Never Far from Home

Erik Westrum is the eighth guest in the "Minnesota Chronicles", a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. We connected on a phone call, and dove head first into a timeline riddled with wonderful anecdotes, including a youth experience that led to passion, passion that led to college hockey, and eventually, a pro career including stints in the NHL and AHL. Erik just released a book (Get your copy here: https://erikwestrumbook.com/), and we are lucky enough to discuss the process that went into writing it. I have felt so lucky to share some amazing tales with people I met in Minnesota, and Erik is no different. I hope you enjoy his stories as much as I did!

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Paul Ranheim is the seventh guest in the "Minnesota Chronicles", a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. We connected on a phone call, and I caught him off-guard with the conversational, long-form interview. Due to time restraints, we keep this first episode together short. That said, we dive into his timeline, including a state championship run with the polarizing Edina squad. Love them or hate them, there is a rich history of success. We explore his time within the game, find a few stories as well, and there is promise of a second piece that will dive further in depth to more tales, and more experiences once his lengthy playing career wrapped up. Enjoy the first of two talks with Paul!

https://www.beautyunis.com/

https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

https://otpsteamboat.com/

https://4starautorepair.com/

https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Kalli Funk is the sixth guest in the "Minnesota Chronicles", a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Kalli was kind enough to find some time to meet up, after we had a very brief introduction the Monday I got in. She is playing on the Women's USA Bandy team, and I had attended the practice. We sat down in the Minnesota Wild offices, and she regaled me with tales of her life growing up around the rink. Kalli does a fantastic job articulating a captivating story that has kept her involved in the game, even today. She played all the way through college, then found bandy, and has since also entertained jobs that keep her involved with the rink community as well. Enjoy!

https://www.beautyunis.com/

https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

https://otpsteamboat.com/

https://4starautorepair.com/

https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Derek Shepherd is the fifth guest in the "Minnesota Chronicles", a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. We got into his timeline within the rink, from his beginning as a player through his time as an official. As is the case in so many of these episodes, I tried to find the balance between timeline exploration, and storytelling. Derek has a history of reffing with his father being a manager of officials at the collegiate level. Derek assumed the role down the line as well, until life drove him to step away. I have been humbled by the many tales I have been lucky enough to share, and Derek's stories are no different. Enjoy!

https://www.beautyunis.com/

https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

https://otpsteamboat.com/

https://4starautorepair.com/

https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Delaney Middlebrook is the fourth guest in the "Minnesota Chronicles", a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Delaney shared an incredible story, filled with so much challenge, so many tales of overcoming those difficulties, and she shares how she has become the wonderful human I was able to meet for a bit. From asking to play hockey at 4, and making a promise to never quit to her father (Chris Middlebrook), to learning about her Long QT syndrome, to playing six years of high school hockey. She was not done there. Delaney played four years of D1 hockey at two different schools, and then followed that up with some pro experience in Europe. Enjoy!

https://www.beautyunis.com/

https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

https://otpsteamboat.com/

https://4starautorepair.com/

https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Kenzie Torpy is the third guest in the "Minnesota Chronicles", a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Kenzie and I met at White Bear Lake Arena to sit down for our chat, and we explore a timeline riddled with fun stories, and culminating in a college career at St. Thomas. With positive strides taken, year over year, we also find a challenging moment, in her final series as a colligate athlete, and we discuss how she was able to overcome the adversity. Enjoy the many tales!

https://www.beautyunis.com/

https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/

https://otpsteamboat.com/

https://4starautorepair.com/

https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

Chris Middlebrook is the second guest in the "Minnesota Chronicles", a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Chris and I dive into a fascinating timeline that includes hockey at the collegiate level, and a lengthy history with bandy. He also has a few years of coaching we get into. The big draw for Chris was his book about his daughter, Delaney: "The Girl Who Played Hockey". We explore the story of the trailblazer, and the positive impact the tale had on the Middlebrook family, as well as on the sporting world.

https://otpsteamboat.com/

https://4starautorepair.com/

https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

beautyunis.com

thegardensicehouse.com

Tom Peart is the first guest in the "Minnesota Chronicles", a special series from my time in Minnesota for the Boys State High School Tourney. Tom goes through a timeline that is filled with hockey, from coming to the sport a bit late at 12-13, and finding himself in love with the goalie position, to his college playing days (post-Marines), through his many years as a coach. I hope you enjoy his story telling as much as I did!

https://otpsteamboat.com/

https://4starautorepair.com/

https://www.yampavalleybank.com/

beautyunis.com

thegardensicehouse.com

Kassidy Sauve came on and we go into her timeline of involvement, as we do on the show. Hers is a Canadian story. She was almost born with skates on, and was playing from 4 years old. She quickly found herself loving the crease, and everything that came with being a goalie. Her career is still going strong, today, but she does an excellent job moving through the years that led her to pro hockey. From youth time in Montreal and Toronto, to Ohio State, to Clarkson, and finally, to Finland. Enjoy her many tales!

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thegardensicehouse.com

Amanda Provan was kind enough to join the show, and we explore her passion for the game. She began playing at 12, but had loved it since her youth. The path of life was such that she found blind hockey after a few years playing sighted, and we talk on what the transition was like. She quickly found herself engrossed with the community of Blind Hockey in Canada, and is the first woman to win gold with the Canadian National team. Enjoy her tales!

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