By: Sean Crocker, BA'18
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Dylan Gallant of the St. Thomas University Tommies has overcome many ups and downs as a basketball player.

His biggest obstacle came early on in his career—the diagnosis of severe hearing loss.

Even at a young age, Gallant refused to quit playing the game despite the challenges caused by the loss of his hearing. Now, the fifth-year athlete from Summerside, PEI, is the starting point guard and team captain for the Tommies.

"I think my disability just made me have to work harder," Gallant said. "I've been lucky because I've had great coaches and great teammates who have made adjustments to help me."

Once Gallant got his hearing aids, the game became simpler for him.

He developed into a successful basketball player at Three Oaks High School and was also a member of the PEI provincial program before joining the Tommies line up in 2012. He's had ample success with the Green and Gold, earning the team's Rookie of the Year award in 2013, Most Improved Player award in 2014, and Most Valuable Player award in 2016.

"It's just a little bit of recognition of my hard work," Gallant said of his success. "It goes to show that no matter what, if you work hard, it will pay off."

As the Tommies prepare to attend the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association basketball championships and his career draws to a close, Gallant said it's been the people who have left the biggest mark on him.

"The teams and the players I've played with—there are just so many memories," he said.  "You could list every player I've played with and I would have a story about each and every one."

Being a student athlete has benefitted Gallant personally and it's something he believes will help him as he moves on from St. Thomas University.

"I think the student athlete experience gave me a lot of good skills that I can bring into the workplace," he said. "Skills like teamwork, co-operation, and time management will help me in the future."