Atlantic Hockey Online Spotlight: Seeing Double at Bentley

February 10, 2004

Courtesy of Cameron Robinson, Bentley College Sports Information Department

Twin brothers are rare in society and twin brothers playing Division I hockey is even more rare, in fact, just three schools boast a set of twin brothers on their rosters this season. The Methven brothers, Bill and Bryce play for Bemidji State. Cam and Chris Abbott skate for powerhouse Cornell University and Josh and Jeremy Chase lace ‘em up here in Waltham, Mass. for the Bentley College Falcons.

The two five-foot seven-inch, Korean-born twins hail from Big Rapids, Mich. and if it weren’t for some different hair dye and different positions on the ice, you would have some trouble deciphering Josh from Jeremy. Josh has frosted ends on his longer, spiked hair, wears number seven and is a defenseman. Jeremy has shorter dark hair and wears his number 17 sweater as a forward. But both skate with reckless abandon and handle the puck with tremendous precision and skill and have Bentley skating competitively night in and night out in the Atlantic Hockey Association.

The brothers Chase moved from Korea at a very young age and were adopted by a family in Michigan. Their father, Doug, coached the two boys throughout their younger years, all the way up until they entered the junior ranks.

Jeremy, the younger brother, started playing hockey when he was six years old. Josh would go to the rink and picked up the nuances of the sport through watching his brother and picked up a stick as a seven year old and began to play.

Together as a tandem growing up, junior league coaches told them the chances of playing together through juniors was very unlikely and that playing in college together was even less likely. Not discouraged, the two made it a goal that they would skate together through juniors and hopefully into the DI college ranks.

The Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League was the Chase’s home team for two years after graduating from Big Rapids High School. Jeremy ran things as a forward and Josh skated his way to all-star accolades as a defenseman.

When it came time to picking a place for college, Josh and Jeremy were faced with the realization that this may be the end of their playing days together.

“Different schools looked at each of us,” says Jeremy, “but we really wanted to reach our goal of playing together in college and we ended up being kind of a package deal.”

With childhood friends such as junior Seth Vinocur already attending Bentley, along with the school’s strong academic reputation, Josh and Jeremy’s decision was rather easy.

“There were a lot influences in our decision to come to Bentley,” Josh explains, “We knew some of the guys already and it’s just a great school, great campus, great academics and hockey wise we thought we could come in and make an impact.”

The Chase’s were members of a freshman class from a year ago that propelled Bentley to its most successful season since joining Division I. The Falcons won 15 games after winning just eight games the two previous seasons combined and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals for the first time ever. This season, the two have combined to score four goals and have added nine assists.

“Jeremy and Josh realize they have been given an opportunity and they do everything the possibly can to take full advantage of their situation,” said head coach Ryan Soderquist, “and from school work to off the ice training they both exemplify the mind frame of the perfect collegiate athlete.”

Although they are outsized many nights on the ice, Josh and Jeremy feed off each other by pushing one another both on and off the ice and have developed a competitive fire that carries into daily routines.

“We always compete against each other,” said Josh, “we always push each other, and compete with one another to get better. Whether it be in hockey or just playing video games.”

When asked about their competitive nature with each other it was a split decision. Jeremy’s 3.7 GPA is just a few percentage points higher than Josh’s and he is the better golfer, but Josh is ahead of his brother in career points on the ice and has a slight edge in wins in Tiger Woods Golf on Play Station.

When their playing days are over here at Bentley, Josh and Jeremy, who are both business management majors, have some visions for their future. Josh has aspirations to own and manage his own restaurant and Jeremy wants to take what he has learned on the ice and in the classroom and put it to use as a coach at the collegiate level.

In the meantime, the Chase’s have plenty of hockey to play in Waltham and are looking forward to moving the Bentley hockey program closer to their goal of a league championship.