A Summer to Remember, A Year I hope I Won’t Forget

Well the journey continues. This season I will be playing in Budapest, Hungary. I have been to Budapest once in my life. On a magical trip with my roommate from this past year Emily. When we were there we saw the main sites to see, went to a very interesting concert and enjoyed the company of some friends we met along the way. I look back on my time there with fond memories and excitement. This was the second trip that Emily and I had gone on and it was one that brought us the closest. I am excited to start this new chapter in an amazing city. I am asked regularly if I am excited and I can’t help but smile. The thrill of adventure, the new life, the new team, the new life lessons. All of which I am excited for. This summer, I think I have changed more as a person then one might expect. I have learned over the course of this summer that the beauty is in everyday and my most memorable moments are with the people that I love just living life. I am excited to grow my circle of people and find new friends to love and cherish all while holding the ones I already have close.

This summer I have had the opportunity of expanding my hockey career into the realm of coaching. In previous posts, I mentioned that I never wanted to be like the coaches that I had this past year. I wanted to inspire people to follow there passions and to love the game as much as I do. That is what I feel like I gave to the athletes that I have coached this year. I may not be the most polished coach, I may not have the most technical or skill based drills, however I have the passion to bring the love and desire to be excellent, to players. This aspect had helped me this summer to impart knowledge and skill of the game to players. I had the privilege of working with Rocky Mountain Hockey Schools. This school or camp series has been the most impactful and important learning opportunities for me as a coach, other then taking reference from my periovous coaches. With this opportunity I was able to meet coaches that taught me as a player and as a coach. I have never met more amazing coaches then the ones that were apart of these camps. From skill based teaching, to motivation and conversations about why we play the game of hockey, it was nothing short of amazing. I am urged to tell you about a skate with one of the coaches in Steamboat, Coach Boze. I was brought to almost tears by the passion that this coach has for not only the game but the people that you meet along the way. As all personal on the ice huddled in the corner, Coach Boze talked about the impact you have on the game, and on the people that are involved in the game. When I say the people involved in the game I mean the community. He spoke about it isn’t about the best players on the ice it is about the best character and the best teammates, family members and friends. This resonates with me because I have never been the most skilled player but I was always the player that wanted to show up for myself, my family and my teammates. I was in awe of his words and how he explained his love for the game so similar to mine. I hope to be a coach like him one day, one that is amazing at skill and technique but also an amazing human and mentor to those around him.

I have found this summer, a new gratefulness for the little things in life. I am grateful for every moment I get to spend with my family and friends. I am grateful each day for the new opportunities and lessons to be learned. I am excited to be able to take this new in the moment mentality and apply that to my season this year. I am going to have the best year, on and off the ice and I am excited to live in the moment and enjoy each day for what it brings. Whether that be a dull lazy day or a day full of adventure and thrill. I can credit this new perspective to God and another amazing coach that I met with RMHS. He is someone that takes life for what it is and enjoys the little things. He and his perspective have had more of an impact of my life then he knows. Hungary will be full for adventure, struggle and change, but it will also be a magical journey that will bring me places I have never been, and I will meet people I never thought I would. I will use this new found perspective everyday.

Another highlight of my summer was being gifted the opportunity to coach my own hockey camp. Around 30 girls came from all over the state to skate with me. That is the most honored I have ever felt on the ice. My experience and my knowledge impacted peoples lives and that is the greatest gift that I can give. I hope to continue to inspire players around me and share my love for hockey each and everyday. I used to be worried about what life after my playing career would be like. I now know that I will continue to make an impact on the game from a coaching perspective and I cannot wait to continue to get better as a coach so that I can leave a lasting impact on lives around me and on the games itself.

As the summer comes to a close, I am grateful for where I am, for the experiences I have had and for the people in my life. I was able to coach with amazing coaches, run my own girls camp, and experience some of the best days and nights of my life. I look forward to this year, and all the experience I will have and I take forwards the experiences of this summer with loving memories.