Reading the Play with Jeremy Lee

As one of the top volleyball players to come out of Manitoba in her final year of high school, Brianna Dueck eventually found her way to the University of Calgary for five years full of growth with the Dinos Women's Volleyball team, capturing a Canada West title in 2018 along the way. Peel back the layers in this episode to find out all the talented things Bri has accomplished!

From using her parents' Christmas lights as target practice to work on her shot accuracy, Canadian National Team forward Rebecca Leslie eventually translated her outdoor rink creativity into a successful career at Boston University, including a captaincy, while repping the maple leaf internationally. Becca shares on her days at BU, adjusting to Calgary, playing in China and much more!

Ever since playing on his Fisher Price hoop in Kent, Washington, all Ian Tevis wanted to do was win. Whether it was putting up gaudy stat numbers or accepting a lesser role to put the team first, Ian had done it all. However, the "Big One", the Championship Game, had always eluded him. Even winning Player of the Year in 2016-2017 as a member of the Red Deer College Kings wasn't enough to get it done. Eventually, Ian gets his moment with Gold as he lives out the funnest season of his collegiate career with the SAIT Trojans in 2019

3x Canadian Olympic Bobsledder and 2018 Gold Medalist Justin Kripps had a major desire to represent the Red and White on the International stage. Watching Donovan Bailey capture gold for Canada at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta inspired an entire generation of Canadian kids and future athletes, including Justin. Despite some success in high school and college with track & field, Justin realized that making the summer Olympics for running events would be quite difficult, nearly unattainable. However, following the introduction to the sport of bobsleigh, Justin unlocked some hidden talents within the world of professional tobogganing. Now firmly entrenched as one of the top pilots in the world, #TeamKripps is ready to leap into another stratosphere

Despite basketball not being his strongest sport growing up, Jadon Cohee was never seen without one at an early age. He also recognized that he could OUTWORK everyone to get to where he wanted. Recently named as one of the top 25 high school basketball players to ever compete in the BC provincial tournament, Cohee put the Pacific North West on notice after starring at Walnut Grove Secondary in Langley, British Columbia. After bouncing around in Div 1 of the NCAA for a few years, Cohee made the incredibly hard decision to give up other Div 1 offers to return home and be the centre piece of an up and coming UBC Thunderbirds squad. Cohee certainly solidified his stock in his fifth and final season - leading his team to a Canada West Championship and a Bronze medal performance at U Sports Nationals, while earning a First Team Canada West All-Star and Second Team All-Canadian.

From a young age, TJ Sanders had a dream of wanting to play basketball for the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA. However, once he was exposed to the sport of volleyball his athletic journey decided to head in a different direction. But instead of playing out five years at the collegiate level, he understood that to be amongst the best he had to play with the elite. Don't miss out on how he eventually becomes one of the top setters in the world and guided our National team to a 5th place finish at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio!

Growing up, Jackson Howe thought he would be a soccer star...until he stopped playing co-ed. Realizing his dream of being the next Ronaldo was evaporating quickly and coupled with a generous growth spurt, Jackson turned his attention to basketball and volleyball. After deciding to focus more on volleyball, Jackson put Western Canada on notice and eventually committed to the powerhouse Trinity Western University Spartans volleyball program. A rising star, Jackson has already experienced the National Championship stage and has trained with the National 'B' team for Team Canada - doing all this while entering only his third year with the Spartans. Who says the sky's the limit when there's footprints on the moon?

Canadian Olympic Bobsledder Melissa Lotholz provides an in-depth look at her transition from the running track to the bobsled track. The Barrhead, Alberta native found success from the get-go and soon realized that she had a legitimate shot at representing her country at the 2018 Olympics. But like any good sports story, Melissa had to overcome some majority adversity just 50 days leading up to the Winter Games. Dealing with a nagging hip injury and coupled with the uncertainty of which of the three sleds she would be pushing for, Melissa reflects on some of the key moments, which ultimately led her to compete for the red and white.

Alaskan native Zoe Hickel had a dream of representing the Red, White and Blue on the International stage for hockey. Even though she won the 2015 World Championship for the US, she would discover later in her hockey career that the greatest impact she made as a global ambassador for the sport, came in the form of helping to strengthen the Chinese National hockey program. We are going International with this one!

Montreal native Mambi Diawara grew up playing sports with the intention to just stay out of trouble. His gradual progression in basketball led him to playing in Port Arthur, Texas initially, before finding his groove and exploding onto the Canadian basketball scene in Calgary for the Dinos. Mambi's constant search of playing the best competition led him to the Canada West, where he was responsible for scoring the clinching bucket in the National Championship game against Ryerson in 2018, helped his team to a perfect 20-0 regular season and picked up Canada West Player of the Year award in 2019. Sky's the limit for the Great Mambino as he turns his attention towards playing professionally. (Ep. 18)

Hailing from a town of 1,500 people, Brianna Decker knew that if she wanted go far in her hockey career she would need to leave the comfy confines of Dousman, Wisconsin. The two-time Olympian has always set a high standard for herself, which has led to her becoming a record breaker, history maker in many instances. This includes recording a 32-game scoring streak at Wisconsin (the longest ever for the women's program), taking part in a boycott of the 2017 World Championships for better support from the National Program, winning the first Olympic gold medal for the US in 20 years and establishing herself as a premier passer at the 2019 NHL All-Star game in San Jose.

TSN reporter Jermain Franklin quickly realized that making the NHL wasn't in the cards for him, so he took his hard work ethic into the sports media industry and has developed into one of the best satellite reporters. Aside from the sharp suits and the golden radio voice, Jermain has established himself all over North America due to his extensive coverage of countless Grey Cups, NBA Finals and NCAA March Madness tournaments, not to mention his tireless reporting on the Calgary Flames and Stampeders. Follow along on some of his favourite moments since landing in Calgary in 2003, narrated by Stouffville's very own.

Volleyball has been more than just a sport to Tyler Latu'ila. Growing up in New Zealand, life was sometimes chaotic and Tyler found peace and order while playing. After being confronted by a friend back home, Tyler eventually made the big jump to Canada to pursue a higher level of volleyball. His upbringing and vast experiences through volleyball have given him an interesting and honest perspective about the game

After getting cut from her first National Team tryout, Kacey Bellamy rebounded quickly and rapidly emerged into a stalwart for the US women's National hockey program. Following three Olympics, including one gold (2018) and two silvers (2010, 2014), Kacey reminisces on some of her favourite moments from the Games. The Westfield, Massachusetts native recalls her early years at Berkshire Prep and her decision to attend the University of New Hampshire for college. From being on the Ellen Show to writing her own book, Bellamy has embraced her hockey life to the fullest.

Growing up in Massachusetts in a family of professional skiers, Dakota Woodworth discovers the love of hockey. Playing mostly close to home for the majority of her life, the internal battle between wanting a change and staying within the familiar confines of hockey on the east coast, weighed heavily throughout Woodworth's journey. Little did she know, the change she was looking for would rest in Calgary, Alberta and has helped elevate her both personally and in her hockey career.

Basketball has been a major part of David Kapinga's life both on and off the court. From winning a National Championship with the Calgary Dinos to having to play with gloves on and having to scrape by for food in prep school, Kap has been to the mountain top, while digging himself out of the deepest holes. His fight, his resilience and his tenacity are all terrific qualities in this exceptional leader.

Former Pro Volleyball player Dallas Soonias shares his ascension through the Canadian volleyball system, making stops at the collegiate, university, national and international levels. Dal has experienced pure jubilation from winning National Championships and becoming the first Aboriginal Canadian to represent the country at the highest level, to complete devastation as he watched his Olympic dream fall short from the sidelines. Follow along on this crazy ride narrated by Hunting Hills High School's very own.

The journey of Calgary Inferno forward Kelty Apperson begins in Kitchener, Ontario. However, hockey has taken her all over Canada and she has been through her fair share of unfamiliar territory. Appy possesses a humility unlike any other and is not afraid to push herself to the limit in order to get herself closer to her highest potential.

The decision to pursue a volleyball coaching career has served Sean extremely well. One of the brightest minds in the game brings his wisdom out west and has transformed the program and culture of the SAIT Trojans. Even if volleyball isn't your sport, he has a plethora of great mentality that is applicable across the board!

Anything is possible. The story of Jeff Glass contains plenty of patience and a mentality to prove people wrong. Hard work pays off, along with not giving up on your dream. Jeff talks living in Russia, balancing family life overseas and reminisces on some of his favourite moments at the NHL level.

Inspired by the physical play of Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils, Jacquie Pierri navigates her way through the NorthEast US hockey scene. From being benched as a girl on a boys' team to winning the Clarkson Cup with the Calgary Inferno and being named an alternate captain, Pierri has a penchant for stepping up, especially when the naysayers make noise.

The story of Kate Pexman is nothing short of incredible. From suffering a torn ACL in Grade 9 to nearly being taken out by her own laptop, Kate has overcome so much to be one of the most dominant players the Canada West and U SPORTS has ever seen.

The journey of Heptathlete Niki Oudenaarden has brought her all over the world for competitions. Little did she know that all her triumphs and adversities shaped her character and helped her realize that Track & Field was more than just a sport.

This Wolfpack setter was diagnosed with a physical condition early on in life BUT that didn't stop her from becoming one of the better playmakers at her position, backing it up with a Canada West All-Rookie selection. '3000' is ready to take her game to the next level after playing an instrumental part in her team winning the ONE Volleyball Championship in the summer of 2018.

The third of four girls, Kelly Murray is immersed into hockey life at a young age as her family traveled throughout Canada and the United States. She continues on that journey today, as she has rediscovered her love for the game.

Australian-born Regan Fathers makes the big move to Canada to pursue his dream of playing post-secondary volleyball. Plenty of stories including nearly being turned away at the border, favourite bench celebration and biggest culture adjustments.

The journey of Gambian-born Doctor Cassama who moved from Sweden to Calgary to pursue college football, enjoyed a standout career with the Dinos and eventually went through the NFL draft process.