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Show 8 Students in Action From toddler to trading card: student's rise to the top FORUMFORTNIGHTLY.COM A The hockey dub looks to bounce bade this season After a winless season last year, the hockey club is off to a much better start this year, with a 1 record. Photo courtesy of Sarah Brunson Ferguson displaying his trading card Connor Thill By the age of six, Ferguson was enrolled in freestyle ski program, and he stayed involved with the program until he was 18. When he turned 18, Ferguson moved to Park City and made the U.S. Ski Team. Staff Reporter Some kids may dream about being a professional athlete, maybe even making it onto a trading card. A Westminster student has now accomplished both. At a recent NBC media day in Hollywood, Calif., Dylan Ferguson, junior, was approached by representatives from Topps Trading Cards. The representatives asked Ferguson if he would want to be on an Olympic trading card, and he jumped at the opportunity. Its kinda crazy," Ferguson said. When I was home just a few weeks ago, I found the cards that I kept from the 1998 Olympics. It was the first time I saw aerial skiing. I actually have the Nikki Stone (1998 Gold Medalist) and Eric Burgess (1998 silver medalist) cards. To say that Im at that level now is a dream come true. I never really thought I would be at that level. Ferguson has made a name for himself in the aerial ski industry. He started skiing when he was young. His parents owned a house near the Waterville Valley Resort, and he would ski there on the weekends. awesome, Ferguson said. Its a dream come true to be at the level Im at and I am enjoying every second of it. Ferguson said the Olympics is the big contest. However, during the off years, Ferguson and his teammates get to travel around the world as a part of the World Cup Tour. The tour takes the team to different places, chasing the snow wherever it goes. Ive been traveling the world cup tour for about seven years, Ferguson said. We have a great tight-kn- it group of people to travel around with and we get to see lots of places. During the off months, the team is regularly training under Coach Todd Ossian. We train a ton, Ossian said. We are training about seven months out of the year into the pool. Were basically training for two hours, a warm up, jump for two hours, then a break, and then jump for two more hours. . Its According to Ossian, Ferguson brings more to the team than just his athletic ability. He brings a couple things, Ossian said. His personality is just awesome. Everybody loves Dylan. Hes a really fun person to be around and, despite his age, he brings a ton of experience. Ferguson was supposed to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in . Vancouver, British Columbia. However, he was unable to comPete due to an emergency appendectomy and was not cleared medically for V f x competition. It was a bummer, but I got to give my spot to my best friend and teammate, Scotty Dahrke, said. Ferguson Being able to give my lifelong dream to a teammate is one of my favorite , ? ! L 3-- i ? A memories. ous hockey careers on a fun and competitive level. Thomas Phelan Staff Reporter Senior Riley Sheldon is the club President for the 2013-201- 4 season. Two years ago, Sheldon and student Jake Boudreau were responsible for creating the dub. After moving to SLC and taking a small break from hockey to focus on soccer, Sheldon had the desire to start playing again. Last year, the dub played in a division that was too demanding. The dub was a part of the Division 1 Salt Lake County Adult League. This season, the team will be playing in the Division 2 segment of the Although the dubs purpose is to provide prior hockey players a chance to continue playing, we extend the opportunity to students with no previous hockey experience to learn the game and enjoy playing it with their friends and peers, Sheldon said. The dub uses their ASWC budget to fund ice lessons at local arenas. They e all improved our skills dramatically over the course of the season and had a blast, r: if league. Riley Although the team last year, went the team learned a lot. We all improved our skills dramatically over the course of the season and had a blast," Sheldon said. Both Sheldon and Boudreaus love for hockey led them to want to do whatever it took to incorporate a hockey program at Westminster. 0-- 14 The dub consists of roughly 30 members. The roster is determined at the end first-serof the summer on a first-come ve basis. Anyone, regardless of skill level, is allowed to play, Sheldon said. All we do is cap off the roster when it hits 13 or so. The goal for the dub is to provide an opportunity to continue students previ hold weekly ice sessions for anyone affiliated with the dub to come and practice. dub team the a great on Playing is said opportunity, junior Brad Coffey. If it werent for the dub, I would most likely not have played any hockey during my Sheldon time at Westminster. Any student or alumni interested in playing hockey can join. The team has both male and female members. Members need their own . skates and other gear. The dub really is what you make it, said junior dub member Kaely Keman. If you want to come out and just hang out with some friends and play a little hockey then thats great. If you want to take it a little more serious and be more competitive, then the club gives you the opportunity to do so. The team plays every Sunday at one of three locations. Anyone who wants to join the Westminster Ice Hockey Club can email Sheldon at -- |
