Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:

One difference for high school tryouts was that there were refs on the ice.

How long were you in the WHC program:

Played in Winnetka for two years of house league and five years of travel (Squirt for 2 years, PW for 2 years, and Bantam 1 year)

Best WHC memory:

Highlight of my Winnetka hockey years was playing for Bantam 1 in the Waupun Tournament in February '22. Tom Gullen signed our team up to play in the same tourney where he took his first Winnetka team to play years ago; our team won the tournament and brought a trophy home.

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

I look forward to playing more physically and hopefully with less penalties. 

Any advice or tips for younger players coming up:

Don't worry about where other players play and focus on yourself. Always bring your best effort to the ice.

Toughest part of tryouts: 

I didn’t have any exposure to the Loyola coaching staff before tryouts – so it was all new.

How long were you in the WHC program:

Played house league in Mites, then travel hockey from Squirts through Bantams – and made the top team in my final year.

Best WHC memory:

Winning two tournaments as a Peewee playing for coach Gullen.

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

Faster more physical play with more puck movement.

Advice for younger players:

Keep working hard and you can make a better team every year you play. 

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:

Being the youngest player there.

How long were you in the WHC program:

4 Years of House league (Minor Mite and Mite) and 5 Years of Travel (Squirt, Pee Wee, and 1 year as a Bantam)

Best WHC memory:

The tournaments in Kalamazoo and Madison and being with the team. 

What hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

Playing with older kids and playing for New Trier Hockey. 

Advice or tips for younger players coming up:

It’s ok to take short shifts.

Toughest part of tryouts:

We’re playing with older and more experienced players that are bigger and faster. 

How long did you play for the WHC:

I played for Winnetka for two years. I was Elite as a second year Pee Wee and one year for Bantam Major. 

Best WHC memory:

My favorite memory was on Bantam major before games coach Clay getting everyone riled up before games making up fun nicknames for everyone. 

What are you looking forward to:

On New Trier White I am looking forward to a new level of competition that I have never seen before. I am also looking forward to making new memories and friendships. 

Do you have any advice for younger players:

My advice to young and upcoming players is to work as hard as you can whenever you are on the ice. Treat every game and practice like it’s your last, but most of all have fun when you are out on the ice. 

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:

You think you play worse than you really do because of the pressure you put on yourself.

How long were you in the WHC program:

9 years in house, 1 year in travel.

Best WHC memory:

Winning multiple championships and having great coaches who believed in me and made learning hockey more fun.

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:
Stronger competition and setting new goals.

Any advice or tips for younger players coming up:

Practice pays off! The more you practice, the better you will get.

What was the toughest part of tryouts: 

Toughest part was preparing for the tryout, going to conditioning practice.

How long have you been playing with WHC? 

I joined Winnetka warriors at the start of Pee Wee.

Best memory from Winnetka Hockey:

Best memory was winning an outdoor game in overtime.

What are you hoping to experience at this higher level of hockey:

I’m hoping to experience better competition at this new level.

Advice or tips for younger players coming up:

The best advice I could give is always give it 100% at practice because whatever you do in practice is always going to come out, when playing a game.
 

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:

Toughest: Mentally
Interesting: When coaches call out specific players to go on the ice

How long in the WHC program: 

Started Travel in Squirt through to Bantam

Best WHC memory:

Making Squirt 1 after making Squirt 5

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

Super competitive

Any advice or tips for younger players coming up:

No matter what team you make, don’t quit

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts: 

The mental part of try-outs is the hardest

How long were you in the WHC program:

7 years total, 1 year of house and 6 on travel.  I have been a goalie since I started, but skated out as well the first couple of years. 

Best WHC memory:

Going to Sheboygan with my Squirt team and winning the tournament!

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

Improvement. 

Any advice/tips for younger players coming up:

Just make sure you have fun with your friends! That is the best part of hockey. 
 

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:

New Trier casts a wider net than local hockey club teams, and there were some really good players from across all the different areas.

How long in the WHC program:

A few years of Minor Mites, one year of Peewee Elite and one year of Bantam Major Elite.

Best WHC memory:

Coach Clay making up hilarious nicknames for the team. And some of the best hockey talent I've ever been aligned with, during those Elite years.

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

I enjoy the higher levels of competition and speed, and will focus on being a playmaker for my team.

Advice or tips for younger players coming up:

Be a generous player. Keeping the puck to yourself doesn't move it up the ice as fast as passing and playing a smart game.

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:
The toughest thing about tryouts has always been the nerves going in.

How long were you in the WHC program:
I played House League for both of my minor mite years, then Travel from my first year as a mite through my first bantam year.

Best WHC memory:
Traveling with the team to other places for tournaments. No matter how we did it was always an amazing time.

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:
Playing for my high school with all of my friends is very exciting.

Any advice or tips for younger players coming up:
Putting in hard work and long hours will pay off in the end!

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:

Finding the chemistry of my defensive partner and learning how to play on the fly with skaters I hadn’t played with before. 

How long were you in the WHC program:

From the beginning! I started in House League Minor Mites and went from there. Got cut in the first year of Mite Travel and steadily made my way up to Captain of Bantam 1. 

Best WHC memory:

Coming back to the ice after taking a year off from brain surgery.  I’d never been happier to lace up my skates and get back out with my teammates.

What hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

Hoping to see a faster play style and tougher competition. Also looking forward to the team spirit that we get to be a part of playing for our high school.

Advice or tips for younger players coming up:

Work hard, keep your head up, respect your team, listen to your coaches, show up to play.  And remember to enjoy it – it’s a game after all!

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:

The most interesting part about tryouts was playing against new people.

How long in the WHC program:

I played house Minor Mite, Mite, and Squirt; and in Travel I played Pee Wee and Bantam.  

Best WHC memory:

Going to tournaments.

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

Increased competition

Any advice or tips for younger players coming up:
Don't worry about what team you make, just play your hardest.

Toughest or most interesting part of tryouts:

The competition with the other kids was the toughest part. There are so many kids from other communities who are very good at hockey.   

How long were you in the WHC program:

I started as a Minor Mite and ended as a Bantam, skating for house and house-plus teams.  After a few years, I tried out for the travel team and made great trips to Wisconsin to skate at out-of-town tournaments. 

Best WHC memory:

As a squirt we won the Wishbone Tournament.  

What are you hoping to experience at this new level of hockey:

New teammates, new schools to compete against, new challenges.  

Any advice or tips for younger players coming up:

Try your hardest and you'll make the team you want to make. Go through your equipment list mentally before leaving the house.