Tonight, I am bringing my players from the PEAC School into downtown Toronto to watch the Olympic torch relay.  I’ve been fortunate to see two other torch relays in person (for Calgary ’88 and for Salt Lake City ’02) and words can hardly describe the inspiration and motivation that is ignited inside of you after seeing the flame in person.  I am so excited to be able to share this experience with the players I coach as many of them aspire to represent their country at the Olympics in the future.  And I know when I am standing out watching the torch go by later today, that I will start to think back to when I was a player with those same dreams, working hard each and every day to move closer to that BIG goal.

Even though I never had the chance to represent my country at the Games, I know exactly how much it takes to get there.  I remember the days where you feel like you can barely move,your brain won’t work and you feel like you are skating through mud.  You don’t think you can give anything else – but somehow, you find a way to push through because of your unwavering desire to succeed.

Before the glory of pulling on your country’s jersey or standing on the podium during the medal ceremony, there are years upon years of hard work and hard choices.  And it’s the people who support you along the way that make the tough road ahead tolerable.

I wanted to take a moment and recognize a few of the people who’ve helped me along the way as a player and coach.  The people who have “passed the torch” to me and helped me believe that I could do anything I dreamed of.

1.  My Junior Coach:   He was the first one to ever “bench” me.  I know that sounds strange as someone to “thank”, but he was the one who taught me to be a class act on and off the ice and to realize that family and academics always come before hockey.  He embodied the two qualities I always stress to my players: respect and responsibility.  If I can become half the coach and person that he was, I will consider my career to be a success.

2.  My Players:   Whether I’ve trained them on or off the ice, it is working with players who share the same passion and desire I had to be the best as a young player that makes my job as a coach, mentor, and motivator easy.  Each and every player I meet (and I meet a lot) makes an impression and I thank you for continuing to inspire me to do what I love.

3. My Dad:  My entire family supported me throughout my entire playing career by putting up with my stubbornness about things like never missing practice for any reason, playing through ridiculous amounts of pain – and having to put up with me when I was crabby as a result, and setting an example for me each and every day about the importance of hard work, creating your own reality and pushing yourself to be the best.   But my dad is really the rock behind it all.  He never yelled at me from the stands, never told me what to do in the car and never pushed me to go practice more.  I didn’t need anyone there to motivate me – but I needed him there to help me keep it all together.

From back when I was doing everything I could to get a hockey scholarship and was practically pulling my hair out trying to figure out which school was right for me…

To when I had food poisoning and was hospitalized the day I had to play for the NCAA championships…

To after I had my back surgery and I could barely get out of the car, couldn’t feel my leg and had to take lots of painkillers just to put my skates on…

To everything he does to this very day supporting me with everything I do with Total Female Hockey…

My dad is, and will always be, my biggest cheerleader.

I am so fortunate to have people in my life that have allowed me to become the person I was meant to be and I hope you do too.  So please take a moment over this holiday season to think about and thank all the people who have passed the torch to you on your journey to becoming the best person you can be.

Keep Working Hard and Dreaming BIG,

~ Coach Kim

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS

Director, Total Female Hockey

Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes