Brad Bids Farewell
I can not begin to explain how big of a blessing it has been to call Saint Mary’s University “home” for the last four years. Hockey has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Saint Mary’s has given me the opportunity to live my dream of playing at the collegiate level and has also helped me grow into a student that I never thought I could be. There have been many ups and downs over the past few years, but the positives have definitely outweighed the negatives. The friendships that I have made and the experiences I have had are absolutely second to none. From winning to losing, late nights to early mornings, and all of the time spent with my 25 brothers, these are memories that I surely will never forget.
There are many people that I would like to thank for giving me the opportunity to live my dream for the last four years, most importantly starting with my family. My mom and dad deserve way more thanks than I could ever give them. I don’t want to even begin to think about the amount of money that they have spent for me to play the sport I love, not to mention the amount of time they have given up to sit in cold arenas to watch me play. Being dragged along for these cold trips was my little brother Brandon. Whether it was trips just down the street to Perry Park Ice Rink, to Topeka, Kansas to spend New Year’s Eve watching us play, or long train rides to Winona just to sit in another cold rink, he has never complained and has always been there to cheer me on. I really cannot explain how much my family means to me and I will never be able to truly express how much their support has helped me over the years.
Next, I would like to thank the coaching staff for all of the opportunities that they have given me. Coming here as a freshman and starting the season with 17 freshmen on the varsity roster, we knew that we would face some ups and downs. However, one thing remained constant over the course of the last four years, and that is the support of our coaches. Through thick and thin, I always knew that the team and I had the support of Coach Moore, Coach Egan, and Coach J. This support made me look forward to coming to the rink each day and going to battle with not only my teammates, but the coaching staff as well. I would like to again thank each coach for all of the extra time they have spent helping me to become a better player and also wish them and the team luck in the future.
Lastly, I would like to thank all of my teammates here at Saint Mary’s. I can honestly say that I have had more fun with you guys than I have had throughout my hockey career. From bus trips, practice every day, attending classes, or long trips to South Padre Island, I can’t think of a better group of guys to share these experiences with. To my fellow seniors, I want to wish you all the best of luck in whatever the future holds for you. Although some guys have been living life like old men for a few years now, some of us may need some time to adjust to the “real world.” No matter where you all end up, I am confident that you will all find success because you are all great guys. It has been a pleasure to share the last four years with all of you and I know we will be in touch in the future. To the juniors, sophomores, and freshman, I would just like to thank you all for making the time that we had together great. Always remember to enjoy every moment that you are here, because the time really does fly by.
