SARATOGA SPRINGS — Hunter Bridges, age 10 and center for the CP Dynamo Tier 1 AAA Hockey Team has spent his whole life with a hockey stick in his hand.
Bridges is a sixth-grade student at Maple Avenue Middle school. While he also plays tennis, hockey is his favorite sport. The only thing he dislikes about the game is experiencing a loss.
"I love playing with my teammates, especially when we come together as a group, especially last year - we got to know each other and became a family,” said Bridges. That's pretty much what I most love about hockey."
From playing in his living room with his father Styles and his stepmother Amy, Bridges continued on to play field hockey in his backyard. As far as organized hockey goes, Bridges spent five years playing for the Saratoga Blue Knights before joining the CP Dynamos.
Hockey is a family sport in the Bridges household. His father used to play as well, and that inspired Bridges to pick the same jersey number his father wore – 36.
Throughout his years of playing, Bridges has played a few different positions including defense, left wing, right wing, and center – which he currently plays for the CP Dynamo Tier 1 AAA.
“Because I love to skate, and I love taking face off and especially when helping out the D (defense)."
In addition to his teammates, Bridges names some of his biggest supporters to be the adults in his life.
"My biggest supporters are Coach Brad and my dad and Amy (stepmom),” said Bridges.” “They always cheer me on and especially Amy in the stands. When I go down the ice with the puck, she's like, ‘go, Hunter!’ "
Bridges was also a part of a select group who joined the Albany Capitols, a team generated to represent the United States at the EuroChem Cup, one of the world’s leading ice hockey tournaments for 10-12-year-old players.
One thing that Bridges has carried from team to team is his sportsmanship and love for all his teammates.
"Usually if somebody is feeling down on the bench, we get them back up and normally they are fine after that," said Bridges. "We usually say 'you’re not doing bad, you just need to get your head in the game and focus on the game.' "
While Bridges may only be 10-years old, he has big plans to play Division I hockey in college and eventually play on a professional team.
