We read the stories in the newspaper and see them on TV — a youth sports coach loses control and strikes a player, shoves an official or erupts in a profanity-laced tirade. Fortunately, most coaches are good-natured volunteers who just want to give back. The best are great role models intent on making a real difference — not just in a game but in a life.

We’re lucky enough to have such a person on our own team. Growing Bolder Vice President Bill Shafer spends his days guiding the GB team and his nights and weekends molding lives on his son’s youth hockey team. We followed Coach Bill and his team as they battled for a spot in their league’s championship and discovered what they learned off the ice may be more important than any final score at the rink.