Dustin Kohn reflects on his early love of hockey, from “Tom Thumb” youth leagues and outdoor rinks to being an Oilers fan who obsessed over NHL gear and video games like NHL ’94. He emphasizes how unstructured play at outdoor rinks—competing with older and younger players—helped build skill, confidence, and a healthy competitiveness. Kohn credits his time in the Donnan hockey academy as a hugely positive environment, balancing sport with school while surrounding him with supportive teachers, teammates, and early mental skills exposure that was “ahead of its time.” He also describes overcoming early setbacks like not being drafted in bantam, growing physically and mentally, earning opportunities through supportive coaches, and eventually making the Calgary Hitmen while benefiting from strong billet-family support and low-pressure parenting that ke ...