Taking Time to Reflect: Understanding Purpose and Finding Your "Why" as an Athlete

A lot of athletes — especially young ones — fail to truly appreciate the gift of the game.

When you’re passionate about your sport, it's easy to get locked into the daily grind: wake up early, practice, lift, compete, repeat. For a long time, that was me. Like most youth athletes, I thought the only things that mattered were the obvious ones — stats, ice time, wins, and highlights. The stuff that shows up on the scoreboard or gets posted on social media.

But the older I got, and the higher the level I played at, the more I realized those things — while important — don’t actually define you. They don’t make you resilient when things get tough. They don’t carry you through injuries, roster cuts, or slumps. And they definitely don’t build a meaningful life beyond the game.

At a certain point in my journey — somewhere between juniors and the start of my college career — I started asking myself a deeper question:

Why am I really doing this?

That question forced me to slow down and reflect — something I never really did as a younger player. It made me realize that so many of us are just chasing the next big thing without ever stepping back to understand who we are, what we care about, and why we’re putting in all this effort in the first place.

A lot of people talk about “finding your why” like it’s one magical moment that gives you clarity and passion — like you wake up one day and everything just makes sense. For me, it didn’t happen that way. I can’t point to one defining moment. Instead, my "why" has unfolded gradually, over time, through the ups and downs of the game.

Sacrifice and the Early Years

I remember being a junior in high school and begging my parents to let me leave home to pursue hockey at a more competitive level. It wasn’t easy — for them or for me. I was asking to move away from everything familiar, to take a risk on something uncertain. But deep down, I knew I needed to chase this if I wanted to grow. That decision — to leave home early and bet on myself — taught me a lot about sacrifice, discipline, and how badly I really wanted this.

And when I got to that higher level, I realized just how big the world of hockey truly is.

Culture, Brotherhood, and Perspective

I’ve played on teams with linemates from all over the world — guys from Sweden, Russia, Canada, Finland, the U.S., and more. And while we came from different places, what we shared on the ice created a bond that broke through language, culture, and background. Listening to their stories — hearing what they gave up to pursue their dreams — gave me perspective. It helped shape my values and expand my understanding of the world. It taught me that everyone has a unique “why,” and that sharing those stories is part of what makes this game so special.

Giving Back and Growing Forward

As I kept playing, the continuous search for my "why" led to something unexpected. I began coaching.

At first, it was just helping out with younger teams in my community. But before long, it became something bigger. I started working with youth players regularly. I became a recognized coach in my local hockey community. And that opened up an unprecedented opportunity to mentor the next generation — not just to teach skills, but to be a role model, someone they could look up to.

That path has also led me to work alongside NHL and professional-level coaches and players. Those experiences didn’t just make me a better coach — they made me a better player, teammate, and person. And they deepened my "why" even more.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about: helping others grow, just like people once helped me.

A Why Bigger Than Hockey

Eventually, I came to understand that your purpose as an athlete doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s not just about your numbers or your performance. It’s about the kind of person you’re becoming — how you lead, how you serve, and how you use your platform to lift others.

That realization didn’t just change how I approached the game — it changed how I approached life.

And it opened doors I never thought possible.

One of those doors was the opportunity to compete at Columbia University, an Ivy League school in New York City. That kind of opportunity doesn’t happen just because of talent. It happens because of character. Because of how you handle adversity. Because of how you treat others. Because of your purpose — and your ability to communicate it.

Finding my why gave me clarity — and that clarity created opportunities.

It helped me stay grounded when things got chaotic. Helped me keep perspective in pressure moments. Helped me become a better student, a better leader, a better communicator. It helped me show up not just as a player, but as a whole person. And that’s what coaches, mentors, and future employers really care about.

Still Evolving

The truth is, your “why” will change as you grow. Mine certainly has. What motivated me at 14 isn’t what drives me now — and what drives me today won’t be the same in five years. But that’s the beauty of it. Your purpose evolves with you. And the more you check in with it, the more powerful it becomes.

That’s exactly why I built this platform.

I want young athletes like you to start thinking about these things now — not when you’re burned out or at a crossroads. Because this game is more than a sport. It’s a mirror. A training ground. A way to grow into the best version of yourself.

If you can find your why — and stay curious about it — yowon’t just become a better player. You’ll become a leader. A difference-maker. Someone who lasts far beyond the final buzzer.

Let’s build something beyond the stat sheet.

Let’s find your “why.”