A freak on-ice incident sent Railers forward Jack Quinlivan head-on into battle with papillary thyroid cancer, leading to an inspiring, and improbable return to the ice less than a year later.
Life is about finding the silver linings, the rays of color among shades of gray.
Few could call a concussion-inducing hit a blessing in disguise, but for Shrewsbury, Massachusetts native Jack Quinlivan, an on-ice run-in on December 11, 2022, could have saved his life.
Examined by the Worcester Railers medical staff in the immediate aftermath of the jarring collision, trainers discovered an abnormal bump, urging the then 26-year-old to undergo an ultrasound.
Within days, Quinlivan was diagnosed with an advanced form of papillary thyroid cancer and was immediately sent to renowned expert Gregory W. Randolph, director of Thyroid and Parathyroid Endocrine Surgery at Mass Eye and Ear.
Six months of treatment and two surgeries later to remove several chains of cancerous lymph nodes that had spread throughout his body, Quinlivan finds himself on the other side of an affliction that, without detection and intervention, could have claimed his life.
Reflecting on the period some 10 months later, he realizes the gravity of the situation. His brush with mortality has left him with a new lease on life and an invigorated spirit for the road ahead.
“Everything kind of works out for a reason, and I'm really thankful this worked out in my favor. The cancer was advanced to where it was spreading throughout my neck, and who knows if I had never found it, it could have spread to other parts of my body and mutated into something worse. You never know. This was honestly a blessing in disguise,” he shared during a candid sit-down with The Hockey News.
Quinlivan makes an improbable comeback when he takes to the ice with the Railers to start the 2023-24 ECHL campaign this October.
He’s had to re-tool and readjust what he calls his, ‘new body’, undergoing months of rehabilitation, though he’s quick to note he’s tempering on-ice expectations for now.
“It was really tough at first. Your neck is really stiff and sore. And when they did the surgery, they kind of cut up a lot of muscle in there, so it's just about rebuilding that first and then a lot of breathing. Everything had to start super slow, even though my body felt good, like the rest of my body besides my neck and shoulder area. You wanted to push it, but at the same time, you need to learn how to breathe again, learn how to have your body move again,” he shared of his recovery.
“I took a while to get used to my new body. So there were a lot of questions, but the recovery process was really good. I mean, there are days where it's really frustrating like you can't do anything, but then there's also days where you're like alright, I can get the hang of this. I'd say around the beginning of August I was feeling really good to give it another chance.”
A product of the University of Maine, where he suited up for five seasons from 2016-22, Quinlivan was making headway in his first season with the Railers in 2022-23, becoming a reliable on-ice fixture whose hard-nosed style and ability to shift the momentum of a game endeared him to fans and coaching staff alike.
He hopes to be able to regain that momentum in due course.
“I was on a really good path last year in the few games I had played and they had liked what they'd seen out of me. I want to get back to that point where I was feeling good, but I know it's going to take some time,” he admits.
“I'm feeling really good now, but obviously the season's a whole different monster, with the amount of games you play and practices. But I have a great coaching staff that is really understanding of that. Like they've already had discussions with me that we know your situation and we're going to be patient. But I want to give it my all for them.
“I want to play and I'm just looking to be a reliable forward that can play on both sides of the puck, that makes smart plays, that makes big energy effort plays for the team, and can turn momentum into games and in our favor, and a guy that can also score the puck. I want to say I'm not an offensive specialist, but I have a good shot and can create offense on my own. And I'm also a very physical, hard-nosed player and I want to get back to playing that way. I think that's what makes me a valuable player is my work ethic and my intensity on the ice.”
Growing up mere minutes from Worcester, Quinlivan will play the part of the proverbial hometown hero when he takes the ice on October 21st against Adirondack.
Admitting that he’s “a fairly emotional guy,” especially in light of recent events, he knows stepping on the ice in front of friends and family will be a sobering experience.
But it’s one day at a time for Jack Quinlivan, and he deserves the opportunity to soak it all in.
“You really gotta take things day by day, you know? It's so easy to think ahead and look at the timelines, a certain game, or the first game you're excited to play. But I just got to focus on that first day of training camp for now and I'm super excited about that and to get back,” he says with conviction.
“I want to get back to battling with the guys every day, preparing for that first game and just getting the season going. That first day of training camp has been on my mind and getting ready for that, and then we'll go from there. I think my body's going to hold up and I'm feeling really good. I've put in a lot of work to get to where I am and I'm just super excited for it. It's another good opportunity to keep playing and pursuing the career you want to pursue. I'm just super excited. So one day at a time for me.”
His parting thoughts are the selfless, big-picture kind. He’s shared his story - harrowing as it is - with the hopes of inspiring and cautioning vigilance, urging those to seek medical advice if something feels off. It may be the difference between life and death.
“I don't really care if my hockey season or my career was on hold, everyone's health is the most important thing. The biggest reason why I want to share my story is because I want everyone to kind of take their health into a primary focus. Even the slightest bit, if you haven't been feeling yourself for a little while, go see your doctor and get checked, get screened,” he says, impassioned.
“You never really know, because this can honestly happen to anyone. I considered myself a healthy guy. I take my training and my diet seriously. And it's just a freak incident. There was no family history of this disease for me. It can happen to anyone.”