Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

I can’t believe the time has come where I have to write my Senior Salute.  It seems like just yesterday I was committing to Saint Mary’s University and now I am close to graduating.  It is hard to believe how far I have come in four years.  I couldn’t have done it without so many different people who helped shape me into the person that I am today.  I apologize ahead of time if I have forgotten to thank someone.  It was so hard to write this, that I am sure that I did, so thank you to everyone that has supported me.  This letter does not do justice to how thankful I am for the support I have received.
    
I would like to say thank you to each class. I left an individual thank you to each of you on your cubbies. To my senior class, I can’t believe we made it.  You girls are a great group to be finishing this journey with.  You all have your own great talents and know how to utilize them to be successful.  I hope that we can stay in touch years from now.  Juniors, I can’t emphasize this enough how fast your senior year will fly by.  Enjoy every moment of it.  Try to minimize the bad parts and emphasize the great moments.  You guys have been great to play with.  I hope that all of your class can make it all four years without anyone leaving.  Good luck next year leading the team to success.  My sophomores, you are a class that has some unique individuals.  I love you weirdos and I am glad that you guys are always such a riot.  Keep up the positive attitudes and cherish being an upperclassman.  Being a grown up is right around the corner and it will sneak up on you.  And the first years, well, I did not expect to be able to get to know you guys that well when I was busy student teaching all first semester, but I am glad that I did.  You guys are a talented group and can go far.  Although it seems like you are still getting settled into Saint Mary’s, enjoy every, single, moment.  I still can’t believe that I am graduating soon.  You will blink and be in the same spot.  
    
You girls are a great group of hockey players and I am so glad that I got to play my final season with each and every one of you.  You are my family, way more important than just a team, and I know that you all have my back no matter what. I believe in each one of you. Enjoy every single second of hockey, and never take it for granted.  It is hard to know that soon it will be all over, so please, I’m asking you to cherish the time that you have left.
    
I would like to thank the Saint Mary’s alumni.  You all wrote the same thing in your senior salutes that I have in mine, which is to soak up every last second of hockey because it flies by.  Thank you all for being great teammates and leaders.  
    
Macki, it has been such a joy being able to play defense with you on the ice, as well as be in the classroom together.  When I first met you, I couldn’t believe that you were the one playing hockey with me and you were only a freshman!  I am so glad I got to spend four years getting to know you.  I know you’re going to make a great teacher and coach one day, Macki.  
    
McKenna, thank you for being a great teammate.  You are someone who has natural leadership skills.  I remember when I first met you, I was so intimidated because I just knew that you were a good hockey player.  Now that I’m thinking about it, I am glad that you are on my team and not my opponent!  It has been great to be your cubby buddy this year.
    
Rory, well, you are way more than the Jersey girl that I expected.  You are kind, caring, and a great hockey player.  I have never seen someone work so hard in front of the net to try and get the goal.  I am so happy that I met you and was able to get four years with you.  I wish you the best of luck with your future in Chicago.
    
Tori, where do I begin? You were one of my first friends that I made at Saint Mary’s. You have been my friend even when I wasn’t a great friend to you. Thank you for being the bigger person and being kind to me.  You are such a funny person and I know that I can always go to you for a laugh.  You are a great goalie Tor, and I am really glad to see you be so successful on the ice.  
     
Haley Jung, without you, I think that our team would fall apart.  You are undercover the whole reason that our team functions smoothly.  You are easily the best manager in the MIAC.  You know so much about hockey.  It is so much fun to see you light up when you talk about hockey with me.  I know that you will work for the Minnesota Wild one day because you do such a great job with our social media stuff.  
    
Jill Collum, thank you for taking care of me the last four years.  You have helped me with so many different injuries.  More than that, you have helped me become a better person.  
    
Thank you Matt Sagar for kicking my butt into shape.  You pushed me to become a better athlete.  With all the training physically, I think that mentally, you helped me to have a stronger mindset.
    
I would like to give a thank you to the Sorvaags for coming to my hockey games and teaching me so much about education.  Thank you for humbly helping me with becoming a great educator.  Dr. Mr. Sorvaag, I am excited to go to Atlanta and share my research with you there.  Dr. Mrs. Sorvaag, I am glad that I get to have you in class one last time; I am hoping that maybe you will do one more cartwheel for old times’ sake.  
    
Coach Gmo, I met you about five years ago and all I can say is thank you for giving me a chance.  Without you, I would have never of considered Saint Mary’s as a college choice.  Yes, you seemed to give me luck in high school when I scored every time that you went to watch me play. Sadly, that didn’t translate over to my college career. Thank you for all your hard work you put into coaching me.  I have learned so much more than I ever imagined from you.  You taught me a lot about hockey, but even more importantly, you have been a fantastic role model.  I will remember all the times that you gave me a laugh in practice for being your weird self.  All those hours of video, individuals, and defense drills have really paid off.  
    
To Coach Terry: growing up, I did not have that much exposure to different coaches.  So coming here I had no clue what to expect from you.  You stuck to your word about working hard and giving heart.  The great thing about what you taught me on the ice is that I will be using your philosophies for the rest of my life.  I have learned the true value of respect.  Thank you for being there for me when I was going through some hard times and just needed to talk through my stresses.  Of course I am going to have to end this the way we end every practice: Every time!
    
Cat, Hannah, Kiya, and Jessica, thank you so much for making it to pretty much every home game all four years.  I really appreciate the fact that you guys have given up so much of your time to watch me play hockey.  It always put a smile on my face to be able to look up in the crowd and see you clowns dancing along to the songs that were playing.  You guys have been so supportive of me in many ways beyond hockey.  You all have been there for me in thick and thin, and you have helped me overcome so many challenges.  Thank you for being the greatest breakfast club friends I could have ever asked for.  I am truly going to miss all of our moments that we have had together next year.
    
I feel that I need to thank some of my earlier coaches in my life who helped shape me into being able to play college hockey.  I would like to thank Ron Coller, Craig Cullen, and Jerry Kwapick, just to name a few who have really stood out in my hockey career.
    
I want to thank my brothers Kenny and Lee, as well as my future sister-in-law Mara.  Ken and Lee, if I didn’t have you two, I don’t think I would be tough enough to play college hockey.   You both are two great people that I look up to and I want to thank you for being great role models.  You guys have been the greatest big brothers, even if I don’t always tell you that.  I know that I can trust all you to help me out.  I am so lucky to be able to have you as family.  Thank you for the love and support over the years, it has not gone unnoticed.   
    
Lastly, I would like to thank my parents.  No amount of thank you’s will ever come close to how much I appreciate all that you have done for me.  You both have committed your entire lives to my happiness and dreams. I can’t even imagine how much you had to give up just for me.  Both of you were my coaches growing up and I have learned now that being a coach is a huge time commitment.  The sacrifices that you made: early mornings, late nights, weekends, the past 21 years you have devoted your lives to me.  Thank you for always supporting me in chasing my dreams.  Mom, thank you for never getting frustrated with me.  The amount of patience you had helping me with homework was unbelievable.  You are my hero Mom; I have watched you go through so much these last couple of years and you have handled it with grace, kindness, and strength.  Dad, thank you for all your guidance.  You are always there for me and able to give me great advice.  Thank you for teaching me the value of being on time (since you were always late to every one of my hockey games ha ha). I cherish all of the memories we have together like our car rides, hockey talks, and daddy-daughter time.  I love you both so much and I hope you know how much I appreciate you.  
    
Again, I would like to reiterate that thank you to anyone who has supported me throughout the years.  From coming to my hockey games, to supporting me in my academic life, to helping guide me towards my future.  It really does amaze me that my hockey career is coming to an end.  I am so fortunate to be able to look back and proudly say that I am lucky enough to have had a great hockey career.  I do not regret one single moment of it.          I love the sport of hockey, and it has taught me more than just how to take a one-on-one, it has built my character and hockey is a great way of life.