WELCOME TO THE DC
The draft class. Our community - where passion for the game brings us together. This space is dedicated to the players, coaches, families, and fans who make hockey more than just a sport. As part of our commitment to growing the game, we celebrate your stories, support your efforts, and work together to make hockey more inclusive, accessible, and inspiring for the next generation.
Jade Mäkivaara
"Hi! My name is Jade. I play ice hockey in Finland at the highest level of women’s hockey. For me, hockey has always been about the love of the game. Throughout my career I’ve dealt with many injuries and overuse issues, but I’m still willing to do whatever it takes to keep playing. I’m excited to have joined the Gardeot team."
Aneesa Bhabha
"I began playing hockey when I was 7 years old. I spent a year figure skating beforehand until my dad (who plays hockey) asked if I wanted to play hockey like him! I joined and loved it. I was very shy growing up and hockey has always been such an amazing outlet for anything: stress, anxiety, jitters etc. I loved feeling fast and strong, especially since not many girls I knew played hockey in school. I liked the idea that women didn’t have to be delicate! I made amazing friends on my teams back home in Canada. I then joined my dad’s men’s team and play with them when I go home to Canada. Just this January of 2026 I tried out for the Pentyrch Aliens men’s team in Cardiff and made the team! They’re an amazing group of lads who have shown me that hockey actually exists in the UK (as I hadn’t played for the 2 first years I lived in the UK) I’m so grateful the the hockey community!"
JJ Lutz
“The first time I put on skates my parents couldn’t get me to take them off. I fell in love with the game right away. Hockey is more than just a game, it’s a culture, it’s a community, it’s about making the people around you better, and most importantly it’s about having fun. I’ve been able to showcase my passion and love for the game through my content. Joining the Gardeot brand is just another way I can spread the game. Hockey is my therapy.”
Dr. Jordan Kfoury
"I was the youngest and the only girl of four kids...growing up with three older brothers that played hockey, it was bound to happen. It shaped my life completely, seeing as now I work with hockey players- we've come full circle! I love the game and helping those who love it too."
Katie DeSa
"I watched the 2010 Winter Olympics and immediately wanted to play hockey. I began skating lessons not long after. Now, playing NCAA Division 1 hockey is a dream come true. Hockey has helped me grow as a person both on and off the ice. I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams."
Matty Barlow
“Hi my name is Matty Barlow, I play hockey in the UK! I started skating when I was 12 and went on to get my first hockey kit shortly after. Hockey was something I picked up quickly and enjoyed! It was a community and something which gave me a pathway to be a better me! Since then, I’ve gone on to represent England at u19/u23 level. I’m currently trying to become a better athlete whilst creating content along the way with my on and off ice activities. I can’t wait to work with Gardeot along the way!”
Stephanie Hogan
“I’ve been playing hockey for as long as I can remember. I love going to hockey, I can clear my mind and just play. I love the competitiveness and the opportunity to meet new people, hockey gave me my best friends for life and built my confidence and the drive I have to this day.”
Zachary Charron
“Hi my name is Zach and I have played hockey for about 4 years in Gatineau, Quebec. I love playing hockey because when I’m on the ice I forget about everything else in my life and it’s great.”
Ben Owen-Brooks
"A few years ago, along with my children, we attended our first ice hockey game. What an experience that was! Since then, we have passionately followed the game. I was surprised at how supportive and energised fans can be, considering the sport gets hardly any media coverage on the UK. Along with my two teenagers, we created Sup Puck, where we make and share content of our experience at games, with a hope it will contribute in raising the profile of the sport here in the UK."
Addi Lyon
"In 2021, I discovered ice hockey and quickly fell in love with the sport. What started as a hobby became a passion that shaped my identity. The intense training, tough losses, and hard-fought victories taught me resilience, discipline, and confidence. Through early morning practices and demanding games, I've learned to push through adversity and trust my strength. Hockey has given me a sense of belonging and purpose, transforming me into a determined and fearless individual. Now, every challenge on and off the ice fuels my growth, proving that strength isn't just about winning—it’s about never giving up."
William Lalonde
"I am currently a student-athlete at Lindenwood University playing for the Men’s ACHA Ice Hockey Team."
Heide & Maddison
"We’re Heidi and Maddison – 15-year-old twins from Denmark, passionate about hockey and working towards our dream of making it to the PWHL and competing in the Olympics. We've each been playing for 5 years; Maddison is returning stronger than ever after a 17-month concussion break, and Heidi is thriving after switching clubs two years ago. We love the speed, intensity, and training that comes with the game – and we’re just getting started."
Jon Capaldi
”I’m Jon, the photographer behind FAHX Photography.
I started photographing ice hockey with the Whitley Warriors during the 2025/26 season, initially to build my sports portfolio. I quickly fell in love with the speed, atmosphere and characters that make hockey so unique. Since then, it’s grown into a genuine passion and something I’m keen to develop further. I’m now looking to work with more clubs, players and hockey communities, creating images and content they can be proud of.”
Ethan Kane
Started watching the Coventry Blaze in 2003, have been watching ever since. Started working at the Skydome in 2017 and started my job as the equipment manager in 2019. Won gold with the GB women’s team in 2022. I spend 7 days a week at the rink for 8 months a year ice hockey is quite literally my life, I do it all. I love the bond I have with the players, the relationships I have with the distributors (Warrior/CCM/Bauer) and most importantly watching from the bench and working every game in a season.
Lucy Young
In 2019, my sister dragged me along to an ice hockey game in Milton Keynes — a sport I knew absolutely nothing about and had never seen before. To say I was immediately hooked would be an understatement. The pace, the energy and the passion inside the rink were unlike anything I had ever experienced, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it somehow.
Then, in 2020, Covid-19 hit and the season was cancelled. With very little else to do, I took advantage when the rinks eventually reopened to the public for skating. I bought myself a pair of skates and gave it a go. Initially, I looked like Bambi on ice, but I kept going back every week — and what started as a way to pass the time quickly snowballed into something much bigger. When hockey eventually returned, I joined a development ice hockey team and began my own journey on the ice.Fast forward six years, and I now play for the Milton Keynes Falcons in the WNIHL2 league, as well as for the Milton Keynes Bolts, a mixed recreational team. What started with my sister dragging me along to one game has become a huge part of my life.
Along the way, I have made some lifelong friends and found a real chosen family within the hockey community. The sport has given me so much more than I ever expected when I first walked into that rink in 2019, and it is something I will always treasure.