Page 23 - Washington Little Capitals Season Program 2016-17

We skated outside every night, went snow St. John?s Newfoundland. The team did not play hockey the past twenty years because I
tubing, and even played in front of fans. make playoffs, so after a few short weeks thought one day it could turn into a
After playing Bantam, I played for the there I went back to North Dakota to finish lucrative career. I played because it was
Junior Capitals and the Junior Nationals for up my classes and graduate. what I loved doing. I can?t tell you how
a couple of years. It was my first glimpse many games I?ve watched on TV, how
into the world of junior hockey. As a young After a long summer of training, I signed many pucks I?ve shot in my driveway with
guy, it was a whole new world. I was 14 with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL, my friends and brother, or how many heated
years old and was playing against guys who where I played this last year. It?s still very games of NHL on Xbox I?ve played.
were up to 21. The pace and physicality strange to me that I am playing hockey for a
were much higher at this Furthermore, all my
level, but it made me years of playing has
adapt and become a "It?s r eal l y an exci ti n g ti m e for taught me to focus
better player. your energy on the
you
things
can
While playing for the youth hock ey i n the DC ar ea. control. It?s a fact of
Nationals, I ended up life that things will
getting drafted by the Des Ki ds i n the Li ttl e Caps system happen along the
Moines Buccaneers of the way that do not
USHL, and by the have am azi n g oppor tun i ty to make any sense.
Peterborough Petes in the However, there are
OHL. I didn?t know two things as a
much about the the OHL r each the n ext l evel ." player you can
or USHL, besides the fact always control: your
that playing in the OHL attitude and your
would void your college work ethic. It?s
eligibility. Shortly after I was drafted, the living now. I feel like the luckiest guy in the amazing how much of an effect enthusiasm
Buccaneers had me come out to Des Moines world that I get to do what I love each and and positivity have on people around you.
to see what the league was all about, and to every day, and somehow get paid for it.
watch a game or two. That year, the Bucs If I have any advice for Little Caps players, One of the greatest qualities a player can
had some great players, including NHLers it is first and foremost to have fun. I didn?t have is positively affecting those around
Matt Read, Jeff Petry, and Aaron him. Every day I make it my
Palushaj. After meeting the guys mission to be a player, and
and going to a game I was person, who has a positive
immediately smitten. impact on others.
In the end, everything comes
The next season, my senior year of
high school, I went to Des Moines down to hard work. In the back
to play for the Bucs. We had two of my mind I am always
poor seasons, after which I was thinking about how hard other
traded to Waterloo. In Waterloo, we players around the world are
had a great team and I was fortunate training to take the same spot I
enough to get noticed by the want. To reach the highest level
University of North Dakota. I you have to train unbelievably
eventually committed to UND, and hard, and then do some more.
had four amazing years there. Our You have to have the mindset
team won a league championship, that every player out there is
went to the NCAA tournament four training to get the edge on you;
years in a row, and went to two don?t let yourself be outworked.
Frozen Fours. This being said, enjoy every
stage of life that hockey offers
When you?re young it can be very
hard to decide whether to play you. As a young player with the
major junior or pursue the college Little Caps, enjoy being a kid.
hockey route. I know players who Play with your friends, play
have gone both routes, and I other sports in the off season.
honestly can?t say which one is There will be plenty of time for
better. In my case, I decided that I grueling workouts, and truly
wanted to get a college education devoting your life to hockey;
first, and if I could get a scholarship youth hockey is not one of
to play hockey somewhere that them. Playing lacrosse,
would be even better. Both routes baseball, and swim team
have their pros and cons, the college growing up made me a better
one is just the way that worked for athlete and hockey player.
me. As you get older, hockey will
bring you to new and exciting
After our season ended my senior
year, I signed a contract to play with places. Take time along the way
the Winnipeg Jets? AHL affiliate in to enjoy the moment you are in.

23
WWW.LITTLECAPS.COM