Never Far from Home

Eli Zink had a little experience with hockey when he was a kid, but circumstance kept him from playing at length until adulthood. The basketball player turned hockey nut talks about his experiences within the game itself, at the beer league level, and of course, we talk about some family as well. Enjoy his many stories.

Michael Arce began playing hockey later in life, but was a sportsman his whole youth, and through his early adult years. In a fun spin on an episode, he talks about his current job, as a Captain of the local Fire Department. It ties together with the connection of sport, and life!

Dylan Knudsen grew up playing in a small town in Northwest Colorado. He was lucky enough to have the Avs move to town as he was finding his love for the game, and he quickly was drawn to hockey in its entirety. Enjoy his tales from youth hockey, to the fabled beer leagues, including a stop in Iceland.

Amanda Harclerode was a guest who was very sporty in her youth, but did not begin playing hockey until her later years. She found a quick affinity for the game and the camaraderie. Her stories come from a shorter timetable, but are no less poignant. Enjoy.

Max Atwell began playing when he was a young child. He grew up in the game, then stepped away for a couple years, before once more picking it up in Steamboat. He has some stories with his father, being an east coaster and avid Patriots fan, and tells of his annual trip to see the Bruins and Avs as well. Enjoy his tales.

Matt Graves began playing hockey later in life. He has an extensive sports background, including many years of skiing, both Nordic, and some alpine, and when he started participating in the rink community, he loved it. In an episode that is different than most to this point, enjoy our talk, as Matt explains what he does to stay "awake". 

Imperio the Churlish joined the podcast. I hope you enjoy the laughter, the tears, and the full-on emotion from this one. Mostly, I hope you laugh. A lot of episodes coming up here, have to have some fun. 

Harriet Leeson started playing hockey around 11. She had been involved in Winter Sports Club in Steamboat, but had lost her love of skiing. A new passion formed at the rink, and she quickly picked up the game, and knew she wanted to take it as far as she could. As of this episode, you will find her on the roster for the CU squad. Enjoy her tales, from a small mountain town, to playing at the colle...

Andrew Mitchell started hockey from a young age, being introduced to the sport through his dad. He fell in love with the game soon after, and continues to play today. Enjoy his tales, from the youth hockey days in Steamboat, through his days at UNH. 

Robbie Tesar got involved in the game of hockey at a young age. He was born in Edina, but moved to Illinois before he started playing competitively. His stories range all over the country, and he played some college at Connecticut. Enjoy his tales of the game, and what it has meant to him for so long.

Anthony Frattini was a late comer to hockey. He tried skating when he was young, but didn't find the passion for the game and the community till he was eleven or twelve. Once he strapped the pads on for hockey, he quickly fell in love. He talks about his days playing high school hockey in New Jersey, through today, when he coaches, and gives back to the hockey community that way. Enjoy.

Kent Foster began his hockey career on the east coast. He played through the ranks, and eventually found himself in the Yampa Valley. His story includes going through the building of two rinks, and seeing their first years, to some great outside skating. Enjoy his many tales.

Grady Koupal started playing hockey in a different form. He was a roller hockey enthusiast growing up in the San Jose area, and played from a young age all the way through his high school years. After some time off during and after college, he was re-introduced to the sport in its ice form. He quickly fell in love with the team aspect of it, and has been playing beer leagues since. Enjoy his tales...

Loren Gorman started playing hockey more in depth in the bantam years. His family moved quite a bit, so he never got the chance to settle into roots, and play the sport until that time. He spent five or six years falling in love with it, then took a long break before returning to it once more in the last few years in Steamboat. He has plenty of stories, and we share plenty of laughs. Enjoy.

Ricky Miles started playing when he was young. He quickly found his own love for the game of hockey, and knew he wanted to be a part of the community for as long as he could competitively. That love led him through a couple tough years, but he made it through, and is now playing college hockey. Enjoy his tales.

Curtis McElhinney was born into hockey. Growing up in Canada he was lucky enough to play with some wonderful skaters. He found his passion in getting hit with the puck, and shares some of his stories from between the pipes, and in the locker room. Enjoy!

Rebecca Brown got involved in hockey early, starting around four. She found a passion for the game, and knew pretty early on that she wanted to pursue it at a higher level. She was able to make that happen, playing college hockey for Utica. Enjoy her tales of the journey.

Kyle Monger began playing hockey at seven or eight years old. He quickly learned to love the game, looking up to such players like Pavel Bure. As he moved around with life, hockey was a constant, and there were only a couple years he stepped away from the game. Enjoy his tales, and also his truths he shares, as others who have been on before him may have fabricated some stories. That is for you to...

Gary Pedigo was born into the game of hockey. He found himself on the rink at two, playing with his brother at an early age in their basement, and eventually, he found his own passion for the game in his early teens. That helped forge his officiating career which spanned 25 years of colligate reffing. Lately he has been behind the bench as a coach. Enjoy his tales...

Nick Fettkether was introduced to the rink early on, but did not begin playing till he was a squirt. As he moved from town to town, his involvement in the game blossomed as well, as he took to officiating. That has stuck with him in to his adult years, and he even had a brief stint coaching. Nick has done many things within the game, and the community of the rink, truly epitomizing one who is Neve...

Chris Delaney got involved with hockey early. He was a figure skater his first two year, before being introduced to the game as a squirt. He talks about his stories from youth hockey, through his time at St. Sebastian's, and his pro career. Now a coach, Chris's tales often come "full-circle" in an enjoyable and relatable fashion.

Ally Boglioli got involved in hockey at just four years old. She had a couple stints in her timeline where she stepped away from the rink for a piece of time, but it always drew her back in. She talked about her early days under coach Brooks, up through high school, and eventually in the Yampa Valley where she found her hockey family waiting for her with open arms. Enjoy.

Kerry Shea got involved in the game of hockey at a young age. He was introduced to it when his father built a backyard rink that he and his siblings enjoyed. He chatted with me about his timeline from playing youth hockey in the Detroit area through his coaching days in Colorado. Now settled in Steamboat, he has a big presence in the local rink community. Enjoy his tales.

Kyle Cagnoni grew up in the game of hockey. He started skating when he was just four. He talks to NFFH about his days, from Santa Fe through his time in juniors. Enjoy the many tales he shares, about coaches, team mates, and family.

Nikki Knoebel got involved in hockey in her adult years. She quickly came to realize she had a passion for the game, and more-so, for the community aspect of the rink. Enjoy her stories she tells from her early years of playing, through today. She has been involved in ABC tournaments, and has been a big proponent of her local rink in Oak Creek.