As we make our way through the current Rangers stars, there is one player that stands out due to ability and high stats: Adam Fox. Adam Fox is a defenseman for the Rangers and while only being on the team for 3 years, he has certainly made a name for himself. From being the top defenseman in the National Developmental League to the top defenseman in the National Hockey League, Fox has and will continue to elevate his game throughout his promising career.
Adam Fox was born on February 17, 1998, in Jericho, New York. In fact, Adam’s parents were New York Rangers season ticket holders for 37 years – little did he know that his son would become a Rangers star in the future! Fox attended high school in Jericho but later transferred to Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At Pioneer High School, Fox played lacrosse, soccer, and hockey. He played two seasons, from 2014 to 2016, in the National Team Development Program and led all defensemen in goals, assists, and points. He was also named the 2016 IIHF World Under 18 World Championship Best Defenseman. After high school, Fox went to Harvard University to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for three years and to study psychology. At Harvard, Fox made prominent impacts on the team and was consistently ranked as one of the top defensemen in the NCAA. Aside from his incredible athletic ability, Fox also put emphasis on his field of study. He was fascinated by people’s thought process and began to focus on the mental aspect of sports. In an interview at an International Championship, he stated, “I think everyone can look at someone like Tom Brady and want to know what he does that takes him to such an elite level. The mental part of sport is so huge, and I try and use whatever I’ve learned, and can learn, to help me on the ice. It’s a big aspect of my game.” Fox was drafted into the NHL in 2016 by Calgary Flames as the 66th overall pick. Even though he was drafted, Fox stayed at Harvard to develop his game. During the time between drafting and his NHL debut, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018 and finally, to the Rangers in 2019.
Fox made his NHL debut in 2019 with the Rangers and has been a star ever since. In his rookie year, the defenseman recorded 42 points in 70 games. However, it was in his second season that Fox truly shined. Only being able to play 55 games due to COVID restrictions and season shortages, Fox still managed to record 47 points in that time frame. It was that season when Fox won the Norris Trophy, which is given to the best defenseman in the league. Fox led the Rangers in average ice time and was +19 (meaning for every point scored while he was on the ice, he receives a +1 or -1 rating depending on the team that scored). This season, he has played in 44 games and has 47 points already. Many sports commentators and fans believe he is on track to win yet another Norris Trophy by the end of this season.
With the season being just about halfway completed, Rangers fans are ecstatic about the work Fox has done. I, personally, am very excited to watch the way his game develops and the stats he will continue to put up!
I always think these blogs are so amazing despite knowing nothing about hockey. I loved the fact that his parents had season tickets to Rangers games way before they knew their son would play hockey there. Fox seems like a really impressive player considering his statistics and the awards he has won. I think it is admirable that he truly cares about his field of study, because you do not find that in many big-time athletes.
It’s crazy how many amazing players this team has. I love hearing about them and their back stories. I wonder if all the different sports Fox played helped him grow as a player and teammate. I also find it inspiring that he was able to excel academically and with hockey. Balancing everything is not an easy feat, so it’s impressive that he was able to juggle both of his interests and passions. I would tend to agree that where you are mentally dramatically impacts how you perform in your sport. It’s so cool he could find the intersection between hockey and psychology. I can’t wait to hear about the next player you talk about.
I am a big fan of your post setup. You introduce the player and what they are super known for or good at like a little preview, then go right into their life story from the beginning and show the journey, ending with stats and current info. It’s also crazy how much you know about this team and all of its current and past players which is definitely something everyone can appreciate.