Former Boston University hockey player Travis Roy, now a motivational speaker and author of Eleven Seconds, spoke about the importance of following one's dreams Saturday during the College of Communication's Distinguished Lecture Series.

Roy, a highly-touted hockey recruit whose career ended on Oct. 20, 1995 after he was paralyzed 11 seconds into his first shift, said he realized a long-term dream when he was given the chance to play for BU.

"I was never prouder in my life," Roy said.

The former hockey player suffered a severed vertebrae and spinal cord injury in 1995 which paralyzed him from the neck down.

"I couldn't feel my body," Roy said. "From that moment I knew my life was over as I knew it ... that Friday turned out to be the best and worst game of my life."

Today, Roy is confined to a wheelchair. He manipulates the joystick with his right arm, where he regained some movement during his therapy at the Rehabilitation Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

But on Saturday, Roy addressed about 150 people to explain that while he cannot walk or play hockey anymore, he leads a fulfilling and productive life.

Many in attendance formed a line on their way out, waiting for their turn to speak to Roy personally and have him autograph their copies of Eleven Seconds, which he did by holding the pen with his teeth.

Organizer Robyn Neeley said the event was a good chance to connect with students on a non-academic level.

"With these lectures we're looking to integrate students and scholars, and in this case parents as well," she said. "The speakers we look forward to having here are not always distinguished members of the academia; we like to bring speakers that convey to the audience a deeper message about life."

Neeley also said Roy was the perfect speaker for Parents' Weekend, since he is a BU graduate and inspiring figure who has touched the hearts of many.

Roy said he constantly sets goals for himself and maintains the positive attitude that has always kept him moving on.

"I miss hockey more than anything," he said. "But all the time I'm looking for passions."

Roy stressed the life lessons he has learned from his experience and the things that have kept him going and helped him endure the difficulties he faces today.

"A positive attitude will take you further in life than any other skill - it was my positive attitude that pulled me through," he said.

Roy talked about the importance of having a passion in life, a positive attitude and a habit of setting goals ñ both realistic and more difficult.

"I don't think there's any other way to stay motivated over a period of time other than setting goals," he said.

Travis touched on his life again during the speech by mentioning how he went on to fulfill a separate goal in 2000 by graduating from COM with a degree in mass communications.

Roy also helped establish The Travis Roy Foundation in 1997, which is dedicated to research and one-on-one assistance for spinal cord injury cases.

"It feels so good to be able to give back," Roy said about the foundation.

Appeared in Boston University's student newspaper, The Daily Free Press, October 18, 2004