Dylan Koran: St. Francis hockey
Dylan Koran has been a dedicated hockey player since he was about eleven years old. He played for
the St. Francis middle school and high school teams. He became interested after the Minnesota Wild was
introduced and after they had gone to playoffs. The following summer, before sixth grade, Koran went to
summer camp with St. Francis Saints Hockey Association. At camp he made outstanding progress and the
coaches told him that he would no doubt be on the A team. In middle school they do not have varsity and
junior varsity, but instead the A team and the B team. The A team is the highest of the two teams.
All through middle school Koran was on the A team. Every year his skills improved more and more. In
eighth grade at the last game of the season, the game came to a shootout. Koran was picked by the coach.
He looked t the coach and said, “Are you nuts?” The coach told him to just do what he does best and
Koran managed to score the winning goal.
After he entered high school Koran steadied out a bit and just worked on his skills up until his senior
year. He said that his senior year and graduating class was magnificent and a big part of what held their team
together. Growing up playing hockey together is what gave the graduating class an advantage over the
underclassmen. They, unlike the younger kids, knew each others strengths and weaknesses. That is what
also helped them beat Totino Grace the entire season. Totino is a well trained private school. They had not
won a single game against Totino in 20 years up until their senior year. The first game against Totino, St.
Francis won 3-2. Koran helped assist on the last goal even though he had a split open wrist from a hockey
skate blade. He cut his wrist in the beginning of the game but stayed to finish and waited until the game was
over to go to the hospital where he received eight stitches. This helped Koran score some brownie points
with the coach and amazingly this did not effect his season. He was able to get right back to playing.
The biggest moments of Koran’s life while playing hockey was the last game of the season when they played
the Andover Huskies. The huskies were a rival team that had beaten St. Francis multiple years before. St.
Francis started out on fire. Koran was on the first line for the first time ever. He assisted his team mate Joey
Benik on the first goal. Shortly after Andover scored making the score a tie. In the second period Andover
scored again taking the lead, but with less than a minute on the time clock Koran scored a goal tying the
over all score once again. After the third period was over Andover had made a come back and crushed St.
Francis. Although they lost Koran was very proud of the team. They had really put up a good fight and
played a great game.
Even though Koran has graduated and does not play for St. Francis anymore he still plans on
participating in hockey, whether it be for a rec. league or coaching. Hockey is a big part of his life and is
very important to him. One way or another he plans on continuing with it.
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