The Best Part Is Watching Them Read

Some of the most meaningful moments I’ve had since writing Every Position Counts have happened when I least expected them.

It started with noticing kids wearing hockey shirts or carrying gear at the rink, in airports, or while traveling. Sometimes they are my age, sometimes younger, but you can always tell when someone loves the game. When I get the chance, I hand them a copy of my book and tell them it’s about hockey, teamwork, and remembering that they matter.

What happens next is the part I’ll never forget.

At airports, I’ve seen kids sit down on the floor by their bags and start reading right away. Not scrolling on a phone or flipping through pages, but actually reading with focus and intent. Watching that from across the terminal is surreal. It makes me realize that stories can connect people even in the busiest places.

At the rink, I’ve given my book to kids while they’re getting dressed or taping their sticks, right before they head out onto the ice. I tell them that no matter how they play that day, whether they score, sit on the bench, or make a mistake, they matter. Every position counts, and so do they.

Some kids smile and say thank you. Some look surprised. A few ask questions about the book or tell me what position they play. Those small conversations mean a lot to me because they show that the message is landing.

Giving my book away like this has taught me something important. Impact does not always come from big events or planned moments. Sometimes it comes from a simple gesture, a quick conversation, or handing someone something that reminds them they are seen.

Seeing kids connect with the message of Every Position Counts in real time reminds me why I wrote it. It is not about selling books. It is about sharing a message I wish I had fully understood when I was younger.

Every time I see a kid reading my book in a place they never expected to get one, I feel grateful. Grateful for the game, grateful for the opportunity, and grateful for the chance to remind someone else that they matter.

Those moments are the best part of this journey so far.