PCA Updates
Taylor is the current captain of the Maple Grove high school girls hockey team in Minnesota and was recently accepted to play Division I Hockey in the fall at Post University. As a gesture of gratitude to all of the coaches that made an impact along the way, Taylor created hand-written letters and personally delivered them to all 21 of these Game Changers that touched her life. As she puts it, "I take the time to create these notes because gratitude is such an important piece for me. They were such a key part of my development as a person, not only as a player but on and off the ice; they did so much for me."
Her story caught the attention of Jon Schmit of KSTP in Minneapolis, who shared some of these heartfelt notes, including, "Coach Mike, thanks for always believing in me and pushing me. Your style of coaching made the game fun." Mike, like so many of these recipients, made it clear just how much this overture meant to him, going so far as to share this card and this message on social media, where it caught on with so many others.
The most moving aspect of this story for us is that while considerable focus is placed on teaching coaches to create a positive youth sports culture, Taylor is a reminder that filling emotional tanks is something everyone is capable of doing, whether you're a coach, a parent or an athlete. It also reminds us of the power one person has to make a difference in the lives of so many within the context of the youth sports experience.
Taylor is a shining example that while her accomplishments on the ice make her a celebrated player, it was her extraordinary capacity for gratitude and compassion that makes her a true Game Changer.
