This season, the Wellington native is enjoying his second season of junior hockey, skating for the Jacksonville, Fla.-based Bold City Battalion of the USPHL.

“(Bold City head coach) Rett Vossler reached out to me to come play for his team after my season last year,” said Bradshaw. “The idea of getting to play junior hockey in Florida is very appealing, plus they are a first-year team so I can make an impression early on in the program’s history.

“Living away from home at first was tough. I was very homesick, but my parents and teammates helped me push through. The weather come fall and winter is very ideal with it being in the 70s most of the time.”

Bradshaw said he first started wanting to play hockey after going to his first Colorado Eagles game.

“My love of the sport stemmed from there,” said Bradshaw.

Playing for the Thunderbirds helped Bradshaw turn a corner in his development.

“(Thunderbirds coach) Cam Clemenson has been a huge help for me throughout my years of playing,” Bradshaw said. “In Colorado, you never forget your teammates. Most of the kids I played with back home I was on the same team as them for four-plus years. You always stay in touch with them.”

Moving ahead, Bradshaw has simple goals in mind.

“My short-term goal is to hopefully win nationals with Bold City and move up to Tier II juniors,” said Bradshaw. “I hope to play NCAA hockey in the future.”

Photo/Milo Davis

— Matt Mackinder

(November 14, 2023)