By the time I laced up my first pair of ice skates at age 12, I was already years behind the competition. My enthusiasm for joining my local Pee Wee B team and dreams of becoming an NHL star could not make up for the fact that I lacked certain skating abilities. Most importantly, how to stop! The speed, intensity, and physicality of my first game was both humbling and exhilarating—I wanted more.
I began taking skating lessons and my skills sharpened with hours of instruction, practice and repetition under a trained eye. Not only did I learn how to stop, but I also learned key techniques and subtle cues that built the foundation for my hockey career.
As I reached new levels of competitive hockey, the time I spent with skating and skills coaches gave me an edge. Hours turned into weeks and years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice, and it paid off.
A scholarship to Notre Dame, 8 years of professional hockey, and amazing memories of playing with, and against, some of the best players in the world. These would all still be dreams if not for the guidance and support of my family and coaches.
For a more detailed story on my background, here are 2 articles about my hockey path.
Pee Wee - Back in the day when we used wood sticks!
College - Childhood dream
Professional - Experiences of a lifetime