Playing hockey for ten years together makes you a family. You spend countless hours on the ice and even more off the ice in the locker rooms and at each other's houses celebrating the highs and lows of the season.  And finally you shed tears together in your last game as you realize you will never again play together as a team.  

Volunteering with DinoMights has allowed part of the Apple Valley Hockey family come back together this year to once again be part of a team.  Kate Hansen (08), Kaitlyn Gherity (08), Jenny Rogers (08), Chris Otterstetter (09), Jordan Erickson (09), and Hannah Hanlon (10) all played hockey and graduated from Apple Valley High School.  This year, all six have served as coaches on the DinoMights Mites team.  Not only are they able to share in the joy of being together once again, they are able to pass on their love of hockey to a younger generation.  

Coach Jordan explains that "when you teach others you grow yourself.  And seeing the kid's passion about learning and improving is really motivating."

Coach Hannah says her favorite aspect of "being involved with DinoMights is seeing how big of an impact you truly have.  I love hearing kids say “this is the best day of my life” while driving to and from events, with big smiles on their faces is all the reward a volunteer could ask for; to know that you, perhaps, will provide a lasting influence that will remain with a kid for life. It’s great. "