When I was 11 years old, I remember going to my first hockey camp at SSM. My dad drove me through the stone arches and I saw how beautiful the buildings were. This is what all the hype was about-- I was so excited! I stared at this hockey hub like I was getting dropped off to play in the super bowl. I couldn't believe this place!
I got out of the car, brought my stuff into my dorm I was going to stay in all week, I said goodbye to my parents and I was good to go.
That camp was the first time I fell in love with hockey.
I learned the meaning of hard work. I spent everyday with so many people from around the world. I was able to be coached by so many iconic and amazing coaches. It was a blast!
After that, I did various camps and clinics. I just couldn't get enough. My parents didn't force me to do anything, I wanted to do it. I got to play the game I loved plus be with my hockey friends, who were my family. I was with people I loved and playing the game I loved.
How much better could it really get?
Hockey has always been apart of my blood since the day I started. I was a late starter as my parents had me in gymnastics and dance beforehand (you can imagine how well that went). But my dad finally said let's try this instead. Turns out, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
It taught me so many life lessons.
See I've failed countless times in my life. Hockey was one of those places I failed. I made mistakes, gave bad efforts, complained, wanted to quit, cried, and mostly wanted to kick my dad in shins when he made us skate herbies for the whole practice @ Shattuck....
Best lesson I ever learned was how to grow from failing... and that was just one instance that taught me that.
We are all going to fail more than we will ever succeed. People might see that or they might not. There will be days you feel like the worst person ever and like you let the whole team down, but you have to look forward to the day that all that disappointment turns into the best reward: success.
I was a junior in high school when I was voted to be the captain of our varsity team. It was a huge honor, but I was terrified. I didn't want to let the most important people in my life down-- my teammates.
I failed numerous times that year. I wasn't the type of leader I wanted to be. Our team was average when we knew we could be better and I put a lot of that weight on my shoulders. After that season, I took a deep look at myself and adjusted my leadership strategy--
To try and be EVERYONES leader.
I was so focused on doing what was right. Not drinking, not hanging out with the wrong crowd, doing well in school, being early, and everything else in between. But what I didn't realize was how my relationships were with the people around me. I wasn't reaching everyone. So I spread my wings and tried to get to everyone without them even knowing it.
My senior year had ups and downs, but I was different. I had to handle a lot of drama and face it head on instead of ignoring it, deal with an injury that plagued me most of the season, and try to get everyone on the same page to reach our ultimate goal regardless of our differences.
But somehow someway the stars aligned...
The face-off was on the opposite end of our bench on the righthand circle. We won the face-off and my teammate was a lefty, comes around the top of the circle, snipes it, deflects off of a defenders stick and goes over the goalies left shoulder.
It went in.
The bench clears as we go and tackle our goalie. Everyone in the stands is going nuts. The place is electric. I'm hugging everyone as I'm in the best moment I could have ever imagined. This is what I dreamt of my whole HS career-- my team coming together to achieve something we only once dreamed of.
Section Champions. State Bound. No longer a dream.
From that moment on, life was never the same. The way I approached life changed. I knew that if I could make any sort of difference in anything that I did, life would always be like that moment I had that one cold February night with my hockey family.
Coaching isn't easy.
I found that out the hard way when I first started. I thought I had it all laid out. How I wanted to draw up practice, create lines, have pregame speeches, etc., but there was no way I would have been prepared for everything that came my way.
As a player, I never realized how much work it took to do what my coaches do everyday. I never thought about it to be honest. I just went day to day never thinking about it or thanking them for everything they did for me.
Now I know.
Coaching is what I live and breathe everyday. Even when I'm not coaching, I'm always in that mode. It's what I love doing because it's my passion. Some days are difficult, and I have to put on a smile and get through the day, but the kids are what make it worth it. Even when days are tough as a coach, the kids always find a way to make your day brighter. We're family and we have one another's back regardless if there are tough times or rocky roads.
I've had my fair share of tough conversations or rocky relationships with kids. It's the best and worst part of my job. The reason is solely because tough times suck, but it's what makes us all better. It makes me take a deep look at myself and how I can be better for all my players. I know I'm a direct reflection of my players and if I just talk all this or that---nothing will ever come of it. I want to lead by example and try and be the best person for these kids. They deserve the best version of me, and I will work tirelessly to give that to them.
They deserve it.
I care about these kids more than I do about anything else. They are the people I spend the most time with. They are the ones that drive me to be better. They are the ones that I will forever be thankful for as they give me fuel to be better for them.
See it doesn't matter what the parents think, what other teams think, what everyone else's perception is. All that matters is that in that locker room we have each others back and we battle every day together. No one sees all the hard work we put in every day on ice and off ice. No one sees the preparation it takes to do what we all do behind closed doors. No one sees the relationships that build all year long. No one sees the smiles on our faces all day everyday because we are together. No one. Not parents. Not fans. Not the community. Not other teams.
Just us.
I've learned that the secret to success isn't a secret at all. The teams success is never measured by wins or losses. My success as a coach isn't measured by wins or losses. We're measured by the quality of relationships that we have in this program at Delano and how we come together in times of adversity.
So if you aren't skating or coaching for the people around you, you aren't here for the right reasons. Because this feeling we have here at Delano just can't be beat. We won't ever completely fail if we stick together. We will learn life lessons, conquer our failures, stand together no matter what, and have fun playing the game we all love.
And for me, this is why I coach....
To be apart of something that will always be bigger than myself.
Go Tigers!