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When Peter Yewdall was only three years old, he put on his first pair of ice skates and walked outside to the pond his grandfather had made. For balance, he leaned on a chair, pushing it around the ice until he could stand on his own.

Thirteen years later, he's still on the ice as a forward on LaSalle Institute's ice hockey team.

Peter is a junior at the Troy school and has been a LaSalle student since sixth grade. He began playing for the ice hockey team in his freshman year of high school.

"He's a really good kid, a great team player, and always positive," said coach Tim Flanigan. "He's always willing to be what the team needs him to be. He's dedicated."

Peter comes from a sport-loving clan. Two uncles played ice hockey and family members attend games and watch all manner of competitions on ESPN. Peter found his niche in the game of ice hockey.

"I love everything about it," he told The Evangelist. "The competition, the game itself and the interaction with friends makes it great."

Gamely charitable
Peter also makes time to share his love for the sport with others. Each weekend, he can be found at the Swinburne Park skating rink in Albany, volunteering to teach underprivileged youth how to move on the ice - and, more importantly, how to play hockey.

Working through the "Learn to Skate and to Play Hockey" program, Peter usually works with five- to nine-year-old kids.

Tricia Yewdall, Peter's mother, appreciates how giving her son is to the people around him.

"He's just a very caring boy; he helps out whenever he can and takes care of his friends and family, too. He's always doing something and it's always for a great cause," she noted.

While peace and understanding is often hard to find between teenagers and their parents, Mrs. Yewdall explained that she's never had a bad day with her son.

Although Peter's first love is sports, he balances playing and watching games with schoolwork, family and friends.

"He keeps us busy," said Peter's father, Russell; "and he keeps us laughing."

At LaSalle, Peter favors his math and science classes and hopes to study to be either a chemical engineer or a physical therapist.

Hockey, however, will remain a constant in college and afterwards. "I'm going to keep playing no matter what. Whether its NCAA or intramural clubs, I have to stay on the ice," Peter vowed.

Taped and ready
With the season's practices and try-outs just beginning, Peter can't wait to be back on the ice where he belongs.

"I'm just enjoying life and everything I've been given," he remarked. "I just try to be compassionate, passionate and driven."

The team finished with a record of 10 wins and 12 losses last year. Coach Flanigan believes this will be Peter's biggest season: He explained that, because upperclassman usually get the most playing time during games, Peter will get the time on the ice he has worked for this season.

"This year is going to be his opportunity. He's a year older and a year stronger," said Mr. Flanigan.

(11/18/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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