Never Far from Home Ep. 294 - Hockey Unlimited

Steven Barnes talks about how he first came to fall in love with hockey, as a teenager on a Canadian trip, but expresses how it took a few more years until he was able to come into playing more regularly. He found himself finally at the helm of a hockey career when he was in his twenties, and quickly found himself staring at the barriers to entry that are faced by so many. He addressed it by the best means he could, by starting a non-profit. We dive into the stories of how he began Hockey Unlimited, and what he is looking to grow it into in the coming seasons. Of course, we dive into personal tales as well. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

On Never Far from Home today, Jeff and Erika Boike. This was a special show. We dive into a little storytelling with regards to how this husband and wife met, and how each of them first found hockey. Without much hesitation we dive into family. The two had three sons: Drew, Charlie, and Lewis. The family was taxed with one of the hardest hands to be dealt, and lost their son Charlie when he was 17. We talk about how they dealt with the loss, as a unit, and individually. I was lucky to have them open up on a lot of things, and we took a wonderful stroll through memories laced with love. This was a heavy episode, littered with brightness. Enjoy. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Nick Bowins joined the show and we were able to go through a great range of tales. He got involved with the game at a young age, and we talk about what aspects of hockey he fell in love with over the years. Much of what he loved spurred him into creating “Working in hockey”, a social media and online presence that sends out every posted hockey job each week. His foundation was the love of the game, built upon by some social media work he did in his early twenties. Of course, we dive into some storytelling as well throughout the time! Enjoy another great episode. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

We step back in to the Minnesota Chronicles 2.0 for the sixth installment. Thomas Lorincz talks about his youth, growing up in Slovakia. We touch on family, sport, and how these things helped shape him into the man he is. He talks about how he ended up in Minnesota, and what it was like to really dive into ice hockey, finding the love of playing the game at, what some would call, “an older age”. Now a father, Thomas talks about how his mindset has shifted somewhat, and what it would mean to have either of his kids play hockey. Spoiler alert, he has the right idea here (let them decide what they love). Enjoy the tales of a good man who had some great hockey heroes to lean into, including a couple Marian’s, one of which captivated the youthful Thomas with his style of play. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

We step away from the Minnesota Chronicles 2.0 for another episode after NFFH had the pleasure of representing in a tournament in Denver. Spencer Tscherpel speaks about a number of things, from his spark of hockey from a young age, to his growth in the passion of puck through his competitive days, and how he always remained connected, even when his competitive days were done. We speak on family, and how impactful his father and mother were. Then we talk of the shift, and how he became a father himself, and has loved coaching in a new way. Enjoy the many tales of a man who comes from a great place, a great family, and has continued to push forward with solid moral standing. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

We step away from the Minnesota Chronicles 2.0 for a few episodes after NFFH had the pleasure of representing in a tournament in Denver. Brad is the first guest from this tourney, and also the reason for us being there, as he captained a team. We talk about his hockey journey, from the Colorado Springs native finding the love of the sport, through his time playing some AA and AAA in his teens, up through his college years. Brad has also participated as a coach, a GM, and now, as a hockey brand business owner with Summit Custom Sticks. Enjoy the many tales he shares on another great episode! https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Mike Randolph joined the podcast as the fifth guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. We head through a timeline that includes growing up in a large family, falling in love with the game of hockey, and playing competitively into his early twenties. Mike then talked about how he came into coaching and how important it was that his support staff, mostly his wife, was on board with his passion. With her support, and so many others, he has continued to coach hockey for many decades, helping shape future generations. Enjoy a wonderful episode! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Dave Almquist joined the podcast as the fourth guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. We dive into his tales of growing up in the Duluth area. He speaks of a poignant memory of being left on the sledding hill, and how that led him to hockey. We talk of family, both siblings and parents, and also the family you make in the locker rooms. Dave found success on the ice over the years, ended up playing some collegiate hockey, and has moved into new roles as he has aged and become a father himself. It would not be a podcast with Dave if we didn’t talk on Team Tucker, and we delve into that story as well. Enjoy another wonderful episode! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Alex Frecon joined the podcast as the third guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. The stories he shares stem beyond the game we love, and the rink community we are all lucky to be a part of. He shares his experience inside the game, never finding his own love for it at an early age. Alex then speaks of a certain friend who brought him back to hockey around his junior year of high school, and how he has not stopped skating since. His travels were outside the norm of the Minnesota culture of hockey, but very personalized to his own family, a mixed bag consisting of a French father and an American mother. The roots he sowed in his own cultural experiences led him to a road that few have taken. He has skated in North Korea, Turkmenistan, Egypt, and other great places around the world. We dive into tales of the hockey, of course, but more so, the human experience he got from his travels. Enjoy a special one. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Emily West joined the podcast as the second guest from the Minnesota Chronicles: 2.0. We took a trip all around her rink life. She was born into it, with a brother nine years older who loved the game, and she found herself chasing him around wanting to be like him. We go through her time in Colorado Springs as a youth player, finding her own love for the game. Her reflection on her career comes through in many ways, but most notable was her appreciation for her coaches and mentors who helped push her forward. We dive into some of her time at University of Minnesota, capped off by a National Championship. We then get into her life, post-competitive hockey, and how that led to another National Championship as a coach at Ohio State. Enjoy a wonderful collection of tales, and appreciation. https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/