Why I Coach

Just Develop Sports Group was built from the challenges that shaped me most.

Throughout my athletic career, I was often one of the smaller players on the ice and had to prove myself in ways that went far beyond talent alone. At 16, I faced one of the biggest challenges of my journey when I suffered a serious back injury, L5-S1 spondylolsis, a stresss fractures in the lowest part of the spine, which sidelined me for 6 months. I was told by a doctor that I would never play hockey at the college or professional level. Hearing that at such a young age was difficult, but it forced me to make a choice: let someone else define my future or get to work and fight for it myself.

Along with those injuries came the normal battles so many athletes face but do not always talk about: ups and downs with confidence, performance, pressure, and self-belief. But no matter what I was going through, I kept coming back to the same thing — the love of the game.

That love taught me to enjoy the process, stay resilient through adversity, and keep believing in what was possible even when the road got hard. It showed me that growth is never linear, and that real development comes from continuing to show up through the highs and lows.

That is why I coach.

I want to help all athletes not only improve their skills, but also build confidence, embrace challenges, and stay connected to the joy of what they do. Because the journey is not always easy, but if you stay with it, it can shape you into more than you ever expected.