Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

It is hard to sum up my feelings as my career comes to a close. It seems like only yesterday I was a freshman saying goodbye to the seniors at St. Olaf College, shaking their hands and wondering what was in store for me in my final three years of college. I can honestly tell you that I never could have predicted how these final years would unfold, how enjoyable they would be, and the relationships that would be started. It has been quite a journey that I never would have made it through if it weren’t for the encouragement and efforts of many people.

The past four seasons have been the most enjoyable experience for me as a hockey player. When I saw many of my friends careers end their senior year of high school, I realized how lucky I was to have the chance to play a few more years. I always played with the notion that I was lucky to be a student-athlete. I would not change anything I have done in college because I thoroughly enjoyed my time here at Saint Mary’s and at St. Olaf.  My two years at St. Olaf College taught me so many things that I needed to learn, such as accountability and perseverance. Every day at practice was a battle for a lineup spot and it taught me to never take a day off, because you don’t know what may be taken from you. It also taught me that rarely in life are opportunities given to you, and that the feeling you get when you finally earn something is well worth the time and effort put forth to earn it. I also learned how to be accountable for everything in my life, whether it was hockey, academics, or relationships. The lessons I learned in my two short years at Saint Olaf have become cornerstones for the success I have had here at Saint Mary’s. The success I enjoyed as a hockey player at St. Olaf is something I will never forget. The NCAA Tournament my sophomore year was an extremely special experience that unfortunately, I will never have again. Getting an opportunity to be a part of the St. Olaf team that went on a great run at the end of the year, really taught me what it takes to win. (Although I was reminded countless times by my teammates that Saint Mary’s swept us that year … .)

The decision to transfer to Saint Mary’s was one of the hardest of my life, but has paid dividends for me. It was extremely difficult for me to leave a comfortable setting at St. Olaf and come to a conference rival. Both academically and athletically, the decision has put me in a better situation. I found a major that I thoroughly enjoy in accounting, and I have also seen my love for hockey reborn. I always had great respect for Saint Mary’s in my two years of playing against them because of their work ethic, attitudes, and commitment to doing what was necessary to win. I expected and found all of these characteristics, and many more, when I met my teammates for the first time early last year. It has been a great experience being a part of this team and riding the roller coaster of successes and failures with this group of players. We didn’t have the success that many of us imagined and worked for everyday, but we were successful in working hard for each other and playing the game we love. I also feel extremely lucky to have received such a warm welcome from the players here after competing against them for two seasons. The seniors that I am graduating with made me feel at home immediately and have become close friends during our time together. I am honored to be included in a group of players and individuals that have already achieved so much and will do so for the rest of their lives.

There so many people that have helped me get to where I am today and I would like to thank some of them right now. First and foremost, my family has been so supportive in everything that I have done, with all of my successes and failures. Without their support and love I would not be where I am today and where I am going in the future.

Dad: thank you for all the time and effort you have put into my life. I am extremely proud and lucky to have a father like you that has shown such an interest in my life and taught me so many values that I use on a day-to-day basis. It has always been enjoyable to talk about hockey and anything else with you. Thank you for everything you have done for me and for all of your support.

Mom: Thank you for spending countless hours sitting in the coldest rinks in Minnesota to watch me play. If that isn’t commitment I don’t know what is. You have always had the right thing to say to make me feel better about how a game turned out or a tough situation, and it has meant the world to me. Thank you for everything that you have done.

Kelly and Theresa: I am a lucky brother to be able to call my sisters two of my best friends. You two have always been role models for me and I can’t thank you enough for that. Kelly, you have shown me how to be successful in the classroom and in the real world and I am excited to follow you as an accountant. Also, I am extremely excited to be able to teach my soon to be born nephew how to skate. Theresa, you have also shown me what it takes to be successful and always have been there for me when I needed someone to talk to. Your interest in hockey has been great, I will never forget sitting and teaching you how to pronounce pro hockey player’s names because it was so much fun.

Patrick: I don’t know where to start with you, I have learned so much from you in my life and I know it will continue. Everything I have in hockey I can attribute to you somehow, you’re competitive spirit always pushed me to better myself and it has helped a lot. Also, I remember in high school my biggest problem was in the defensive zone and all it took was a suggestion from Dad to watch you and learn, and without you’re teaching I wouldn’t have made it this far.

I would also like to thank Siri and everything that she has been to me since I met her. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I take hockey very seriously, and she is always there to talk about the game or just make me feel better. You have helped me out so much not only in hockey but also in my life in general. Thank you for everything!

To the coaches: I have learned so much in my two years here and you have been an inspiration to pass on my knowledge and love for the game as a coach someday. I hope I have been an enjoyable person to coach and spend time with everyday. All of you have made it enjoyable to come to the rink everyday.

To my teammates: The experiences I have had with all of you are unforgettable. I will miss being a part of the team because it was always the highlight of my day spending 2 hours at the rink with you guys. I hope all my good-natured joking around was a nice release from our stressful lives as student athletes. It has been a great experience and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. I look forward to wasting some time at work in the future by checking up on all of you and checking out how the season is going. I hope as a senior class we have taught you something that you can use either in hockey or in your life.

Also, Thanks to Andy, Eric, and Jeff for being great friends. And, of course, Fleishman, I am happy to return the favor.