I live in Lakeville, MN and I am the youngest of 5 kids. My hobbies include golf, pickleball, fishing, and hunting.
What do you like most about BA?
This is my first year with Breakaway Academy, but the thing I’m excited about most is to help these young kids grow on and off the ice by teaching them key values that will benefit them not only in hockey but also in life.
Why is it important to have solid academics in addition to good hockey training?
I was fortunate to learn at a young age how important my academics were. Doing well in school allows you to learn skills such as work ethic, accountability, and time management… all of these skills are directly correlated with sports. Also, having strong academics allows you to have more options for picking which school you want to attend. Especially if you are looking to play at a high level. The top schools in the country look for players who excel on the ice and in the classroom.
Which coach or teacher had the biggest impact on your life and why?
I’ve had a lot of great coaches who have taught me helpful life lessons throughout my life. The most impactful “Coach” that I’ve had in my life would have to be my Mom. At a young age, she introduced me to goal setting and the development of my mentality, which made me realize how important that was for playing hockey and life. From what I’ve noticed in my young coaching career, the mentality portion of an athlete’s game is much too often overlooked.
What is your favorite hockey memory?
I’m fortunate to have had a lot of fond memories from my hockey playing days. My favorite memories, however, are the days of hanging out with my teammates. Whether it was at the rink before a practice or on the road getting ready for a game, the time with my teammates is something that I’ll always cherish.
What are your credentials and hockey experience?
I played high school hockey for St. Thomas Academy. We won 3 class A state championships during my career there (2011,2012,2013). I was lucky enough to play in net for all three of them. I was awarded the Frank Brimsek award winner for the best senior goaltender in the state in my senior year. After high school, I played 2 seasons of junior hockey in Wichita Falls, TX, with the Wildcats. After my second year with the Wildcats, I committed to play hockey for St. Cloud State University and played there for 4 years. Besides playing hockey, I’ve been coaching goalies for the past 6 years through training programs such as MEGA goaltending, attitude Goaltending, and private sessions.