Interview Essay Rough:

Daydreaming about scoring the game winner to be applauded by thousands of fans all chanting your name is a fantasy imagined by everyone at some point in their life. So it wouldn’t come as a surprise that one of, if not the most popular dream jobs for kids is to be a professional athlete. Competing at the highest level in sports on an international stage has likely been a dream for everybody at one point in their youth. But even though we – as young kids, teens, and even adults are always reminded to follow your dreams, desires, and passions, we typically stop imagining such nonsense, and give up to follow a more realistic path.

However there still always are the few top percent players in sports who manage to go pro. Mostly in part to the perfection combination of their natural talent, good work ethic, mentality to win, and the belief in themselves to chase their dreams into reality. And although not every one of these professionals will be the LeBron James, or Sidney Crosby in their respected sports, they still are among the best in positions they play. Retired professional player, Patrick Holland is amongst the few who managed to turn their sitting dream into an active reality.

Patrick Evan Holland, born in Lethbridge, Alberta, is former professional ice hockey player who played in the AHL, NHL and overseas in the Finnish Elite League (Liiga). Holland spent 5 years playing professionally between 2012 and 2016. With his most notable professional seasons being with the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets (2013-2014).

When asked about his introduction to hockey and how he discovered his passion for the game, Holland responded, “I learned to skate when I was 3 and started playing hockey at 5. I don’t remember too much at that age – probably because of the concussions, but my dad and one of my older brothers played so I image the interest was handed down to me” (Holland). Finding what he didn’t know yet what would be his passion at such a young age inevitably aided him into becoming a star hockey player later in his life.

Although discovering the game early on in his life, “[he] never made the decision to take it seriously. [He] was good and [he] enjoyed it” (Holland). Holland’s love of the game is why he continued to play and is also why he continued to get better. Holland says, “because I enjoyed it, I kept at it and I also kept climbing up the ladder” (Holland). Holland consistently playing well strictly out of the passion he has for the game eventually landed him a spot in the WHL at the age of 17. Continuing to play well in his WHL season, Holland would continue to sculpt himself into an NHL bound player until he was drafted the next summer.

The dream of being in front of a massive crowd, playing the game you love finally became reality for Holland when he played against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden (Holland). That and, “spending time just walking around in Dallas, Chicago, San Antonio, and New York City” are some of his fondest, most memorable experiences (Holland). However dedicating yourself to doing something you love always comes with having to make sacrifices. Holland in a disheartened tone recalls, “long hours traveling was always a pain. Your body is tired and sore, but your mind is really awake so it’s really difficult to sleep or get any comfort. When you do get to sleep, it’s never for too long. Within usually an hour or two at 3:30 you have to be out and up for the border...” of being some of his least enjoyable experiences (Holland).