Photo by Diana Michelle
Cole Begley
Cole is a 13-year-old at Tomlin Middle School and plays hockey for the Grey Wolves at TGH IcePlex as well as the Spring Training team for Durant High School.
How long have you been playing hockey?
About 8 years. I started when I was five and just never stopped.
What position do you play?
Defense. I like helping out the goalie and keeping the other team from scoring.
What’s your favorite thing about hockey?
Probably how fast everything happens, and just being with my team. It’s never boring.
Is it tough multitasking skating while playing a sport at the same time?
At first, yeah. But once you get the hang of skating, it kind of clicks. You don’t think about it much—it just happens.
Has hockey taught you any life lessons? If so, what are they?
It’s taught me how to stay focused in the moment but also pay attention to what’s going on around me. You can’t just zone in on one thing or you’ll miss something important.
If hockey is offered at your high school next year, do you plan to try out?
I’m already skating with Durant High School’s practice squad, and I’ll still play rec too.
Is there any other sport that you want to try out for in high school?
No, just hockey. That’s what I enjoy most.
What’s the hardest thing about hockey?
Worrying about messing up and letting your teammates down. You don’t want to be the reason something goes wrong.
When you’re not playing hockey, what are you doing in your free time?
Mostly playing video games, hanging out with friends, or practicing at home.
If you could give advice to someone who wanted to try hockey for the first time, what would it be?
Learn to skate first, and be open to feedback. It’s not easy right away, but it gets better if you stick with it.
