Growing up, I was always called “Daddy’s Little Girl.” I think that was mostly due to the fact that when I was growing up, we were a package deal… you couldn’t find us apart. From practice on weekdays to games on the weekend, we were always together year round. Not only did my dad drive me everywhere under the sun, he introduced me to the game that would shape me into who I am today and be with me my entire life—the game of hockey.

When I was little, he built a rink in our backyard and taught me how to skate before I could even walk. I started skating at such a young age I don’t really remember not being able to do it. The best gift my dad ever gave me was introducing me to the game of hockey, the game I would go on to play and love.

When I first started playing hockey, I was the only girl on my team—but that didn’t stop me. My dad gave me the confidence to be able to do so. He would always ask me, “Why be intimated by the boys? You are just as good as them—just go prove it.” Now, all hockey parents know the joy of having a young skater, because that means early mornings on the weekend. Not once did I hear my dad complain about having to get up at whatever crazy hour it was in the morning that we had to leave at to get to the rink on time. He gave up many hours of sleep and many hours of his time to allow me to play. Before he knew it, I fell in love with the sport and never looked back.

As a young girl, I saw how much my dad loved the sport and how much time he had dedicated to the game in his life. I mean, how cool was it that my dad still played hockey? I wanted to be like him; he was my role model. Not only was he my coach for most of my hockey career growing up, but he was and will always be my biggest fan.

As I got older, the crowd of dads tying skates before getting on the ice, coaching our teams and teaching us the game turned into dads behind the glass cheering us on. I missed having my dad as my coach on the bench but I came to realize he would forever be my own personal coach when I needed him to be. I knew I could always look behind the opposing teams' net and there he would be, ready to yell at the ref after a bad call was made or to cheer for my team when we scored.

What I miss most are the car rides with my dad traveling to and from the rink. I miss them because of the countless hours I spent with my dad talking and venting about life, school, friends, hockey and anything that came to my mind. I miss the pre-game pep talks and the post-game debriefs on what I did (and did not) do well at during the game. I miss his advice on how to handle the latest drama or how to go about a situation I was dealing with. I miss talking about my dreams and wondering what the future would hold. These were the times that shaped me into the person and hockey player I am today. To me, hockey isn’t just a sport: hockey is a way of life, hockey is a mindset, hockey helps shape who you are as a person.

Hockey players aren’t just born overnight, and a parent would be the first to agree with that statement. Time and dedication are spent on and off the ice for every member of a hockey family. I have come so far from when I first stepped on the ice as that little girl with bending ankles falling after ever step, getting called for offside every shift. My dad has been with me every step of the way, and has witnessed my development as a skater and as a young lady.

He taught me that if you want something and it doesn't come easy at first, don't give just continue to practice and work on it. He taught me that there is always someone better than you, but you always have the ability to improve yourself. Don't compare yourself to others; focus on what you can control. He also taught me to not get upset over the things I can't control, but instead, to learn from them. He taught me that losing a game isn't the end of the world, even if it's that one game you've been working towards all season. Life goes on and there is always more hockey to play. The lifetime of memories and friendships are worth more than a win or loss on the ice. I know I can say with confidence I wouldn’t be where I am today or who I am today without my dad, and I’m sure he knows it too.

So to my dad: thank you for the endless hours of instruction, frustration, lost sleep, taxi driving, support, advice, listening, Dunkies runs and just for being the best faja I could ask for. Thank you for introducing me to the best game there is on earth, the game of hockey.

The views expressed, [in this article] reflect personal opinions of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Naval Academy, the United States navy, any federal agency, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government