Thursday night will be a memorable one for Woburn’s Marc Gatcomb, his friends and his family.

The former Woburn High hockey standout that went on to a successful four-year career

at the University of Connecticut, will be wearing No. 16 and skating for the New York

Islanders when they visit TD Garden to play the Bruins at 7 p.m.

Gatcomb saw his first professional action on Jan. 14 when the Islanders called him up

for their game against Ottawa.

He’s been with the team ever since.

Gatcomb is making the most of his opportunity.

In 13 games, he has scored three goals, handed out an assist and has compiled a +13

rating. Gatcomb even had a fight with Tampa Bay’s Cam Atkinson, and he won that too.

Woburn High hockey coach Jim Duran, who coached Gatcomb for two years with the Tanners,

is absolutely thrilled to see Gatcomb skating with the best talent in the world.

“It’s awesome,” Duran said. “He has worked so hard and he’s always worked hard. He’s

always had the talent.”

“Obviously, the goal was to make it to the NHL,” Gatcomb said. “Now, it’s about how do I stay.

You have to establish yourself and create a role. What can you bring to the team every night?

Consistency is probably the biggest thing. You can’t afford to take a game or a shift off.”

Gatcomb scored his first NHL goal on Jan. 30 in a 3-0 win against Philadelphia. He

scored again on Feb. 2 in a 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers with his parents in the

stands watching.

Gatcomb added a third goal on Feb. 7 against Winnipeg.

Sunday, Gatcomb chalked up his first assist on a goal by Pierre Engvall.

When Gatcomb got his call to the NHL, he experienced his Rookie Lap, a tradition that sees a

rookie who is making his debut take to the ice before the rest of the team and do a lap around

the ice by himself.

“It was pretty cool,” he said. “It was nerve-wracking. You’re the only one out there. It was

probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my whole life. And anyone that knows me knows

that I’m the exact opposite of a nervous person.”

Gatcomb’s first-ever goal was a beauty as he tucked a pass from teammate Max Tsyplakov just

under the crossbar.

“Max made a really good pass,” said Gatcomb. “It was definitely cool and it was really cool to

see the reaction of my teammates. Everyone wants each other to succeed.”

Gatcomb’s hockey journey started in Woburn.

As a freshman in high school, he attended Arlington Catholic before playing for Woburn High as

a sophomore and junior. The Tanners went to the Div. 1A “Super 8” tournament when Gatcomb

was a sophomore.

As a senior, Gatcomb transferred to the Gunnery School in Connecticut, where he played for

two years.

Along the way, he worked consistently with Dan Holland, a hockey skills coach.

“He’s been awesome,” said Gatcomb, who worked with Holland for almost 10 years. “He

helped transition my game a lot. I was definitely a raw player.”

After UConn, Gatcomb signed a one-year deal with the American Hockey League affiliate of the

Vancouver Canucks. After that contract ended, Gatcomb joined the New York Islander

organization.

In the minors, Gatcomb was a picture of consistency.

Then, he got the call up to the big squad.

“It’s still a little surreal,” Gatcomb said. “It definitely took a lot of sacrifices and hard

work. There are countless other players in my situation, but my friends and family were

pushing me to get better. It took a lot of hard work.”

There is likely to be plenty of fans at the Bruins game on Thursday cheering for New York’s No.

16. Gatcomb said several of his friends made the trip to New York to see his NHL debut.

Indeed, Gatcomb still has plenty of ties to Woburn.

“I text with (Woburn High coach Jim Duran) after every game, and I work out with Riley

(Duran),” said Gatcomb. “I’m excited for Riley as well.”

Riley Duran, currently in the Bruins organization, is playing for the Providence Bruins, hoping

to get a similar call to Gatcomb.

Gatcomb admits, two Woburn boys playing at the world’s highest level of hockey is a

unique situation.

“But this shows the young kids that if you work hard, anything is possible,” he said.

“Dedication and sacrifice.”

“It’s so hard to do,” Coach Duran said of making it to the NHL. “But Marc just works so

hard in the offseason. He’s always been that way and he comes from a great family that

has been very supportive. It’s unbelievable.”

“I just have to take it day by day,” Gatcomb said. “And I have to bring the intensity that got me

here.”