Thinking back to 14 years ago, when I first started playing hockey, I never thought I would be where I am today. Growing up I played almost every sport imaginable and the last sport that pushed me to start hockey in the first place was gymnastics. I had gotten hurt in our end of the year show and my friend talked me into trying hockey like our older brothers. Her main selling point was that we had protective equipment on so my likelihood of getting hurt was minimal and that was enough for me to try it out.
Trying to sum up my hockey experience has been something that I have been struggling with because hockey has taught me so much. Hard work, dedication, time management, leadership, courageous, and many many more, without hockey I would have been lost. It has lead me into almost everything that has made me me. My jobs, friends and so much more have been based around hockey and now I am going to be off on my own away from hockey after Saturday.
Dad, you have been such an influential part of my hockey career. Driving me to and from almost every single hockey practice and game growing up and on those car rides critiquing me on what I did. You were my own personal coach who has crafted me to the player that I am by helping me every step of the way. Without you I don’t know where I would be in this sport. With everything that you have gone through you have showed me how to not give up and never quit on myself; there is no obstacle that comes in my life that I can’t take on and concur. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me, I will never forget it!
Oh, Mom, where do I start with you … I know that hockey was not something that you knew a lot about when I first started but you have always been there for me growing up whenever there was something that I needed. You have always been so supportive for me and behind me in everything that I did. You have always kept me going when I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get through it and got me back on track. I wouldn’t have wanted any other mother because you are the best.
My one and only brother, Tom, you are probably the best brother a sister could ask for. We may not have always gotten along growing up but we have always been there for each other when we needed to be and I will always be grateful for that. You always have the best advice for me whenever I don’t know what to do on and off the ice. After games I could always count on you to tell me the truth about the game with what you saw. You would never sugar coat anything so I knew exactly what I would need to do differently the next game.
Family and friends, without your support over the years I would not have been able to get where I am right now. It is always great to look up in the stands and see people who love you cheer you on. Thanks for everything you have done for me and always buying candy from me to help me with all my fundraising activities each year for my various activities that I did. Bri I am so happy that we got to play on the same team for one year, wish it could have been more, but we finally got our dream.
Madeline, I don’t even know how we became friends let alone roommates for the last two years. When I first showed up on campus for my tour and I saw someone wearing a White Bear letterman’s jacket that had hockey sticks on it, I wanted to turn around and leave right there on the spot without even getting out of my car. Then later that day we had to eat lunch together and we exchanged numbers and oh how that day has changed both of our lives. You are my best friend and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world. We have been there for each other from day one; whenever one of us is having a bad day the other can always pick the others mood up and turn our day around. After everything that has happened in our lives I know that you will always be there for me and I will always be there for you. PS, we still haven’t had our chat about figuring out our life plan that we were going to do freshman year over Christmas break … just saying that’s why I’m clueless about my future. I blame you. ?
Seniors: Oh how these four years have gone by so fast. I will never forget the first year when we started with Tennie’s boot camp with our lovely runs up champion hill. I am so happy with all of us and how we have gotten along and never really had any problems. We have been such a great support system for each other and I know we will do well in the future with whatever we come across next. I would write more but like Terry said … read your books.
Juniors: Each year your class just kept on getting smaller and smaller and now there is just the two of you. You two have been such good role models for everyone on our team with your hard work and being multisport athletes. You guys will be great leaders next year and I will come back to cheer you guys on… Erin, don’t forget about the rule with lightening, I expect you to keep it going.
Sophomores and freshman: It has been fun getting to know all of you and your great personalities. I am excited to see you guys grow and develop into wonderful human beings and your hockey careers. You have the world in your hands and you can do anything that you set your minds to. Do not be afraid to try new things because you never know what might stay with you and help you with your futures. Oh yeah and can’t forget to thanks for introducing me into the world of twitter and all the new things that have recently come out.
Alumni, how can I forget to mention you guys? You have been such a big part of where I am today by showing me the ropes here at SMU and play with true Cardinal Pride. I can remember in past years when all of you guys would talk about having to write you senior solutes and your hockey careers coming to an end but I never thought that my time would come but here it is. Now I am going to be joining your club of being an alumni.
Terry, thank you for the past four years, they have been something that I would never have imagined. Freshman year you said, “Nothing else matters in the sanctuary,” and it has been a quote that has helped me though a lot at college. You have always been someone that has always been there for me and everyone else on our team. Next year you are going to have to find a new buddy to help you with the results boards, good luck trying to find someone to replace me.
Greg, oh Greg, started as friends and then you became a coach. You are so knowledgeable with hockey and I know you will be a great coach that will be around for a long time.
Tennie, my freshman year I probably would not have been able to get through without you. I know it was for your grad school but those individual meetings helped me so much with the transition from high school to college. You always had good insight with everything that I have done on and off the ice. I know that this year was a hard decision to leave us but you deserved to get that job. You worked your butt off to get there and you will be great at it! Oh an how can I forget to thank you for making me so sore during the first weeks of tryouts that I couldn’t even walk up the stairs to my dorm room and sat on the stairs waiting to feel my legs again before I tried to move.
Coach A, thank you for all the lessons on the ice. You are so knowledgeable with the game of hockey and could always answer any question on what I did not know what to do.
Vic and John, you were the greatest high school coaches I could have asked for. You have done so much for the Roseville program. I don’t know if you will even read this but I truly would not be here without you guys. John you were the best D coach that has helped me build the confidence and knowledge of a great defensemen. |
