Jessica Goedeke

Sophomore Ty Waddell takes stride into the offensive zone looking to add to their lead against the Lafayette Lancers. The Longhorns lead the game 3-1 in the third period. “I was just trying to get through the defender and get a good scoring chance and put the puck on net,” Waddell said.

Growing up brothers on and off the ice, junior Cole Waddell and sophomore Ty Waddell connect through playing hockey for the school.  

Being only a year apart in age, the Waddells had the opportunity to play together before high school.

“When myself and Ty were younger, we used to practice together all the time and sometimes we could play together. After we took a break, Ty and I started to play and practice together again for our high school team,” Cole said.

The creativity always clicked for the Waddell brothers. Along the way, they came up with a play here and there.

“Growing up together, I always played mini-hockey with my brothers, which has helped lead to some creative plays we have made the last few years,” Cole said.

Taking his first strides, he was able to fall in love with hockey.

“I started learning to skate around the age of four and found a real passion for it, but I didn’t start to play hockey until I was around five years old,” Cole said.

Being at the rink, he forged new friendships along the way.

“When I started to first play hockey my motivation, like all kids, was to go to the rink and see all my friends,” Cole said.

Looking up to his older brother, Ty followed Cole’s path into hockey.

“I started playing hockey because my older brother, Cole, started playing. I started to skate with him and play with him,” Ty said.

Along with the brothers’ camaraderie on the ice, their teammates also affect the accomplishments of the team.

“The success that we have had this year really falls back on the guys because they can give us the confidence knowing that if we make a mistake, they got our back, or we can trust that the keeper will come up big and make us some saves when we need it,” Cole said.

Leading the team in scoring with 14 goals and 14 assists for a total of 28 points in just 19 games played, Ty feels that the team assisted in his accomplishments.  

“They have helped on the ice and off the ice. I look up to my seniors on the ice and being a sophomore, I can say sophomores and freshman are treated fairly and the upperclassmen have helped us out a lot,” Ty said.

Brought together through hockey, the Waddells have grown as men.

“My relationship with Cole has become better because we learned how to play together, and along the way, we found the same friends together through hockey,” Ty said.