Tell us about your hometown, family and hobbies.

My hometown, Edmonton, is a very high end sports city with our professional hockey team being the Oilers. I have cheered for them my whole life.  With that, we also celebrate a lot with our festivals and events. My immediate family consists of my dog, Kona, my dad, mom, sister and me. My mom grew up here in Alberta in a large family and my dad grew up in British Columbia with lots of family in the USA, so I have family all over North America. At Christmas time, we have had a family tradition of something called the “Maz Cup” where all the adults vs. the kids play a game on the dugout for the family championship. Many of my cousins have played hockey growing up so this is a great event! My dad volunteered often to help coach my teams when I was young and my mom has volunteered every year, except one, as a team manager.  They have given a lot of their time not only to me, but also to many of my hockey friends growing up and have always been a part of the hockey family. My family is super active – my sister and I being multi-sport athletes with me as a hockey player, as well as a golfer. I also enjoy a host of other sports. My sister excels at figure skating and dance. My parents were also active in sport as well as my extended family with a long history in the sport of rugby, Canadian and International, on my dad’s side.  As for my hobbies, I love to golf, which I’ve been doing since I was 3, and I really admire cars.  I have been fortunate to be able to travel to many parts of the world and would love to continue to travel.   

How did you originally begin playing hockey (what age as well) and what is your favorite memory from when you were younger?

I started skating around 2 years old and then playing hockey at the age of 5, playing every year ever since. My friend, who doesn’t even play hockey anymore, invited me to come and play hockey with him and that’s how it all started, through friendship and the love of sport. My favorite hockey memory from back then is when I scored 9 goals in one game back in Atom when I was 9. I was so happy afterwards because the goalie was one of the best in the league.

Who is your favorite NHL player and who do you model your game after? Why?

My favorite player at the moment would have to be either Evgeni Malkin or Auston Matthews. These players are just great goal scorers that I look up to and look to see how I can model their game someday. At the moment I am modeling my game around Pavel Datsyuk. He is my favorite player of all time with his speed and stick handling abilities, and he wore a great hockey number.

What team did you play for? What was your favorite part from the season?

Currently I play for the U18AAA MLAC team in Edmonton in the 2021/22 season, one of three Edmonton, Alberta teams in the AEHL U18AAA league. I played for the KC U16AAA Centennials in 2020/2021 and was one of the Assistant Captains. We did not have many games due to Covid 19 and it was a season of many adjustments, but we stuck through it together even if we were training online and at a distance.  It was not a long season at all in competition, but it was unforgettable.  The one memory I know I’ll remember is scoring the first goal of the season for the team and how good that felt to score and in turn help our team gel.  Everyone went crazy! This season with my new team we are working towards gelling together and I love the guys already as a team and my new hockey family.

What are your top goals as a student athlete? Why are they your top goals?

I want to improve on what I have already accomplished and set goals to grow each year as a student athlete.  I am striving for honours overall in my academics. This is important to me since I know that I am a student athlete first.  I am passionate about my sport, but I also know that my education is what will create a path to my future.  I always want to grow and do better if it is possible.  I did end up averaging honours taking into account all of my grade 10 courses this year overall.

How important is school from your perspective? Why is it that way?

School is super important. It leads to your future life, your career and what you’re going to do for the rest of your life. It can also get you farther in hockey and in my case, it can open up doors to whatever you want to do as long as you put in the work.

What would it mean to you to play at the NCAA or Pro level?

It would mean the world to me to play in the NCAA or at the Pro level.  I have always dreamed of playing on TV and playing at such a high level. Being a part of a team that is focused and all in at that level would be amazing.  I am prepared to work as hard as I can in order to make it that far. Through developing at the U18 AAA and then Junior level, the NCAA is on the road to Pro so that’s the path I am wanting to take.

What separates you as a player or person? How do you continue to get better?

As a player and a person I will always listen to what others have to say, take their feedback, then lead anything needed or take initiative when I’m asked to lead. Also, as a player I have grit to play in the corners where no one else will go even though I’m slightly smaller than most at this point.  I will win those battles no matter what.  I always try to bring positivity on and off the ice.  I know that in this game, and in life, we all need to work as a team and a community if we are going to succeed.  Keeping a positive mindset, training hard and maintaining a focus on my goals will help me continue to get better. 

What impact are you looking to have in your sports career? (Community, team, success, etc)

I want to impact the community that I am put into with whatever team I play for and whether that is bringing them together for a community fundraiser, a fundraiser for charity or just having a little festival in the town I’m playing, I want to make a difference. I would like to be known as a leader on the team and in the community, as well as an intelligent guy.  I believe I can make an impact wherever I go. At the end of the day, I like to work in a team setting and find that the most rewarding and impactful for everyone.

One fun fact about yourself.

I love cars! One day I want to buy an old car and make it my project car with my buddies.  I love to work as a team and this would be my dream.