Solar Bears head coach Drake Berehowsky on his love of hockey, being a parent to six kids and where he likes to spend his time off.

1. I started playing hockey when I was 8 years old. My brother got me involved; my parents didn’t want me to play and get hurt, but once my brother started playing I wanted to be like him and I wasn’t going to be deterred.

2. I grew up in Toronto. I ultimately came down to Orlando to start the Solar Bears in 2012. After one season, I left for a job with Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League, before our previous owner called me early in the 2016-17 season and asked if I would be interested in coming back. I always had a good relationship with our owner, and I was eager to get back into a head coaching role.

3. My career as a coach started after I retired from playing in the NHL. I got into coaching first serving as an assistant with the Barrie Colts and then moved to the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League.

4. Someone I admire is my mother. I always looked up to my mother because she treated people the right way, and she had a very strong work ethic. She would do anything for her family.

5. If I could see any musician in concert, it would be Elvis. I got to know plenty of country music stars when I was playing hockey in Nashville, but there’s one King of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

6. The TV show I’m currently binge watching is 90 Day Fiancé.

7. I have six kids: three boys and three girls. There’s Dylan, age 15; Duke, 14; Daniel, 13; Dawson, 12; Dalton, 10; and Diesel, 8. Notice a trend here? Being a parent is the best thing I’ve ever done with my life. My kids bring me the most joy and I’m super proud of them.

8. A skill I’m always working on is improving as a parent. I always think I can try and be a better father to my kids. Years from now, I want them to have nothing but fond memories of our time together.

9. My favorite place to spend time off is Lake Muskoka in Ontario, Canada. I do so much traveling for work during the hockey season and with my kids’ hockey tournaments that I simply like to go to my cabin on the lake and just relax and unwind.

10. What I love about coaching for the Solar Bears is I’m still involved with hockey. I enjoy working with our younger players as they continue to develop and potentially reach the next level. I love being able to give back to a game and community that has been good to me.

This article originally appeared in Orlando Family Magazine’s March 2020 issue.