Never Far from Home

Bill McCoy joins the podcast after discussion about having him on for over two years. We dive into his St. Louis roots, explore a timeline that includes multiple stops in Texas, and find out how it was that his life changed in one week in November. We also explore another life-changing event, the loss of half his vision. Bill is a constant source of joy in the Yampa Valley, and we make deep dives into why it is he has fallen in love with the rink community so hard. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://43degreesports.com/

Cade Bangs joins the show after we had gone back and forth trying to get him on for a while. He tells a great tale of falling in love with the game he continues to play to this day. He began his hockey in Craig, and played competitively through his high school days. While competitive hockey was done, at that point, he continues to partake in the game as a player in local leagues, and as a huge Avs fan. We also dive into the life side of Mr. Bangs, including a great rendition of how he found his now wife. Enjoy another wonderful episode! https://www.beautyunis.com/ - Tell them I sent you to receive 10% off your first team order! https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://43degreesports.com/ - Use the code "Home" at checkout to receive free shipping!

Casey Nolan joins the show after being a big fan for most of the duration of Never Far from Home. He tells tales setting the scene for his move to Steamboat, from Maine. His soccer background helped with his transition to the game of hockey, though he didn't start playing until his mid-thirties. He talks about a few of his favorite beer league memories, and of course we speak on the unique culture surrounding the game of hockey, the locker room, and the general bond shared even in the adult ranks. Enjoy a tale filled with passion for our game! https://www.beautyunis.com/ - Tell Casey I sent you to receive 10% off your first team order! https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://43degreesports.com/ - Use the code "home" at checkout for free shipping in the US and Canada!

Sara Brayton joins the show, and we take deep dives on her love of family, her passion for the rink community, and the great lengths she has gone to, to educate todays skaters in her area as to the proper techniques. She grew up a figure skater, skating nationally and internationally, and winning some big championships. She has always felt the rink has been a constant for her, and a rock in some of her most challenging moments of life. We explore how and when those were, and you can truly feel the immense gratitude she has for her people that were so instrumental in her growth in the sport, and how she shaped her life. Enjoy a wonderful and passionate episode. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://43degreesports.com/ - Use the code "home" at checkout for free shipping in the US and Canada!

Lindsey Hjelm joined the show, and we go through a storyline that is filled with ups and downs. As she was sharing her stories, it was evident quickly that she took the time to find her value, during her playing days, and even now, she continues to reflect on the rink, and what it has done for her. Enjoy discussions ranging from her time in youth hockey, through her playing days at Augustus. We even connect the dots with a few past Never Far from Home'ers. The connections grow, the stories are all acutely each guest's, and Lindsey was no different. Enjoy another great episode full of wonderful tales, straight from the doctors mouth! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://43degreesports.com/

Dan Webb comes on the show and we review a history of passion associated with the game of hockey. Dan found the love of the game, and let it thrive. We speak to his time playing competitively through his time in college. He ended up at Hobart, and played some club hockey there, which gave him the balance he was looking for between school and hockey. Dan and I talk about his process of decision making for the next steps in life, which led him to Hollywood. He enjoyed his near decade there, but has returned to Colorado, and with a new mission: to help hockey players (and other athletes) kill the germs and smells associated with wet gear. 43° Sports was born. We talk about the concepts connected to the business, and what types of ambitions he has to spread his bags around the nation and beyond. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://43degreesports.com/

Matt Billman joins the show for the second time, and does not disappoint! We go over his recent coaching changes, and dive deep into his experiences over the last few years. There is some reflection on what has become of the project, but we stick closely to his recent days behind the bench. The tales include multiple trips to Nationals. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/

Nick Kent came on the show excited to share some stories, and he did NOT disappoint. We obviously talk about his involvement in the rink. When it started, where that was, and how it progressed. As always, it was a balancing act between storytelling, and exploring who Nick is as a person. This was a fun one with plenty of dramatic shifts inside of his tales. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/

Katie Baldwin was another great guest on the show. We dive into her time growing up in love with the game in the Ohio area, and how she saw, firsthand, the development of women's hockey. Her tales range from a scary incident that almost left her without the ability to play, all the way through multiple National Championship runs in college, and through today, where she maintains her connection with the rink via work. She runs her own business that helps young hockey players with training. Enjoy her stories! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Mike Cochran, who was the original episode, at #1, comes back on for another “State of Hockey Address”. It has been four years since we last had one of these, and much has happened since. We talk about the Avs winning the cup in '22, then catch up on some of the more recent moves. We also touch on the 4-Nations tournament, which has unanimously been considered a resounding success. And, of course, we talk about the show. There is discussion on the evolution of NFFH, and what has been going on lately. And there is also hope, that not too long down the road, we will see Jared Keeso on the show. We are willing it into existence… Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Jerry DeVaul joins the podcast for the first of two episodes. He goes in depth on the story of how he lost his legs. We dive into the next six years after the accident, and how he managed to come out of a darkness. In part, it was hockey that helped pull him out. Jerry goes into Colorado Sled Hockey, and some of his ambitions for the non-profit in coming years. We hit on community, and generally set up episode two beautifully. Enjoy the tales, and get excited for those to follow.   DISCLAIMER: Jerry does not hold back on the story. He does go into details about a very traumatic event. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Jen MacAskill came on and shared some wonderful stories. She found the game young, with two brothers and a dad who played. Being the youngest, it made sense to her to pursue this game she saw for so long as a fan. She quickly found her love for the team, and always found herself wanting more at each crossroads. Eventually wanting more led to leaving home for a boarding school, which led to college hockey, and an eventual stint in the CWHL. Hockey had its ideas for her, and coaching became a big focus, and soon, Jen was at the helm of Manhattanville University, where she still is the bench boss. Enjoy some great stories! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

SC Megale joined the show for a wonderful take on life. We dive into stories about her brief, but poignant, memories on the ice, and how so much of her love of adventure, sports, and everything in between, stemmed from her family. She tells of the schooling she has pursued, and the tales she has written herself. And of course, we dive into one of her works: “Hockey's Hidden Gods.” This is a book about the 2002 US sled hockey team, and their ability to convert gold on the biggest stage. This coming at a time when sled hockey was losing funding. SC dives into her experiences while writing the story, and we explore life beyond as well. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Kim McCullough was kind enough to spend an evening regaling me with a part of her tale, and we hope to link up again soon to finsh what we started. We dive into her upbringing in the Toronto area, and how she was a multi-sport athlete. Eventually, when the timing lined up, she found hockey and never looked back. Her passion to push herself catapulted her through a D1 experience at Dartmouth, then into a pro career for a few years. We touch on coaches who had an impact, her lessons she learned at different points through her career, and we tease a great story at the end that will make you want to listen when we link up again for part two… Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Kelly Damphousse joins the show and immediately I knew our allotted time would not be enough. We dive into his history within the game of hockey, and he tells of how a young boy fell in love with the game whole-heartedly. That vey same young boy grew into a young man, and we talk about some finer points of life, including facing the decision to put aside his passion for something even greater: love. I feel lucky to have had Dr. Damphousse on the show, and his tales are sure to inspire. Enjoy!! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Steven Barnes talks about how he first came to fall in love with hockey, as a teenager on a Canadian trip, but expresses how it took a few more years until he was able to come into playing more regularly. He found himself finally at the helm of a hockey career when he was in his twenties, and quickly found himself staring at the barriers to entry that are faced by so many. He addressed it by the best means he could, by starting a non-profit. We dive into the stories of how he began Hockey Unlimited, and what he is looking to grow it into in the coming seasons. Of course, we dive into personal tales as well. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

On Never Far from Home today, Jeff and Erika Boike. This was a special show. We dive into a little storytelling with regards to how this husband and wife met, and how each of them first found hockey. Without much hesitation we dive into family. The two had three sons: Drew, Charlie, and Lewis. The family was taxed with one of the hardest hands to be dealt, and lost their son Charlie when he was 17. We talk about how they dealt with the loss, as a unit, and individually. I was lucky to have them open up on a lot of things, and we took a wonderful stroll through memories laced with love. This was a heavy episode, littered with brightness. Enjoy. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Nick Bowins joined the show and we were able to go through a great range of tales. He got involved with the game at a young age, and we talk about what aspects of hockey he fell in love with over the years. Much of what he loved spurred him into creating “Working in hockey”, a social media and online presence that sends out every posted hockey job each week. His foundation was the love of the game, built upon by some social media work he did in his early twenties. Of course, we dive into some storytelling as well throughout the time! Enjoy another great episode. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

We step back in to the Minnesota Chronicles 2.0 for the sixth installment. Thomas Lorincz talks about his youth, growing up in Slovakia. We touch on family, sport, and how these things helped shape him into the man he is. He talks about how he ended up in Minnesota, and what it was like to really dive into ice hockey, finding the love of playing the game at, what some would call, “an older age”. Now a father, Thomas talks about how his mindset has shifted somewhat, and what it would mean to have either of his kids play hockey. Spoiler alert, he has the right idea here (let them decide what they love). Enjoy the tales of a good man who had some great hockey heroes to lean into, including a couple Marian's, one of which captivated the youthful Thomas with his style of play. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

We step away from the Minnesota Chronicles 2.0 for another episode after NFFH had the pleasure of representing in a tournament in Denver. Spencer Tscherpel speaks about a number of things, from his spark of hockey from a young age, to his growth in the passion of puck through his competitive days, and how he always remained connected, even when his competitive days were done. We speak on family, and how impactful his father and mother were. Then we talk of the shift, and how he became a father himself, and has loved coaching in a new way. Enjoy the many tales of a man who comes from a great place, a great family, and has continued to push forward with solid moral standing. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

We step away from the Minnesota Chronicles 2.0 for a few episodes after NFFH had the pleasure of representing in a tournament in Denver. Brad is the first guest from this tourney, and also the reason for us being there, as he captained a team. We talk about his hockey journey, from the Colorado Springs native finding the love of the sport, through his time playing some AA and AAA in his teens, up through his college years. Brad has also participated as a coach, a GM, and now, as a hockey brand business owner with Summit Custom Sticks. Enjoy the many tales he shares on another great episode! https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Mike Randolph joined the podcast as the fifth guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. We head through a timeline that includes growing up in a large family, falling in love with the game of hockey, and playing competitively into his early twenties. Mike then talked about how he came into coaching and how important it was that his support staff, mostly his wife, was on board with his passion. With her support, and so many others, he has continued to coach hockey for many decades, helping shape future generations. Enjoy a wonderful episode! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Dave Almquist joined the podcast as the fourth guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. We dive into his tales of growing up in the Duluth area. He speaks of a poignant memory of being left on the sledding hill, and how that led him to hockey. We talk of family, both siblings and parents, and also the family you make in the locker rooms. Dave found success on the ice over the years, ended up playing some collegiate hockey, and has moved into new roles as he has aged and become a father himself. It would not be a podcast with Dave if we didn't talk on Team Tucker, and we delve into that story as well. Enjoy another wonderful episode! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Alex Frecon joined the podcast as the third guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. The stories he shares stem beyond the game we love, and the rink community we are all lucky to be a part of. He shares his experience inside the game, never finding his own love for it at an early age. Alex then speaks of a certain friend who brought him back to hockey around his junior year of high school, and how he has not stopped skating since. His travels were outside the norm of the Minnesota culture of hockey, but very personalized to his own family, a mixed bag consisting of a French father and an American mother. The roots he sowed in his own cultural experiences led him to a road that few have taken. He has skated in North Korea, Turkmenistan, Egypt, and other great places around the world. We dive into tales of the hockey, of course, but more so, the human experience he got from his travels. Enjoy a special one. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Emily West joined the podcast as the second guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. We took a trip all around her rink life. She was born into it, with a brother nine years older who loved the game, and she found herself chasing him around wanting to be like him. We go through her time in Colorado Springs as a youth player, finding her own love for the game. Her reflection on her career comes through in many ways, but most notable was her appreciation for her coaches and mentors who helped push her forward. We dive into some of her time at University of Minnesota, capped off by a National Championship. We then get into her life, post-competitive hockey, and how that led to another National Championship as a coach at Ohio State. Enjoy a wonderful collection of tales, and appreciation. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Emma Sobieck joined the podcast as the first guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. We dive into her stories, including growing up playing at the same rink the Mighty Ducks was shot at. SAhe talks about how certain coaches helped shape her intensity for the game, and eventually how she found herself behind the bench as well. Enjoy the many tales she shares, of family, love for the game, love for food, and of course, community. We dive into that very community and how she fostered it in Germany before landing herself a job back in MN. Enjoy!   Big thanks to our sponsors: https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

The Oak Creek Kodiaks came on a very special episode. Coaches Chris Hagen (Episode 65), and Kyle Pastor (Episode 10) approached me about the idea of highlighting their team. They expressed how this squad had captured all the good the game of hockey has to offer, and wanted to share some of their experiences. It was a novelty, for Never Far from Home, but we endeavored to highlight the kids and their experiences the best we could. Enjoy the quick dives into the 10U Oak Creek Kodiak team members, and the reflection on the season by the coaching staff! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Graysen Cameron joined the show from Canada, and we wasted no time in jumping right to his timeline within the game. He was born into it, with a brother who was 10 years his elder who loved to play, but Graysen soon found his own passion for the game. We talk family dynamics, and how much his parents and siblings mean to the young man. We touch on his developing years, and some challenges that helped shape him. And we dive into his story within the tragedy of the Humboldt Broncos, and how he managed to come out of the incident as a better version of himself. We end up chatting about his next steps he has taken, and where his life has led him. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Lowen Epstein came on the show to talk about his odd connection to the rink. We delve deep into his rich love of sport, and the many ways he has connected to different games. Lowen played sports as a youth, graduated to broadcaster, and has always been a fan of a wide array of sporting worlds. Enjoy some tales wrapped in victories and celebrations, as well as some tribulations that led to growth. We also do touch on his new show starting soon on a local radio channel in the Yampa Valley! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Sara McClanahan joined the podcast, and we talk about her time growing up in Minnesota, falling in love with the game at different times, and the reasons that led her to find such a passion for hockey. She speaks to finding her own path within the game, and how she handled it over the many different years, in different roles. We go through her whole competitive youth hockey days, through college, and into her first tastes of coaching, within hockey and soccer. Enjoy the many tales! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

On Never Far from Home today: Kelli Standekar! Kelli came on to the podcast, and shared about a wonderful timeline. Her stories span her youth where she found herself involved in numerous sports and activities, to her teenage years when she finally found the rink. We dive into some competition, and round it all out talking about her coaching arc as well. Enjoy the many tales she shares! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Gabe Levin shares tales from his early days in southern California, falling in love with the game, to his time with DU. In between, there are some marvelous lessons he learned, from patience, to self-belief, to not listening to the doubters. Gabe shares some stories along the way, and talks about a parental duo that simply let him play the game he loved, with no extra pressure to succeed. Enjoy his tales! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Jackie Wilson came on the podcast and shared stories from her playing days through her present situation, as an official. We explore her time within the game in different capacities, and how that has translated to life as well. She expresses her sentiments on staying within the moment, while continuing to chase goals and dreams. I hope you enjoy her many shared tales!    https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Gib Mitchell came on the podcast and shared some wonderful tales. From growing up in New York, playing youth in numerous rinks, and eventually settling on secondary school in St. Lawrence. We hear tales of travel to Europe for a semester abroad, he shares about his time as a D1 athlete (a funny tale about playing for the women's team), and we finally come to how it was he found himself in Steamboat Springs. Enjoy the many fantastic tales!    https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Adam Albert Joined the show after a few months of hearing all about it at work. He shares some funny tales from his years playing hockey, touching on many aspects of the game that will stay with him the rest of his life. We also get into a story on a very serious injury he had, and how he managed to bounce back from it. Enjoy the tales of an up and coming fireman, and a young man with a rich hockey history. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Dave Leonardi came on the show and shared some incredible stories. You may know him by a different name: The Sign Man. He has been a season ticket member of the Philadelphia Flyers since 1972-73, and has become an icon of sorts, within the game. That stems even to the Great One himself, who Dave shares a great story on. His biggest fan has been his mother, who would share with everyone who would listen that “My son is The Sign Man”. Enjoy some wonderful tales! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Mikey Spencer joined the show after the two of us became acquainted through Team Tucker. We explore his timeline which includes youth hockey in Minnesota through his senior year of high school, to his quick transition into the coaching world. Mikey shares great stories about some of his favorite, and most influential, figures in the hockey world. Enjoy another great episode! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Mike "Doc" Emrick joins the show for round two, and does not disappoint! We delve into some more tales, and explore some of the impactful calls “Doc” has been involved with. Being playoff time, we dive into some of his favorite pieces of the game, and much of it stems from this time of year. Enjoy another fantastic stretch of time with Mr. Emrick!  https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Dana Anderson-Helstrom is the tenth guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. We connected on a phone call, and Dana shared some an incredibly emotional story about her journey with childhood cancer, as her son had been diagnosed. Dana shares the powerful tales of a fantastic spirit in her son, Tucker. And she also regales me with the difficulties, and ensuing strength, of Tucker's two younger sister's who had to face losing their brother at far too young an age. We cover a vast array of topics regarding her family, and there is quite a bit of sadness, followed by strength, and eventually a great way to remember her boy in a non-profit: Team Tucker (https://playlaughlove.org/). Enjoy an episode that may take a couple intermissions to get through.  https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/ 

Beth Bowshall joins us from Australia. We talk about how she came to fall in love with hockey and the rink in general in an area that does not have a robust community known for it. She regales us with tales of competitive days, with some stories spanning different continents, and eventually we land in the realm of reffing. She tells of how she chose to ref, and we dive into a few stories from her career so far in the IIHF ranks as an official. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

Corey Brenner is the ninth guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. He is an entrepreneur, and founder of the goalie guru (https://www.getgoalieguru.com/). We connected on a phone call, and immediately, the tone of the recording was set with some wonderful discussion the pre-dated my opening questions. Corey and I were set up for success from the moment I hit the record button. Our talk covers Avatar: The Last Airbender, Corey's personal involvement within the competitive side of the game of hockey, his time spent away from the game, and how he ended up coming “home”. Enjoy a wide-ranging talk that stems more into philosophy than many previous episodes. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/ 

Erik Westrum is the eighth guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. We connected on a phone call, and dove head first into a timeline riddled with wonderful anecdotes, including a youth experience that led to passion, passion that led to college hockey, and eventually, a pro career including stints in the NHL and AHL. Erik just released a book (Get your copy here: https://erikwestrumbook.com/), and we are lucky enough to discuss the process that went into writing it. I have felt so lucky to share some amazing tales with people I met in Minnesota, and Erik is no different. I hope you enjoy his stories as much as I did! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Paul Ranheim is the seventh guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. We connected on a phone call, and I caught him off-guard with the conversational, long-form interview. Due to time restraints, we keep this first episode together short. That said, we dive into his timeline, including a state championship run with the polarizing Edina squad. Love them or hate them, there is a rich history of success. We explore his time within the game, find a few stories as well, and there is promise of a second piece that will dive further in depth to more tales, and more experiences once his lengthy playing career wrapped up. Enjoy the first of two talks with Paul! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Kalli Funk is the sixth guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Kalli was kind enough to find some time to meet up, after we had a very brief introduction the Monday I got in. She is playing on the Women's USA Bandy team, and I had attended the practice. We sat down in the Minnesota Wild offices, and she regaled me with tales of her life growing up around the rink. Kalli does a fantastic job articulating a captivating story that has kept her involved in the game, even today. She played all the way through college, then found bandy, and has since also entertained jobs that keep her involved with the rink community as well. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Derek Shepherd is the fifth guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. We got into his timeline within the rink, from his beginning as a player through his time as an official. As is the case in so many of these episodes, I tried to find the balance between timeline exploration, and storytelling. Derek has a history of reffing with his father being a manager of officials at the collegiate level. Derek assumed the role down the line as well, until life drove him to step away. I have been humbled by the many tales I have been lucky enough to share, and Derek's stories are no different. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Delaney Middlebrook is the fourth guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Delaney shared an incredible story, filled with so much challenge, so many tales of overcoming those difficulties, and she shares how she has become the wonderful human I was able to meet for a bit. From asking to play hockey at 4, and making a promise to never quit to her father (Chris Middlebrook), to learning about her Long QT syndrome, to playing six years of high school hockey. She was not done there. Delaney played four years of D1 hockey at two different schools, and then followed that up with some pro experience in Europe. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Kenzie Torpy is the third guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Kenzie and I met at White Bear Lake Arena to sit down for our chat, and we explore a timeline riddled with fun stories, and culminating in a college career at St. Thomas. With positive strides taken, year over year, we also find a challenging moment, in her final series as a colligate athlete, and we discuss how she was able to overcome the adversity. Enjoy the many tales! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Chris Middlebrook is the second guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Chris and I dive into a fascinating timeline that includes hockey at the collegiate level, and a lengthy history with bandy. He also has a few years of coaching we get into. The big draw for Chris was his book about his daughter, Delaney: “The Girl Who Played Hockey”. We explore the story of the trailblazer, and the positive impact the tale had on the Middlebrook family, as well as on the sporting world. https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/ beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Tom Peart is the first guest in the “Minnesota Chronicles”, a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Tom goes through a timeline that is filled with hockey, from coming to the sport a bit late at 12-13, and finding himself in love with the goalie position, to his college playing days (post-Marines), through his many years as a coach. I hope you enjoy his story telling as much as I did! https://otpsteamboat.com/ https://4starautorepair.com/ https://www.yampavalleybank.com/ beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Kassidy Sauve came on and we go into her timeline of involvement, as we do on the show. Hers is a Canadian story. She was almost born with skates on, and was playing from 4 years old. She quickly found herself loving the crease, and everything that came with being a goalie. Her career is still going strong, today, but she does an excellent job moving through the years that led her to pro hockey. From youth time in Montreal and Toronto, to Ohio State, to Clarkson, and finally, to Finland. Enjoy her many tales! beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com

Amanda Provan was kind enough to join the show, and we explore her passion for the game. She began playing at 12, but had loved it since her youth. The path of life was such that she found blind hockey after a few years playing sighted, and we talk on what the transition was like. She quickly found herself engrossed with the community of Blind Hockey in Canada, and is the first woman to win gold with the Canadian National team. Enjoy her tales! beautyunis.com thegardensicehouse.com