Nathan Haas will never forget the championship taste he got with the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team last season. He’s hungry for more as a senior.
With a team-best 19 goals and 17 assists — third-most among players in the Foothills Conference — the senior forward and team captain helped coach Dan Woodley’s squad to a 14-2-3 regular season record. The Raiders are in position to defend the state championship they won last season.
Haas carries a 3.7 GPA and is set to study business at Miami of Ohio University next year.
What is your favorite high school memory, athletically or otherwise?
Definitely winning the state and national championship my junior year. Something I will always remember.
What is the biggest sacrifice you have to make to play your sport?
I would say moving from Aspen to Denver to attend Regis Jesuit. Leaving all of my friends up there was very difficult, but playing here at Regis under Coach Woodley has been an incredible journey.
What’s the best piece of advice ever given to you in sports or in life?
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Applies to life in general.
Are you a leader? If so, what do you think makes a good leader in yourself or others?
I like to consider myself a leader because of the way I play the game. I believe that leading by example is the best way to lead. A leader has to be respected, have a will to win and the drive to make everyone around him better.
Do you have any quirks or superstitions when it comes to your sport or in life in general?
Yes, the one thing that I do before every game is pray. Even though we pray as a team, I feel more comfortable praying to myself. It just helps me relax knowing that I am not only backed by my team.
If you listen to music before a game, what gets you most ready for competition? If not, how do you get focused?
Lately I have started listening to music before each game, and it is the album Long.Live.A$AP. I try to stay loose before each game, joking around with the boys, but when it is game time I turn on another switch.
What’s a sport you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t and why haven’t you?
To this day I wish I had continued playing basketball after middle school, but hockey resides in the same season so I chose hockey in a heartbeat. Other than basketball, I would like to participate in broom ball. I haven’t tried broom ball because playing hockey is very time consuming along with the rigorous schedule that comes with attending Regis Jesuit.
If you could pick a person living or dead to spend a day with, who would it be and why?
Michael Jordan. First of all he is a Tar Heel. Second of all he is the best basketball player of all time and I think it would be cool to live in his shoes for a day.
Other than sports, do you have another true passion in life and if so, what is it and why?
Success in itself is a passion of mine. Whatever I end up doing I want to be successful. I have always had an interest in business, and will be attending Miami’s business school next year. So the plan is success through business.
What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
I don’t like to think that far ahead, but hopefully holding a solid job with enough time for me to get out and experience the world. Who really knows, 10 years is a long time.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555