To some hockey fanatics, the phrase “hockey is life” may seem to describe their lifestyle at an accurate level, but to three individuals that are new to the state of Michigan, that phrase is true- hockey is literally their life. Chad Kujawa, Connor Wright, and Wes Elrod have made the ultimate sacrifice of leaving their friends and family after being recruited to play hockey for one of the most elite Midwest AAA Hockey Clubs to further pursue their dream of playing professional hockey. These three young men all came to Michigan during the early days of August, and they all share the same intense passion for hockey which has brought them together during this unfamiliar experience.

   “It was hard moving away from my family at such a young age, but I have adapted and got used to living on my own without my parents,” junior Chad Kujawa said.

   These three boys are all far away from home, coming from different areas of the country; Kujawa coming from Lakeview, New York, Elrod hails from Nashville, Tennessee, and Wright is from Anchorage, Alaska. The boys will miss many things from home, but they understand that this is something that must be done in order to achieve their dreams.

   “Michigan is very different from home and its cold,” Elrod said.

   The three athletes are currently playing for Little Caesar’s Hockey; Chad and Connor playing forward and Wes playing defense. It is common for hockey players to get drafted after high school or go straight to playing in a semi-pro league, but some Division I schools that Chad, Wes, and Connor would be interested in playing for are Michigan State, Boston College, and the University of Michigan which are all college hockey powerhouses. Considering that they are playing for a hockey club in Michigan, it is very realistic that they could play hockey for a college in the state or perhaps even be looked at by the Detroit Red Wings depending on their playing level.

   For 16-year-old Chad Kujawa, the dream of playing professional hockey is so close he can taste it. He has had the unbelievable experience of witnessing a close friend who played for the Michigan State Spartans get drafted to the NHL. This player is Buffalo Sabre, Tim Kennedy, who was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals.

   “Tim Kennedy has influenced me the most because he’s my friend from Buffalo and I’ve been watching him progress over the year. Now he plays in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres,” Chad Kujawa said.

   Hockey is all these boys have while living in Michigan and everyday they are getting closer to their dreams. They are all many miles away from their friends and family, but the sport of hockey keeps them feeling at home.