It’s Winter 2026 and the New Jersey Devils fans stream into the Prudential Center in Newark for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. As the players take the ice, an entirely different team is already hard at behind the scenes. They won’t wear jerseys, hear their names announced, or appear on the scoresheet, but their impact on the team and on the National Hockey League is essential. Three members of that team are Xaverian alumni whose passion for the sport and hard work turned into careers at the very highest level of professional hockey.

New Jersey Devils Strength and Conditioning Coach Joe Lorincz ’01 is preparing players for another physically demanding night, tailoring workouts and recovery plans that help them perform throughout an 82-game season. Just down the hallway, Head Physical Therapist Michael Coyne ’09 is evaluating injuries, coordinating treatments, and determining which players are ready to compete. Fifteen miles away, NHL Vice President of Player Safety Patrick Burke ’01 and his staff are monitoring every game being played that night, reviewing dangerous hits and helping determine whether supplemental discipline is warranted.

As the Strength and Conditioning Coach, Joe’s goal isn’t simply to make his athletes stronger, it’s to help them stay healthy through one of the most physically demanding schedules in professional sports. “There are really only three kinds of days,” he says. “Practice day, game day, and off day.” The reality, he explains, is much more complicated. No two days are alike. A player’s workout may shift because of treatment, a meeting with coaches, or recovery from the previous night’s game. Every decision balances performance with health. “What’s most important is balancing what the team is doing on the ice with what they’re doing off the ice.”

For Mike, every day begins with questions. Who is healthy enough to practice? Who needs treatment? Who can play tonight? Those answers rarely come easily. Throughout the day, Mike communicates with physicians, specialists, coaches, and players while overseeing rehabilitation plans that can stretch from days to months. “It’s never just one person,” he explains. “There are constant conversations happening.” Many of those conversations are with Joe. The two Hawks communicate throughout the day, coordinating workouts and rehabilitation so that every player receives exactly what he needs. “I worked on this-or-that,” Mike says of their frequent text exchanges. “Could you address that while lifting?” Their partnership is one most fans never see, but one the organization relies on every day.

While Joe and Mike work for one team, Patrick’s decisions affect all 32 NHL teams. As the league’s Vice President of Player Safety, Patrick helps oversee suspensions, fines, equipment standards, and player safety initiatives. “My department is in charge of discipline,” he explains. “Fines, suspensions, and whatnot.” It is one of the league’s most scrutinized positions.

Every controversial hit, dangerous play, or disciplinary decision is analyzed by players, coaches, media members, and millions of fans. As the arena empties and fans head home, the work isn’t over. Recovery plans are adjusted, injuries are evaluated, game footage is reviewed, and preparations for the next game have already begun. For Joe, Mike, and Patrick, the responsibilities may differ, but the commitment is the same. Each built a career at the highest level of professional hockey, but all three point to the same foundation: the lessons and relationships they first found at Xaverian. For Joe, one encounter years after graduation perfectly captures why those relationships have endured and why he made the decision to return home to Xaverian.

“A few years ago, I was back on campus when Jim Conley heard my voice, turned around, and 

immediately said, ‘Joe?!’ I hadn’t seen him in nearly 25 years. That moment reminded me what makes Xaverian so special. You’re never just another student there. The teachers and staff genuinely care, they invest in you, and they remember you long after you graduate. I have always been grateful for the way in which this community has shaped my life and I am so happy to be back.”

Read more about Joe’s new role here.