High Performance Hockey Camp in St. Cloud

Each year, Minnesota Hockey invites the top 100 girls at the 14 and 15 age level to the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud for a week long training camp. Presley was invited to participate after first trying out at her district level and then competing with girls from across the state in a Spring Festival tournament in Duluth. The week includes lots of on- and off-ice training, great coaches, and fun bonding with other great players from around the state. Presley was placed on the Royal team. Her team went 5-0 in the 3-on-3 tourney and then won the end of week final championship in an overtime shoot out. We were most proud of her being honored with the Player's Choice Award - voted on by her peers and her coaches. Super Cool!

Shoemaker's Hall - her home (dorm) for the week...



Herb Brooks National Hockey Center - her training center for the week...



All the players with Hannah Brandt, Olympic Gold Medalist. And Presley gets to hold the Gold Medal!



The "winning" 3-on-3 tourney team...



Her Player's Choice Award...

End of School Year

The end of the school year brings both proud moments as well as a bit of sadness as we realize we are down to about 4 years with these kids. Feels like just yesterday, the kids were getting on to the bus for the very first time. Canyon and Presley both had great school years - both working very hard and both earning great grades.

One of Canyon's end of year assignments included a "TEN" talk. Kind of like a Ted Talk. He and 3 classmates from Honors English gave a great presentation on "Brainwashing".



Presley was honored with the President's Education Award, the highest academic honor, awarded for 2 great years of academic excellence.



We said goodbye to our favorite bus driver, Rick, who has driven both Presley and Canyon over the last 11 years. Rick, gets dressed up for Fancy Fridays, stops to say to Ron whenever he's passing by our house, and waits for our kids as they are racing towards the bus. Great guy who always has a smile on his face!



And the week school ended, we were blessed with a quick visit from Uncle Don who was able to stay with us for a quick but awesome 48 hours.