Kill-er Slapshot

Athlete Balances Two Club Sports

The fans are shivering in the arena, watching a grudge match on the ice when a player speeds by and steals the puck like a pickpocket in the night. He takes a shot on the goalie and it hits the back-right corner of the net for a goal. This same hockey standout is also a fierce competitor on the hardwood with the lights of the gymnasium shining down on him. Junior Nick Burke is a hockey player and boys volleyball player who balances life, school, friends, and two club sports.

“I was influenced to play volleyball from church camp,” Burke said. “I played once a week and it was a fun time and I wanted to continue when I found out that [HSE] had a program.”

Burke started playing volleyball in his underclassmen years of high school, however hockey has been a lifelong passion for Burke, who credits much of his success to his family, both sports and biological.

“Family [connects both sports],” Burke said. “Each team feels like a family, but family was the reason that I started both sports.”

Boys volleyball teammate, sophomore Harrison Lakes, believes that Burke’s best attribute is his ability to unify the team and his leadership skills on and off the court.

“Nick’s best attribute as a teammate is his outgoing kindness that united the team which improves [the team] as a whole,” Lakes said. “His kindness reaches everyone and we all know we have someone to talk to on and off the court.”

Burke plans on continuing playing both of the sports he loves for the remainder of his high school career. He will continue to dazzle fans on the ice and keep digging on the hardwood in the two things that make up his life. Story By Tristan Fluhr.