Toronto Maple Leafs

In the dead of winter in Grand Forks, N.D., Troy Stecher wouldn’t stop barking at teammates.

The University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks believed they were the top college hockey team in February 2016. But the University of Denver had just served them their first back-to-back losses of the season. The team cancelled a Valentine’s Day party as a result. During their first practice following the losses, Stecher heard teammates moaning about how they should be sleeping off fun from the party instead.

And so the defenseman got to work: he finished checks with force. He slammed his stick in puck battles with authority. And he shouted at teammates to do the same, even if that meant hurting their feelings.

What mattered to Stecher was winning a national championship.

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