A special Salute To Service game for Reign's Luke Rowe, who took a different route to the AHL

Defenseman Luke Rowe is unlike any other player to ever wear an Ontario Reign jersey.

He did something only a few hockey players have ever done, played well after studying at the United States Service Academy.

Rowe attended the Air Force Academy from 2019-24, preparing for the Falcons in four NCAA seasons. The Air Force, along with the Army, are the only two institutions in the US to field men's hockey teams in Division I while also sending graduates as officers to the military.

Now as a member of the Reign, the blueliner uses a policy established in 2019, approved by the secretary of defense that allows athletes with special talent who have graduated from the military school to pursue a career as professional sports. athletes following graduation.

To do so, athletes need a contract or binding commitment from a sports team, such as the AHL deal Rowe signed with the Reign last February. He originally signed with Ontario for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign but agreed to an extension through 2024-25 and has appeared in a total of 15 games so far, scoring a goal and three assists.

A native of Succasunna, NJ, Rowe played minor hockey close to home with the New Jersey Rockets and Boston Jr. Bruins programs and knew he wanted to continue his career at the NCAA level.

“I definitely have room for improvement,” Rowe said of his thought process as he prepares to graduate from high school. “I have been talking to schools hoping that I will get somewhere.”

At the time his older brother was attending Florida State and visiting the big school in Tallahassee was an eye opener for him.

“I've seen people that it can make you and maybe your lack of it in the sense that you have a lot of free time,” said Rowe. “It was the first time you were away from home and many children make mistakes and I didn't want that. It was too loose for me; I wanted more regimen.”

He made it to the Air Force and went to boot camp when he was 17.

“I loved this place; it was great,” Rowe said of his first time in Colorado Springs. “You feel all the honor and heritage and tradition behind you, and you get the chance to serve your country at the end and it was a slam dunk for me. Not to mention the friendship that everyone talks about and the bonds that you have with the person that is there on the other side.”

When Rowe decided to go west and play on the blue line in the Air Force, he committed to serving as an Army officer as soon as he graduated. A policy for professional athletes was not yet available.

“I made the commitment when I fully knew that my hockey career would end after four years and I would go and serve,” said Rowe. I was happy to do it and I still am, I'm happy to serve, but when that changed I thought 'Okay, maybe something can happen here'”.

Then before his senior season, which was his third as team captain, Rowe attended the NHL Development Camp with the New Jersey Devils. The experience made him think that a professional hockey career was something he could pursue.

He had his best offensive year, scoring 29 points in 35 games with six goals and 23 assists. At the time of his signing, his total points ranked ninth among all NCAA defensemen, and his assists were 10th, and the second most on his team.

Even with this new policy in place, it was rare for Air Force graduates to be awarded a contract or choose to pursue one. The last Air Force hockey player to sign with a professional team was forward Brady Tomlak, who played two seasons in the ECHL from 2020-22. Goaltender Billy Christopoulos is another freshman who finished his college career in 2019 before playing 12 AHL games and 80 ECHL contests during a three-year career.

Another rookie, Shane Starrett, signed a two-year NHL entry contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 2017. Starrett is still working with the ECHL's Maine Mariners this year. No Air Force player has ever reached the National Hockey League.

Rowe's daily routine at school included a 6:15 a.m. class before class started at 7:15 a.m. During his senior year, he added an additional role as a team leader, including setting up morning accountability sessions to inform leaders of important updates three times a week.

Members of the hockey team are in class until lunch before they are released for athletic activities. Rowe said he would stay in class until 11:23 am, then get up and go to lunch, and everyone would get 20 minutes to eat as a family. After that there may be an all-cadet briefing with a keynote speaker, then the hockey team will have practice, weight training, therapy if necessary and a team video session that Rowe said will end around 7 p.m. i still have to eat dinner and work on homework before bed and prepare for the next day.

“You try to get to bed early, but it didn't happen much where I was in bed before midnight,” Rowe said with a smile after recounting what his typical day would be like.

Whether it's the result of military training, or his natural energy and enthusiasm, the way Rowe approaches each day in the ring is unlike anyone else. That enthusiasm can be seen in his defensive coach, Chris Hajt.

“Yes, he has a way of doing things,” said Hajt. He is prepared in everything he does. He has his own way of getting ready for games or preparing his daily routine in the gym or on the ice, and he is willing to take direction and listen. Not that the other guys aren't there, but you can tell he's dialed in and he's very strong.”

Whenever Rowe's time as a professional hockey player comes to an end, he will head to San Antonio, Tex. and start training to work as a drone pilot. His focus and intensity that Hajt talked about was strengthened in this institution.

“They just shoot you with a fire hose, and you have a Dixie cup,” Rowe said. “And you have to hold the important things in that cup. You won't get it all, you won't be successful at it all, but that's what they want to learn that you have to prioritize. It's all about time management. We don't do everything 50% but we do the important things 100%, making sure that is signed off and delivered. It's right, it's professional, it's accurate and you try to do everything and you know you're going to fail. “

Hajt added that he can almost see the wheels turning in Rowe's head when he explains a concept to him or watches video of a previous game. And he immediately thinks about how he can use the improvement in his preparation and apply it to the game.

“He's experienced real situations and he's been able to find different things that we haven't,” said Hajt. “You want to have a plan. You want to know the answers. He wants to be able to look at the things he analyzed and put them to use.”

The Reign will welcome military members to the Inland Empire community Friday night, both active duty and veterans, during their annual Salute To Service game against the Texas Stars. With Rowe being a member of the roster, this year's game has a little extra to it.

“It definitely brings more awareness, having him on the team,” Hajt said. “We are so grateful for our military, our veterans and everyone who is serving right now.”

Using some tips from Rowe in the design process, Reign will wear special jerseys on Friday that nod to the Air Force. It's a fitting way to honor one of the greats who is still dedicated to serving our country whenever his hockey time ends.

“There's a great military community here and people support us,” Rowe said. “It's funny because they came to show their gratitude for watching you play hockey, but your gratitude to them, you can't even say. I am happy and it is an honor for me to share that and convey my gratitude to the people who work, who have worked, and who have sacrificed themselves.”