Blake Sorensen has been with Delaney Hockey for three years, but his hockey career spans almost four decades. During this time, Blake has worked with players of all levels, from coaching at the youth to varsity level. This enables Blake to connect with each player, no matter where they are in their career. At Delaney Hockey we teach professional development at every level, and Blake is a testament to this mission as he brings his professional experience to each player he works with.
Dive into our interview with Coach Blake to learn more.
Delaney Hockey: How many years have you been skating?
Blake Sorensen: 38 years to be exact.
DH: What coaching experience to you bring to Delaney Hockey?
BS: I’ve coached at a lot of organizations in the Chicagoland area: Glen Ellyn Flames AA (Asst. Coach), Robert Morris University D1 ACHA Club (Associate Head Coach), Chicago Mission AAA (Asst. Coach), University of Illinois D1 ACHA Club (Asst. Coach), Aurora University NCAA DIII (Volunteer Asst. Coach), Latin School of Chicago (Director of Hockey + Boys Varsity HC), Loyola Academy (Maroon Head Coach + Gold Co-Head Coach) and Chicago Jets (Skills/Skating Instructor).
DH: That’s an incredible career—is there an area of coaching that you specialize in?
BS: No, but I used to be a forward.
DH: What’s your favorite part of coaching?
BS: I love being able to give back to the younger generation. Hockey has been such a huge part of my life that being able to continue with the sport and help young athletes realize their potential and see their progress is extremely rewarding for me.
DH: What advice do you have for young players starting their hockey careers and/or players who are trying to move up to the next level?
BS: I strive to encourage players to play for the love of the game. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about. We all play because we genuinely love the game, so it’s important to keep that in mind.
DH: How do you think hockey benefits a young athlete?
BS: The team building aspect is important. Hockey teaches kids important skills that they’ll use for the rest of their life. Sportsmanship, working together and dedicating time and hard work are a few qualities that stand out to me.
DH: What are a few things all players can do to increase their skill level?
BS: Participating in activities of hockey—that complement the sport—are beneficial. I encourage players to shoot pucks in their driveway, play street hockey with neighbors and figure skate. All of these help enhance hockey skills, so it’s important to try activities outside of hockey.
DH: What’s a fun fact about you?
BS: I was an Ontario BMX Champion at age 11! I also played NCAA DIII hockey at St. Norbert College and played five years professionally in Europe (UK, Slovakia, Slovenia and Austria). Both of my brothers both played NCAA DI hockey and were drafted into the NHL.
DH: If you could have dinner with a famous hockey player or coach, who would it be?
BS: Steve Yzerman hands down!
DH: What other organizations are you involved with outside of Delaney Hockey?
BS: I’m the director of Hockey On Your Block (HOYB). The organization teaches Chicago youth ages 5-15 the fundamentals of the game: speed, agility and mental toughness. It gives these kids an experience they might not have otherwise.
Thanks to Coach Blake for taking the time to share his history and passions with us. If you’re interested in learning about HOYB, visit this link: http://bit.ly/2rbcB9I