LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – At some point in their career, every hockey player dreams of one day playing in the National Hockey League. However, the odds of that are less than 1% and it’s an even longer shot if you’re coming from Las Vegas, but that has not stopped Kalieb Bauer from continuing to fight for his hockey dreams.
The Vegas born product has had a love for hockey since he was five years old, and while most are attracted to the skating and scoring, Kalieb was interested in the physicality.
“The hits, the fights, the boys, the teammates, all that together,” said Bauer. “Ever since I was little, just watching the NHL watching guys go at it and you’re allowed to do it, just got me so excited.”
Bauer grew up playing through the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights program, but once he aged out, he had the opportunity to stay home and play for the Henderson Force, a tier three pay-to-play junior league for kids ages 16-20.
“My goal was to always play for as long as I could, I wanted to go professional and be able to fight.” he shared.
And after just one season, Bauer is on the move again.
“I’m playing for Spirit of Hockey, in Turku, Finland. They reached out, they saw a few videos, they saw how hard I worked,” he said. “Why would I not say yes to Finland, no one really has that chance. It’s crazy I get to go to Finland.”
“There are three professional teams, then they have a junior league, I’m going to Suomi-sarja, but the thing in Finland they can move up the ranks, so every junior team, there goal is to move up to the next league,” he explained. “There is a lot of development getting to the professional level and I think I’ll get that there. A lot of ice time, I don’t know the future, depends how hard I work.”
Kalieb is the oldest of three boys in his family and one of the perks of playing, working, and coaching at America First Center is his ability to spend time with his brothers.
“I really get to show them how to play, teach them. I wish I had someone to teach me all the things about hockey and I’m glad I’m here for my brothers to teach them. Being on the bench, being with them, being able to give them that feedback that coaches don’t usually give back individually. Not to favor them, but I do because I’m around them more. I care about them, I love them.” he said.
Bauer is calling this opportunity a once-in-a-lifetime chance, traveling overseas to play the game he loves.
However, this is not the end goal, and the job is definitely not done.
“Keep on working, it’s a long road; a long, hard road, but just got to keep working,” he expressed. “Worth it, totally worth it. I’m not at the top yet, got to keep going, but we’ll get there.”
Bauer’s season in Finland is set to start on July 1st.
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