Love The Game, Live The Game

From Howe Arena to how hockey changes lives

by Evie Nowicki staff writer

Givens.

Of the memories made over the past few years, Burkholder and Faille have many to cherish. “Winning regionals last [year], then also this year when we won the Christmas tournament that we hosted…will stick with me for a while,” pronounces Faille. The accomplishments are very important to this year’s team, but the brotherhood that comes out of the sport is even more salient. Even when mistakes happen they have a solution to lift themselves back up to their full potential. “We just tell each other that mistakes happen, but go out there the next day and make something better. Make a difference,” asserts Burkholder.

Senior year is a lot different than other years for the boys on the team. “I feel like senior year has gone by faster than the other years, and it has felt more fun than other years,” Burkholder reflects. High school goes by in a blink of an eye, especially in your last ever Trojan sport and on senior night when all the memories start to flood in. “I just realized how fast my hockey career has gone by and how much I enjoyed it and how much I’m gonna miss it,” mentions Burkholder.

The sport of hockey has taught some of the seniors certain lessons that will not only apply on the ice but off the ice as well. “I feel like I’ve gotten more confident and grown a lot. I am a different person now than when I got here,” shares Faille. When it comes to this year’s team, Givens sees the impact of the connections they have built beyond the rink, adding, “When you have a family down the line, sports help build that foundation to those bigger things in life.” //