Never Far from Home Ep. 289 - Summit Custom Sticks

SC Megale joined the show for a wonderful take on life. We dive into stories about her brief, but poignant, memories on the ice, and how so much of her love of adventure, sports, and everything in between, stemmed from her family. She tells of the schooling she has pursued, and the tales she has written herself. And of course, we dive into one of her works: “Hockey’s Hidden Gods.” This is a book about the 2002 US sled hockey team, and their ability to convert gold on the biggest stage. This coming at a time when sled hockey was losing funding. SC dives into her experiences while writing the story, and we explore life beyond as well. Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Kim McCullough was kind enough to spend an evening regaling me with a part of her tale, and we hope to link up again soon to finsh what we started. We dive into her upbringing in the Toronto area, and how she was a multi-sport athlete. Eventually, when the timing lined up, she found hockey and never looked back. Her passion to push herself catapulted her through a D1 experience at Dartmouth, then into a pro career for a few years. We touch on coaches who had an impact, her lessons she learned at different points through her career, and we tease a great story at the end that will make you want to listen when we link up again for part two… Enjoy! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

Kelly Damphousse joins the show and immediately I knew our allotted time would not be enough. We dive into his history within the game of hockey, and he tells of how a young boy fell in love with the game whole-heartedly. That vey same young boy grew into a young man, and we talk about some finer points of life, including facing the decision to put aside his passion for something even greater: love. I feel lucky to have had Dr. Damphousse on the show, and his tales are sure to inspire. Enjoy!! https://www.beautyunis.com/ https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ https://summitcustomsticks.com/ https://rinksystems.com/ https://otpsteamboat.com/

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/