Paul Kinder moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Whitefish, Montana, three years ago to pursue his hockey dreams. “It’s amazing here; it’s a great city with great people,” Paul stated. He described Coach Joakim as a great guy who loves the game of hockey and referred to his coaching style as “aggressive,” wanting every player to be ready to play hard every day. “Coach is here to win,” expressed Paul. He encourages others who are pursuing their hockey endeavors to “come play in Whitefish; you’ll love it!”

Danny Roe, a Montana native, has been a part of the Whitefish community for the past three years. He made specific mention of the “very supportive Whitefish fans,” expressing how easy it is to get along with and to have conversation with those in the area. “It’s such a beautiful place,” Danny stated. When asked to describe his experience with his coaching staff, Danny replied, “Coach Josh wants his players to be the best person on and off the ice. At times, his approach may be uncomfortable, but he has the willingness to help out any way he can – in athletics or academics.”

John Tesarek moved to Whitefish, Montana, from Palmdale, California, two years ago. John exclaimed, “Whitefish is a beautiful town; I love it, and the people are great. At the rink, the ice is fantastic!” He described Coach Joakim as a “hard head” but explained that he knows what he wants out of his players. “He wants to make them better,” John voiced.