Never Far from Home

Patrick Spengler got involved in hockey as little later on than most, but found a passion for the community. He speaks on his love of improvement, personally challenging himself to get better each time on the ice. He also dives into the camaraderie of the rink, an spect that hits home for so many folks who are a part of it. Enjoy.

Sara Mortel was born into hockey and the rink. She loved the game right away, and has been in many different capacities, but most prominently was a player and coach. She tells many stories that span her playing years, then dives into coaching, both her own, and some of her idols including her father. Enjoy the many tales she has to share.

Meghan Koupal got involved with hockey a little later in life, but had a good basis of sport through her youth, playing both soccer and basketball in high school. She transitioned to a full-time soccer player in college, then finally began skating competitively when she returned to Colorado after graduation. She tells stories of her early days in an intro to hockey class, and her quick movement in...

Jake Berube has been playing hockey in one form or another since early childhood. He began with roller hockey, transitioned to ice hockey, and off the mic we talked about one of his more recent endeavors, ball hockey. His tales include days spent in house league, his first foray into travel teams, then his eventual junior experience and college. Enjoy.

Brendan Selby began playing when he was four or five years old. While he is a younger guest on the pod, he has a history of playing, and now, has coached for multiple years. Enjoy the tales he shares from his playing days, to talk on those he idolized professionally, and then of course, we hear some of his favorite stories involving the game.

Michael Lee began playing hockey in his mid-thirties, but was involved with the rink from his high school days when he was a skate guard. He tells of his childhood, growing up as the middle child of three, and with parents who were behind their kids the whole way.  We explore everything, from those beginnings, to his time as a father, and everything in between. Enjoy.

Thomas Larson got a later start in hockey than some. He began skating at 10, and playing at 11. He talks about his quick upward trajectory in the game, injuries in Juniors that began to take their toll, and his eventual hand he was dealt. While he was "forced" out of playing competitively, he found the game again, and it helped him out of the same darkness its absence had put him in. Enjoy his tal...

Dan Greeson played hockey most of his youth. He tells about the impacts the game had on him, with a unique look on things, because of his remote village he spent most of his childhood in. Hockey is hockey, but it can mean different things to different people, and teach lessons in new ways. Dan explores that idea somewhat. He has not played since his senior year of high school, his last game being...

Spencer Neville began playing hockey seemingly right away, when it became available. She talks about moving through life, balancing a heavy school load with both hockey and soccer, and eventually, finding different ways to love the game. Spencer helped to start a women's program at George Washington, and recalls some of the early days and what it looked like for the girls wanting to be on the grou...

Spencer Neville began playing hockey seemingly right away, when it became available. She talks about moving through life, balancing a heavy school load with both hockey and soccer, and eventually, finding different ways to love the game. Spencer helped to start a women's program at George Washington, and recalls some of the early days and what it looked like for the girls wanting to be on the grou...

Lauren Bolger began playing hockey after trying out figure skating first. She then watched her brother play, and decided that the sport of choice would require pads. Her stories span triumph, with a Tier 1 team, learning to be a leader from upperclass teammates, then being that leader to those who came up next. She talks of college hockey, and the locker room, and everything that makes her love th...

Libby Lukens began skating when she was only four years old. Spurred on my her two older siblings having played hockey, she put the gear on, and found the love of the game for herself. The sport took her to places she never thought she would play, and gave her many lessons that she could take with her in to her day to day life. Enjoy her tales, from humility, to a rebirth of sorts. This young lady...

Chris Hagen began playing ice hockey when he was nine, but he had been participating in some whammer time for a year or two prior. He quickly found his love for the game, and continued to grow with the game, and soon enough he would claim it as a big piece of his identity. Chris played for the University of Michigan club team, and was it's captain. He then went on a great adventure for the years a...

Eric Dorris began playing hockey in his mid-forties after seeing the excitement it brought his kids. He grew up in sports, mostly football through high school, then in college he found rugby. That stayed with him right up until he began playing on the frozen serengeti. Now, years into his latest sport endeavor, he has no plans of slowing down, having connected with another phenomenal community. En...

Martin Richardson and Mike Freeman joined me on this special round table episode. They talked about Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation, the big Ice Complex project that they are working on, and also go into a few stories about the beginning of the foundation, as well as Mike's introduction to it. Enjoy their tales, and key in on how YOU can contribute to make a reality of this phenomenal plan.

Martin Richardson began playing organized hockey later in life, but grew up skating on ponds all around Colorado. He has always had a passion for the game, and came to find himself at the helm of the Dawgs early in the 2000's. Years later, and per circumstance, he founded Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation. While it is an incredible organization which helps those in need, the origin story will likely b...

Tom Krabacher began playing hockey at a young age, but nothing organized till his adult years. He had a good introduction to the skating, though, so hew quickly moved up the adult league ranks. In the midst of childhood, he tried many different sports, and eventually landed on football, and played in college. Enjoy his stories from his sporting days, to playing rec hockey, and of course, we includ...

Dr. Saul Miller is one of North America's leading sport psychologists. He has a PhD in clinical psychology and is the author of eight books, including: Hockey Tough: A Winning Mental Game , Performing Under Pressure, and Why Teams Win.  In sport, he has worked in the NFL, CFL, NBA, major league baseball, with PGA Tour golfers and Olympians from Canada, USA, and Europe in over a twenty different sp...

Hestia Chase grew up in Steamboat, mostly, and didn't play much organized hockey in her youth. She was, however, very athletic, and shares some stories about other sports, and the impact they had, and continue to have, on her. She did play one year of U19, but has really gotten involved with the rink since reaching adulthood. Enjoy her stories, which will make you both laugh, and cry.

Chris Porter grew up in Minnesota, and played hockey from a very young age. He Ended up playing competitively through college, and shares some of his stories from his youth-days. We work up the timeline from there, and the tales he has to share will likely make you laugh, and generally will fill your hockey soul. Enjoy.

Michael Drennen started playing hockey at a later age, but came from a background of sports, specifically football and wrestling. He shares many tales, from the football field, to the wrestling mat, and of course, he speaks about the rink, and it's community. Enjoy!

Andrew Bilski picked up hockey at a later age, but came from a background of sports, specifically football. He has many grand tales of friendships that he has made from the rink, after beginning his playing. That morphed into clock-work, DJ-ing, and generally being a rink rat. Enjoy his tales, as I did.

Jeremy Corporon was born in Texas, and that is close to all you need to know. He moved to Colorado when he was eight, and quickly picked up the game of hockey. For some odd reason, he didn't like the Avs as much as he did the Stars. We explore that question, and much more, including his trip to Europe, and his days spent working at the Howie Dome. Enjoy his tales.

Hannah Westbrook Started playing hockey from an early age. With three older siblings, she was quickly introduced to a number of different sports, but hockey was the one that stuck. Having spent much of her youth in Wyoming, her horizons quickly expanded, and she now boasts a resume that includes professional stints in Sweden, Finland, and Australia. Since hanging up the playing skates, she has spe...

MB Arce got into hockey a little later in life, but was a sporty gal for the better part of her childhood, though she didn't play organized sports until her high school years. An avid soccer player, she took her love of sport with her in to her studies, and is a personal trainer today. Enjoy her many stories, and excuse me if I tee her up to show off some of her knowledge and expertise. What can I...