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    Never Far from Home

    NFFH uses story-telling to examine the community of hockey, nationwide. Each episode will have an interviewee that fields questions from the host, Vladan Chase. Some content is explicit, just as life sometimes is.
    enVladan Chase285 Episodes

    Episodes (285)

    Never Far from Home Ep. 242 - The French Connection

    Never Far from Home Ep. 242 - The French Connection

    Tristan Brooks was kind enough to join the show, and told some fantastic stories. We covered his youth, from Alabama to Oregon, to France. He shared tales of his childhood, and how he came to find the passion he still has for the game of hockey, eventually taking it to France’s highest level, playing professionally for multiple seasons. Enjoy a saga full of turns.

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 241 - Finding the game

    Never Far from Home Ep. 241 - Finding the game

    Adam Young joined the show and we were able to explore his love of the game. From being a fan and enjoying the game on multiple stops around the country, to finding it in a playing capacity a little later in life. We get into some fantastic stories about how he started in sighted hockey, and then came to find blind hockey, and has worked his way into a USA jersey. Enjoy Adam’s many tales!

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 240 - Women's Hockey Life

    Never Far from Home Ep. 240 - Women's Hockey Life

    Jaclyn Hawkins kindly came on the podcast and shared some fantastic tales. From a big career and life moment when heading to the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), to coaching, to European Pro hockey. We cover a broad range of topics, all focused on who Jaclyn is, and what she stands for. That, of course, includes large amounts of discussion focused on Women’s Hockey Life, and looking at the women’s game as a whole. Enjoy!

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 239 - Dawg Nation St. Louis

    Never Far from Home Ep. 239 - Dawg Nation St. Louis

    There was a special event on Never Far from Home today: a round table discussion with the Dawg Nation: St. Louis boys. Jared Schmierbach and Matt Heath joined the show to talk about the founding of the St. Louis chapter of Dawg Nation. We interject a few stories along the way, but it was great to hear about an up and coming piece of GIVING BACK! Enjoy.

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 236 - A Battle of the Mind

    Never Far from Home Ep. 236 - A Battle of the Mind

    Sierra Natzke joined the podcast, and shared stories of falling in love with the game of hockey at a young age. She started in roller, and switched to ice. I tried my best to forgive her for being a goalie. We chatted about mental toughness, something she had to face multiple times through her career, which stemmed from youth hockey through college. Enjoy her tales, and my attempt to rekindle a passion that she has put aside for a small piece of time.

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 235 - 10 a.m. Whiskey's

    Never Far from Home Ep. 235 - 10 a.m. Whiskey's

    Kelly Cook joined the show as one of the first people to have known about the idea of Never Far from Home. While she only started playing in the last few years, there has been a deep connection to hockey through her family. We explore some of her earlier stories of being a Red Wings fan, and also talk briefly on her time as a soccer player, and a Scottish Dancer. Enjoy the tales!

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 233 - Texas Hockey

    Never Far from Home Ep. 233 - Texas Hockey

    Gary Russell joined the show, and while time kept us from going deep into some storytelling, we were able to explore his timeline of involvement within the community of the rink, and did get at least a few good tales in the show. He talks about his time playing, and then how it quickly translated to coaching when he wrapped up. Enjoy what is hopefully the first of a two part series with Gary!

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 232 - Wild, Wild West

    Never Far from Home Ep. 232 - Wild, Wild West

    Andy Hudson came on the podcast with a history of being on a few others. We were able to get into his start within the rink community, and discussed how it all evolved, especially concerning the officiating side of things. After a brief exploration of the timeline, we dove into some of his techniques that have grown the pool of officials in the St. Louis area. Enjoy another great story-laden episode.

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 231 - The New Hampshire Avs Fan

    Never Far from Home Ep. 231 - The New Hampshire Avs Fan

    Pat Salvas joins the show and we have a good change of pace from the normal scene of Never Far from Home. While there is a timeline exploration, Pat and I are able to dive a little more into fandom, and specifically, his fandom of the Quebec Nordiques turned Stanley Cup winning Colorado Avalanche. All of this while living on the East Coast, and being surrounded by Bruins fans. Enjoy the many tales!

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 229 - Tales of a Traveler

    Never Far from Home Ep. 229 - Tales of a Traveler

    Kendall Hanley talks about her hockey journey, one that has taken her all over the globe. She found the game, then after college, found reffing. It proved to be a great outlet to keep her locked in to the community, and also provided bountiful opportunities for travel, and gathering memories, along with friendships. Enjoy the tales of a traveler, woven together with the fabric of one of the best communities.

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 228 - A Different Path

    Never Far from Home Ep. 228 - A Different Path

    Sydney Harris joined the show and spoke on her youth days growing up in Pueblo. It was there that she fostered a love for the game, and her journey since has taken her through numerous paths, including boys JR hockey in the RMJHL, and eventually leading to Elmira. We sat down in the first of a two interview set, and spoke to the hockey alone here, and I hope to have her back on to discuss the reffing side of the game, as she has ambitions of reffing in the Olympics some day. Enjoy!

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 227 - The Old Man

    Never Far from Home Ep. 227 - The Old Man

    CJ came on the show as only the third guest that I grew up playing hockey with. That is always a special occasion for me, and hearing his tales, and connecting the dots, was a great experience for both of us. He tells of his early days in California, to his time in Omaha, and eventually, landing in Northwest Colorado. He regales about his Marine Corp service, and how he landed back in hockey as the old man. Enjoy!

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 225 - Select Memories

    Never Far from Home Ep. 225 - Select Memories

    Taylor Gross grew up in Colorado Springs, and regales us with stories from her days playing with the boys, all the way through some time with the Tigers girls program, and eventually speaks of her time with the Colorado Select. That was only the beginning. Taylor also talks about her college career, and how her post-college path has led her to where she is today, back in Colorado Springs, and back in hockey!

     

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    Never Far from Home Ep. 224 - Post

    Never Far from Home Ep. 224 - Post

    Jack Engdahl comes on the pod merely a week after meeting me. We share some experiences about Dawg Bowl 12, and what a top notch organization Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation is. From there we hop into his story more in depth. It includes overcoming tough years at multiple levels of hockey, and persevering to become a college hockey player. Enjoy his many tales, from the tough times, to the success’s.

     

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