As freshman Justin Grega speeds toward the goal, he focuses on scoring. However, he is not running; he is skating down the ice as center for the Kansas City Stars hockey team at Kansas City Ice Center.

Grega has played hockey nearly his entire life and has learned that success does not come easy in it.

“[I have learned] to not be afraid,” Grega said. “[Also] it’s pretty tough going up against upperclassmen … you get hit a lot.”

Like Grega, sophomore Bryce Hart also plays hockey. Hart, who has been playing for 10 years, plays as a goalie for the Saints at Line Creek Community Center.

“It’s different for me because I’m technically the last line of defense,” Hart said. “I’m the one making the saves. I could help them win or help them lose. And that’s fun to me.”

While hockey is not very popular in the Midwest, Hart said that he still enjoys playing the sport.

“It’s cool because … you’re one of very few in your school who plays it,” Hart said. “When you find someone who plays hockey you can form a bond by both playing … in a place where not many people play it.”

Grega was inspired to start playing hockey after seeing a game live.

“[I was inspired] by going to a hockey game and [I] thought it was cool,” Grega said. “Then I just started playing hockey.”

Hart also began playing the sport after seeing a game.

“When I was little there was just hockey on TV and I saw the fast pace of the game,” Hart said. “My eyes were glued to the TV.”

In addition to competing with his own team, Hart also helps teach a group of younger hockey players.

“I like how there’s stuff that they don’t know that I do, so when I teach them they learn it … and it helps them to succeed in games,” Hart said. “Hopefully when they get older they will help younger kids and it will just be a circle that’ll make us all better.”

Both playing and watching hockey is one of Grega’s life-long passions.

“It’s been really fun and I have been playing it basically my whole life,” Grega said. “It has impacted my life … I have been following [the National Hockey League] and hockey my entire life. I hope to continue playing all the way through college as well.”