"Over a period of five years, I went from being inactive, overweight, and in so much pain I could barely stand it to being 30 pounds lighter and a full-time fitness instructor. I still deal with the pain of fibromyalgia but at a much lesser degree than I did five years ago. I credit exercise in general for saving my life. Without it I know I would be on countless pain medications, overweight, and still working that 9-5 job."
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"A question I have often been asked is, 'Why did you become a goalie?' That is a fantastic question. 'Why do you want pucks coming at you at 70 mph?' 'Why would you become a goalie after you have played defense for so long?' I usually laugh it off and say, 'I don’t know, it’s fun' with a smirk on my face. It does not make a ton of sense. The only genuine answer to these questions is that I enjoy it. I wanted to follow my passion. Sports are a unique opportunity to live in the moment and to enjoy what God has given you. I have also been asked why I have persevered through some rough seasons of hockey. I have been motivated every day to get better. Hockey is the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done. There is a unique excitement about goaltending. Each shot, I get an opportunity to forget the goals I have let up in the past and I get a new chance at success. I love to play. I love to compete. I love to win. I am blessed to have the opportunity to use my God given talents and passions to glorify Him. "I workout, because of my physical condition...It took me a few years to heed [my surgeon's] advice, but things have been a bit more tolerable physically with my neck ever since I started my physical fitness journey to alleviate my ailment. I have done, and I am still doing things that I once thought impossible because of my neck. Dedication, research, and a little sweat have paid dividends in helping me combat my degenerative situation. My neck hasn't been the only beneficiary of my dedication. Because of my efforts, my overall physical fitness and general wellbeing have improved." "Sweating, working hard, muscle pain, spasms, bruises, constructive criticism, inner team drama, mistakes, scoring, assisting, losing and winning, is and example of what hockey players put themselves through everyday for their short four month season. Whether it be good times or bad times, we suffer through as a team. Winning streaks or losing streaks, we push through together. For those who play, hockey cannot be considered just another sport. It is an adrenaline rush; an ultimate joy. Trading the experience of the game of hockey can be categorized as unthinkable. You are on a team of best friends, who eventually become your family. I enjoy the late nights, bus trips, plane rides, wet smelly equipment, fast food, hotels and the stupid little things we involve ourselves with between games. I do not play hockey because someone told me too, I play because I love it. I play because I am good at it. I play because it is more than a game to me, it has become my life." |
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