academic all-stars GARRETT JAMES photo
STEFAN GONZALES BURNABY EXPRESS
It was never a question of whether
Stefan Gonzales was going to succeed in the classroom and at the rink. From a young age, his parents made it clear that lacing up the skates was only an option if his studies were in order. “I’ve always had to balance school
and hockey,” says the 17-year old. “I have to be doing well at both and they want me to put in 100% effort at school.” All the hard work has paid off for the
rookie, who has become an Express reg- ular while maintaining his high grades. He has competed at the provincial stage of Canada’s Geography Challenge, and is a perennial honour roll student. “Stefan is an extremely hard worker,”
says Express head coach Dave McLellan. “He puts in a lot of time and he takes a really serious approach to preparation.” When Gonzales talks about his ap-
“The skills you learn in school usually transfer to what you do as a hockey player.”
- Stefan Gonzales
proach to school and hockey, the maturity of his mindset shines through. “We practice at 2:00 every afternoon,
so I have to put in all my effort (at school) up to that point. Then I come to the rink, treat that like a job and do my work.” Gonzales insists that the type of think-
ing demanded of a student is very similar to that required of a hockey player. “When the coach is explaining a drill
or showing a game tape, understanding those things always comes more easily with good study skills.”
-H.K.
SMART HOCKEY
32 | 2010 EDUCATION ISSUE
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