A year without Hockey

My season and junior hockey career ended by falling short to the playoffs with the CT Chiefs on February 28th, 2020. I was injured (but still playing), touring multiple college campuses, texting and emailing with college coaches to get them to come see if what I had to offer was good for their program.  Energy, Speed, relentlessness, passion and loyalty. Injured or not, I was driven to get on a college team and take the next step in my life. Then as I was a phone call away from commiting to a college, that's when the world literally started shutting down. 14 days to flatten the curve.  The hockey world, while I was at a rink watching pro sports, shut down right before my own eyes. People preluding to wearing masks even before the mandatory mask mandates and breaking news that weekend of a national shutdown across the U.S. I was heartbroken, stressed and feared what would happen next for everyone in everyday life and hockey.  The only thing that kept me sane and happy was being home with my family and God's word, reading it and growing in my knowledge and strengthening my own faith and sharing it with my family as we grew together in a chaotic time.

    A year ago, I was on the ice maybe 6-10 times a week (Practice, games, siblings practices and volunteering at learn to play), working out 4 times a week, watching my own game clips studying my game and looking for constant improvements that would help further my career as well as help my team.  Watching NHL games and understanding the craft I wanted and being a fan of the sport I love watching. HOCKEY HOCKEY HOCKEY. Now since starting college, I squeeze maybe 3 ice times a week, still helping with my siblings practices ( getting on U16 practice with Caleb, my brother) and learn to play, zero games (except for biweekly beer league games if that counts on elite prospects), working out when I can sneak into a group of kids not showing up or on a long wait list of people wanting to use the campus workout gym. Now watching games, NHL, NWHL, or my sibling; I just miss playing the game I've grown up loving. 

    I've come to a self realization of what happens when this way of life I've lived by since I was 4 years old stops and changes so abruptly. I still try my very best to “lean on God's understanding, and not my own''. I’ve learned to look at the beauty of being a coach, influencer, finding ways to love this sport that COVID keeps taking away from me. Between quarantines, bubbles to shutdowns nationally, regionally and hockey wise. COVID has given me a reality that God wants me to witness and spread his love not only to people I know, but to random strangers and kids that can see me behind my mask. Learning and being aware of others a lot more than just myself.

Over this year I  have gotten involved with my sister, Destiny, U12 team to help out, I've continued with learn to play hockey, I've commentated junior games and helped with running scoreboards. Learning and being aware of others a lot more than myself has been an amazing experience and giving wisdom to kids who are still  playing is a blessing. Hockey is just a game which is extremely hard  for me to say.... life has been extremely tough the last year all over the world.  I just want to be able to give kids like me hope and joy and to teach them how to show kindness, humor and love that God continues to show me daily.  Adversity comes and goes but it's what we do through it that shapes us for the journey to come. 

     A year ago, I was playing my last junior hockey game. TODAY, I'm pulling back into Alexandria, MN to help with North Star Academy and FCA hockey. A dream job for a guy like me who loves Jesus and everything hockey.... I'll be there early, finishing my second semester of college at Anna Maria online while being around the game I love. I may not be playing in it, but still very much a part of it. I will be training among some of the best players and coaches and I will still work hard at getting ready for my next season back at Anna Maria College. I may not be playing in a game that matters in the world's eyes, but still very much a part of God's plan, spreading the good news to the world of Hockey. Staying disciplined in all that I do. There are lots of twist and turns in my journey and I can't wait to see what's around the corner.  All Glory goes to God!