Tampa Bay Lightning Goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy. Photo by Michael Miller, used under Creative Commons Internation License 4.0 On this Tuesday morning, September 29, 2020, Andrei Vasilevskiy may be the most beloved man alive in the city of Tampa. Over the past month, Vasilevskiy’s stellar goaltending has been paramount to the Lightning’s success in the Stanley … Continue reading St. Andrei – the Faith of Andrei Vasilevskiy
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Joel Hanley – Triumph after Tragedy
I haven’t posted much this year; but it didn’t seem right to let the Stanley Cup Finals go by without posting something! As the Dallas Stars face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning, one player you may see on the ice is Dallas’ Joel Hanley. Hanley’s name is not the most familiar one to hockey … Continue reading Joel Hanley – Triumph after Tragedy
Jake Brigham and Baseball’s Opening Day
Jake Brigham gives baseball tips to Team Osan and Republic of Korea Air Force kids at Osan Air Base, ROK, May 20, 2019. American players form the KBO visited the base to host a baseball camp for youth baseball players here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sergio A. Gamboa) Image used under creative … Continue reading Jake Brigham and Baseball’s Opening Day
Mika Zibanejad – the 1st Chapter
NHL success stories rarely begin in Iran with a man who claims that he had barely heard of hockey and has never donned a pair of skates. That is the unlikely 1st Chapter of the story of New York Rangers star, Mika Zibenejad. Mehrdad Zibenajad, Mika’s father, grew up in Iran. While he was not … Continue reading Mika Zibanejad – the 1st Chapter
Ryan Donato – Keeping the Faith Wherever You Go
40 Minutes. That’s about how long San Jose Shark's forward Ryan Donato had to pack up his entire life and start over. Ryan’s father, Ted Donato, is a Boston legend. He was born in Boston, played college hockey at Harvard, and had the unique experience of being drafted by his hometown team, the Boston Bruins, … Continue reading Ryan Donato – Keeping the Faith Wherever You Go
Joel Farabee – Steadfast under Trials
As the 2020 NHL trade deadline approached, the Philadelphia Flyers made two moves. First they traded a 5th Round draft pick to the Montreal Canadiens for center Nate Thompson. This type of move was long-expected, as the Flyers were known to be looking to add experience and scoring, and look to improve their odds on … Continue reading Joel Farabee – Steadfast under Trials
Luke Glendening – From the Dirt to the Ice
A high school football practice drill is an unlikely stage to set for the opening scene of a story about hockey. But that’s where this story begins. The school was Michigan’s Grand Rapids High. The drill was a simple one. A bruising linebacker was putting on a tackling clinic, repeatedly pounding a scrawny sophomore fullback … Continue reading Luke Glendening – From the Dirt to the Ice
Jay Beagle’s Unlikely Path to the Pros
Some things end before they really get started. Jay Beagle’s professional hockey career seemed like it was becoming one of those things. At 18 years old, a young Jay Beagle was attempting to launch his hockey career, playing for his hometown team, the Calgary Hitmen of Canada’s Western Hockey League. Before tryout were over, however, … Continue reading Jay Beagle’s Unlikely Path to the Pros
Josiah Slavin – Playing to Serve
As the puck drops on the 2019-2020 NHL Season, A Lamp unto My Cleats will focus on Hockey for the next few months. We will kick off the season by featuring some exclusive content from Tage Thompson, Blake Lizotte, and Josiah Slavin! As the calendar flipped from 2017 to 2018, Josiah Slavin only seemed to … Continue reading Josiah Slavin – Playing to Serve
Blake Lizotte – Not the Easiest Path
Her kitchen table was covered with “get well soon cards,” hand-written letters, her address book, and her 2012 calendar opened up to the month of August. We sat together, drinking coffee and eating one of her new-found favorite foods; toast with butter and sugar. 99-yearold Fern Kolbe shared with me her life story; which was … Continue reading Blake Lizotte – Not the Easiest Path
A Lamp Unto My Cleats 