Never Far from Home

Garner Christensen joins the show a couple episodes after his mother was on. We dive into some storytelling about a young man who loves the game of hockey. He was involved from a young age, and ended up as a goalie. We spoke to decision making, and the challenge he faced stepping away from the game as a teenager to pursue a track for college baseball. He found his success, and has since returned t...

Guy Mitchell joins the podcast after a long push and pull to get him on! We were finally able to lock down a day to meet up, and the stories did not disappoint. We dive into family, and a history of Mitchell's who loved the game of hockey, and excelled at it. From his Grandpa, to his dad, and eventually to Guy himself. Enjoy the tales of a hockey centric man that found himself falling in love with...

Mason Wade joins the podcast on a trip home to Bellingham. We find time to share stories about his youth hockey days, falling in love with hockey right there at the sportsplex. Mason tells of his family connection, and how the guys in the room grew to be family as well. He speaks to his junior hockey experience, and ensuing collegiate run as well. Enjoy the many tales! https://www.beautyunis.com/...

Shannyn Pierce comes on the podcast and we dive into the laughter right off the hop. There were stories about growing up a fan of the game, and her family. Then we talk about how her kids getting involved in the game ended up being a catalyst for her to partake again as a player. She has a personality that is avidly chasing down her passion, and we talk about how she has managed to balance it all...

Jill Christensen comes on the podcast and immediately her infectious personality took center stage. We share many laughs amidst stories of her early introduction to hockey on the floor of a gym, to her beginning the journey of playing ice when her son was seven. We talk at length about family, about passions, and about how wonderful the community of the rink is. Enjoy some great tales, and some fu...

Hayley Chang joins the podcast and we go through a bunch of great stories! She grew up just North of the US border, and played hockey with the boys from a very young age. Hayley knew where her passion was, and even when presented with other sports to try, she kept coming back to hockey. We speak of her family, including mom, dad, and a younger brother, and how her hockey arc has worked with all th...

Mike "Gleno" Glenovich joins the podcast and we go through a bunch of great stories! He grew up playing hockey in the Bellingham area, and we are able to dive into some of the rich history he was a part of. Our saga goes through multiple rinks and teams that have tried to make Bellingham home, and we also take a detour through the Scandinavia's and Russia in the mid 1980's. Enjoy so many great acc...

Patrick Michael jumps on the podcast, and tells of a story he was born into. His roots in hockey are deep, especially around the Chicago area. As he grew up within the game, he realized at a young age he wanted to work within the hockey space. His brand, THG, and his non-profit, Hockey gear for all, were born of this passion and direction. We explore the formation of these entities, and dive into...

Allison Reeb joins the podcast, and we dive into family, tales of igniting passions on the rink, and also hop into some motocross. Of course we hit on some stories within a timeline exploration, and it doesn't disappoint. From youth hockey in Bellingham, to girls hockey in Seattle *sort of*, to college hockey, Allison just wanted to keep playing. Enjoy an episode filled with reflection, family, an...

Eric Feiro joins the podcast and we quickly realized this would be a two-part episode. In this first piece, we dive into some stories about his competitive days, and how he was born into competition with a rich sporting history in his family. He talks about his mom and dad, and his sister. We hit on some stories throughout his career, and we set up the second stanza. Enjoy a wonderful episode feat...

Owen Brown joins the podcast and we dive into stories from his start at Sweet's Corner, through his time in the big cities, and how he ended up a dual citizen living in the PNW. Enjoy tales of a man who was born to be a goalie, allowing his older brother the luxury of "practice". Family is a big emphasis as well, throughout the time on the podcast, and we explore his in depth. I hope you find as m...

Erik Ruud joins the podcast and we dive into a tale filled with hockey, heartbreak, and perseverance. Affectionately known as "Ruudy" in the locker room, you will find talks on decisions for junior hockey, a slight hiatus from the game, and a man who fell back in love with it with game in a new light with his youngest taking it up. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! https://www.beautyunis...

Bailey Bennett joins the podcast, and we explore her tales. As the youngest of four, with all three older siblings being brothers who played hockey, there was little doubt she would end up at the rink. We talk about her early years, the aspects of the game she loved, the impact her love of her family had on her, and of course we chat about some stories from her days playing. Bailey fulfilled her d...

Bill McCoy joins the podcast after discussion about having him on for over two years. We dive into his St. Louis roots, explore a timeline that includes multiple stops in Texas, and find out how it was that his life changed in one week in November. We also explore another life-changing event, the loss of half his vision. Bill is a constant source of joy in the Yampa Valley, and we make deep dives...

Cade Bangs joins the show after we had gone back and forth trying to get him on for a while. He tells a great tale of falling in love with the game he continues to play to this day. He began his hockey in Craig, and played competitively through his high school days. While competitive hockey was done, at that point, he continues to partake in the game as a player in local leagues, and as a huge Avs...

Casey Nolan joins the show after being a big fan for most of the duration of Never Far from Home. He tells tales setting the scene for his move to Steamboat, from Maine. His soccer background helped with his transition to the game of hockey, though he didn't start playing until his mid-thirties. He talks about a few of his favorite beer league memories, and of course we speak on the unique culture...

Sara Brayton joins the show, and we take deep dives on her love of family, her passion for the rink community, and the great lengths she has gone to, to educate todays skaters in her area as to the proper techniques. She grew up a figure skater, skating nationally and internationally, and winning some big championships. She has always felt the rink has been a constant for her, and a rock in some o...

Lindsey Hjelm joined the show, and we go through a storyline that is filled with ups and downs. As she was sharing her stories, it was evident quickly that she took the time to find her value, during her playing days, and even now, she continues to reflect on the rink, and what it has done for her. Enjoy discussions ranging from her time in youth hockey, through her playing days at Augustus. We ev...

Dan Webb comes on the show and we review a history of passion associated with the game of hockey. Dan found the love of the game, and let it thrive. We speak to his time playing competitively through his time in college. He ended up at Hobart, and played some club hockey there, which gave him the balance he was looking for between school and hockey. Dan and I talk about his process of decision mak...

Matt Billman joins the show for the second time, and does not disappoint! We go over his recent coaching changes, and dive deep into his experiences over the last few years. There is some reflection on what has become of the project, but we stick closely to his recent days behind the bench. The tales include multiple trips to Nationals. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensiceh...

Nick Kent came on the show excited to share some stories, and he did NOT disappoint. We obviously talk about his involvement in the rink. When it started, where that was, and how it progressed. As always, it was a balancing act between storytelling, and exploring who Nick is as a person. This was a fun one with plenty of dramatic shifts inside of his tales. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https...

Katie Baldwin was another great guest on the show. We dive into her time growing up in love with the game in the Ohio area, and how she saw, firsthand, the development of women's hockey. Her tales range from a scary incident that almost left her without the ability to play, all the way through multiple National Championship runs in college, and through today, where she maintains her connection wit...

Mike Cochran, who was the original episode, at #1, comes back on for another "State of Hockey Address". It has been four years since we last had one of these, and much has happened since. We talk about the Avs winning the cup in '22, then catch up on some of the more recent moves. We also touch on the 4-Nations tournament, which has unanimously been considered a resounding success. And, of course,...

Jerry DeVaul joins the podcast for the first of two episodes. He goes in depth on the story of how he lost his legs. We dive into the next six years after the accident, and how he managed to come out of a darkness. In part, it was hockey that helped pull him out. Jerry goes into Colorado Sled Hockey, and some of his ambitions for the non-profit in coming years. We hit on community, and generally s...

Jen MacAskill came on and shared some wonderful stories. She found the game young, with two brothers and a dad who played. Being the youngest, it made sense to her to pursue this game she saw for so long as a fan. She quickly found her love for the team, and always found herself wanting more at each crossroads. Eventually wanting more led to leaving home for a boarding school, which led to college...