This piece originally appeared in our newsletter, “Carnegie Corner,” Issue No. 1.
Josh Pauls, a motivational speaker and member of The CI’s Board of Directors, earned a Gold Medal as the captain of Team USA at the World Para Ice Hockey Championships held in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan recently. It marked the record-setting third straight, and the sixth overall, A-Pool World Championship for the USA.
CI: How did this Gold Medal compare to the many others you’ve won?
JP: I think every gold medal is unique because of the story of the team and how I remember each of them, but to cap off an undefeated season for the second time since I’ve been on the team with a World Championship was incredible. The atmosphere in Moose Jaw was great and it was a ton of fun to play and win in the fashion we did.
CI: Your coach David Hoff gave a shout out to you and a few of your teammates for the effort on the penalty kill that was vital in your win over Canada in the Gold Medal game. Why do you think you perform so well in these types of high-pressure situations?
JP: I think we perform so well in those situations because we are in them all the time. In club hockey games against each other we’re competing and we do so in practice as well. We’re comfortable being in these situations because we’ve seen them before and we know what kind of momentum a PK or even a shorthanded goal can give a team and having Jack (Wallace) and Declan (Farmer) connect on one was great to see.
CI: Was there a particular instance in your life you recall as the moment you fell in love with hockey?
JP: The first time I got on the ice as a part of a team, the Woodbridge Warriors, was when I really fell in love with the game. It was freeing being on the ice and getting to play and enjoy a game I had only ever watched.
CI: What are some of the most important lessons you take from competing in hockey and apply them to the rest of your life?
JP: I think the most important lessons I’ve taken from hockey and applied to my life are that there’s no substitute for the work you put into anything and also how to be an advocate for myself and others in the disabled community. Hockey has taught me how to find a solution where others only see problems and that will help me the rest of my life for sure.
CI: As a Board Member, what do you see as the most immediate challenges The CI must focus on to see more progress in making the sport more inclusive and welcoming to all.
JP: I think the most immediate challenges the CI must focus on to make the sport more inclusive, and welcoming are finding ways to continue to highlight stories and individuals doing the work to tackle these challenges and helping people understand why the sport being inclusive and welcoming for all is a benefit to everyone in it. From diversity of opinion and perspective to innovation, hockey has so much room to grow the more we can welcome anyone that wants to be involved in hockey.