I grew up in Rockford, Minnesota, but graduated from Watertown-Mayer High School. Like many Minnesotans, I grew up playing hockey with immense support from my family, friends, and community. I played high school hockey for four years at Delano, and loved every second of it. The camaraderie and friendships I developed in those three years have lasted me a lifetime. After high school I attended college in Florida, wishing to pursue a career in marine biology. While at college I met my wife, Nicky. I changed majors, and after graduation took a paralegal position in Edina, Minnesota. Two years later we moved back to Florida, this time for law school. During my time in Florida, the opportunities to play hockey were far and few between. After graduating from law school, Nicky and I moved to Denver so I could obtain another degree. It was during this time that my oldest daughter, Aida was born. After I graduated from the University of Denver, we moved back to Rockford to be closer to family (five years later, my second daughter, Carmen, would be born).
Almost immediately upon my return to the State of Hockey, an old hockey friend called me up to ask if I would help him coach a AAA team. Having been off skates for a while, it was a little difficult to get my feet back; however, once I stepped on the ice, the feeling of the cold air against my face, and the laughter between friends, brought me right back to my youth and high school hockey days. It is a feeling that I have difficulty in describing, but I am sure many of you can relate.
One day, about a year ago, I was approached by a coach for the boy’s program at Delano. He had mentioned that they were in need of new coaches, and asked if I was interested. In passing, he also mentioned that there would be a new program at Delano, and it would be the first time for the Girls to skate for their own school. Having coached girl’s AAA hockey, and being the father of two young daughters, I was excited to see that girls were finally getting the opportunity to play hockey for Delano. I applied for the Junior Varsity head coach position, and after meeting with the Athletic Director and Jackie Johnson, I was asked to coach the JV squad.
My first year with the Delano High School program was a very exciting opportunity. The coaching staff, parents, and players all came together to help the program succeed. The level of intensity and excitement that everyone brought from the very beginning was amazing. It was truly exciting watching our players get physically and mentally stronger throughout the year, while gaining confidence in their abilities to play hockey at such a high caliber. The most exciting time for me was when I witnessed girls from different backgrounds, with different interests and from different grades, come together and support one another like a family. We had winning records at both the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels, but I believe that winning games is a by-product of the level of commitment, dedication, and determination that our players, and coaches, exhibited on a regular basis.
I often get asked why I coach hockey, and my reasons range from simple, to complex. First, I coach hockey because it is one of my greatest passions in life. Second, I coach hockey because I want to instill in players the desire to make themselves better people through sport, competition, camaraderie, and fair play. Third, I coach because I want these girls to see that someone, who is not a part of their immediate family, believes in them and is willing to sacrifice for them so that they can become something greater than they could ever imagine. Finally, I coach because I want to make a difference. I want every one of our players to come away from their time in this hockey program with a positive experience so that they might come back and coach my daughters when the time is right.
I currently operate my own law firm, which enables me with the flexibility to be able to coach hockey, and go fishing whenever I can. I have coached AAA hockey for six years at all age levels, and this will be my second year with the Delano Tigers Girls Hockey program. I am the head coach for the JV team, assist Coach Johnson with the Varsity squad, and now help coach the U8 team. I am truly excited to help set a foundation for this program, so that when my daughters are old enough, they’ll have the opportunity to play hockey for their school.
Go Tigers!