not hesitate to do interviews because I know it could help someone going through a similar situation," said Exter. "I have been put in this position for a reason. If patients and families of those in similar situations see that I made it through this, they may start to believe that with faith and support, it can be done."

"One thing I learned from this is that when you see someone else suffering, you should not feel uncomfortable reaching out to help in any way possible," added Exter. "I know there were hundreds, maybe even thousands of people I did not know praying and pulling for me. Every one of those prayers helped."

Joe received many accolades for his play during his senior year. An All-Hockey East Second Team selection and co-winner of the annual three stars award, Joe was also named the league player of the month back in December. He was recognized as the national player of the week twice and was considered by many to be one of the top goaltenders in the country.

While his hockey abilities were recognized, there is not an award out there to acknowledge what Joe did for the Merrimack College hockey program. As team captain his final year, he set out to change the program. While every player wants to win a championship, Joe humbly set more realistic goals for his team although goals that were just as difficult. He wanted this team to change the perception of the program and build a foundation for the future of Warrior hockey. Ask anyone associated with the program and they will tell you he did that and then some.

"Joe Exter is an even better person than he is a hockey player. And Joe is a great hockey player," said Merrimack head coach Chris Serino, Joe's coach for the past four years. "We are all proud of Joe's accomplishments. We're not just proud of him as a hockey player, but for all the other things. If he did not get any awards this year, we'd still be proud of him for the way he pulled our program together."

Joe cherishes the education he earned and his overall experience at Merrimack. "Merrimack College gives you more than just an education. It prepares you for life. Merrimack provides opportunities to be a leader and a follower and to get involved in activities that will benefit you in so many ways in the long run."

May 18, 2003 was going to be a special day in the Volpe Center for the Exter family as well as the families of the other Merrimack graduates. Now just over two months after a life-threatening accident, this day now took on new meaning. "Having been through all this, graduation day was a moment in life I certainly appreciated more."

And as Joe began his walk across the stage in his cap and gown and a grin from ear to ear, a proverbial 'chill' spread across the 6,000 plus in attendance. As he received his diploma, the entire place stood with resounding applause, which by many accounts was one of the loudest ever heard in that building.

Joe had prompted many cheers with spectacular saves over the years in this same arena, but none bigger than this one.

Great save Joey!

Author's note: Working in college athletics, I have the privilege of interacting with hundreds of college student-athletes every year. Joe Exter is the type of person you are lucky to come across just once in a lifetime. His passion for his family, his faith, his sport, his teammates, and his coaches is remarkable. - Tom O'Brien

(Reprinted from the Summer 2003 Merrimack Magazine with permission of the author.)