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Aaron Volpatti wasn’t dreaming of the NHL at 17, he was trying to make the Revelstoke Grizzlies, his local Junior B hockey team. In his NHL draft year, Aaron was living at home, graduating from high school, and hanging with his buddies. He had his sights set on hopefully making the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL as an 18-year-old.

Volpatti ended up wearing the jersey of the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals, but after seeing Aaron score 7 goals in first 112 games in the BCHL you probably wouldn’t have made that bet and neither would have Aaron.

But as we have heard before on this podcast, Aaron’s greatest adversity turned out to be his life’s greatest gift. At the conclusion of his second season with the Vernon Vipers that adversity struck. Aaron was involved in an awful accident at a team bush party that left him with 2nd and 3rd degree burns to over 40% of his body.

He was told he would never play hockey again.

But after one phone call (and we discuss why this phone call was so impactful for Aaron) Aaron made other plans – he was going to be in the line-up for the season opener come September.

And after 6 weeks in hospital, 4 weeks in a wheelchair, another month unable to walk and two more major setbacks called kidney stones and an appendicitis, Aaron was dressed to play on opening night. He WILLED it to happen.

During that process he proved to himself that he could accomplish anything. He grew his resilience, his confidence, and his mindset.

In this interview we discuss 

• The possibilities that arise when we assume we generally only operate at 40% of our capabilities 
• The perspective shift Aaron made that changed the meaning of the physical pain he was feeling, which gave him mental strength and the ability to recover faster 
• How having big dreams requires us to explore and change the personal standards we set for ourselves 
• How Aaron used visualization to prepare him for playing in the NHL, at a time when we he never even had a pro contract 
• How Aaron used DELIBERATE PRACTICE at 24 years old, to become a player that scored more goals and points in his senior year at Brown than he did in his previous 3 seasons combined 

Aaron Volpatti earned his way into the greatest league in the world. He used adversity as opportunities to grow and compete and to overcome. He had clear visions for what he wanted to accomplish and had a plan for how he was going to make that happen. Aaron was prepared to do things that others weren’t willing to do. 

Aaron’s story is one of possibility – one of evolution and one you will find very inspiring.