Specifically, he was a role model for his teammates, someone who led by example, and who very much deserved to carry the hard hat that, even today, symbolizes the team's blue-collar mentality; a set of values grounded in hard work and selflessness on and off the field.
Gordon explains that Boiardi was a gifted athlete but that his most important contributions to his team came in the form of being a phenomenal team player.
He was quiet, humble, and worked harder than anyone else He didn't care about his personal statistics, he would rather pass the ball to an open teammate than take a more risky shot if it might help his team.
He was the first one to practice and the last to leave In essence, he did all the right things, and this made his teammates strive to do the right things. Unfortunately, on March 24, 2004, Boiardi took a ball to the chest while defending the goal during a game against Binghamton University, and died soon thereafter.