2026 Board Nominees and Voting Ballot

While she didn’t grow up playing hockey, it was always a sport Katy loved to watch. Her connection to the game deepened when her son, AJ, began playing at the mites level and quickly developed a passion for hockey. Her appreciation for hockey has grown into a personal passion as well. 

Katy was raised on the Front Range of Colorado and moved to Steamboat in 2021. Her professional background is in education, where she has served as a teacher, educational coordinator, and principal. She currently works for an ed tech company.

As a former competitive athlete through college, she understands the value youth sports bring beyond the game. She strongly believes in the role they play in shaping character; teaching teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship, and how to both win and lose with grace. She is excited about the opportunity to support and grow youth hockey while helping create a positive experience for players and families.

Growing up in Grand Junction, Tom was first exposed to hockey on the frozen pond by his parents’ house. Albeit for only a week or two at a time most years (or sometimes not at all), he immediately fell in love with the game, playing in-line hockey wherever and whenever possible. After taking a break from the game in college, he first played organized ice hockey after moving to Steamboat in 2009 and has been a beer league regular ever since, even playing the 6:00 am ‘No Bozos’ for many years, and now whenever he gets the call. 

While not a coach, nor having any kids in the program, he has a 3 year-old son, Harrison, who loves playing hockey in the garage, where he pretends that he is Nathan McKinnon. Tom works at Alpine Bank, having just completed his 17^th year with the bank where he is currently the head of the finance department.

Patty grew up in Steamboat Springs and has watched the local hockey program evolve over the years. Although she didn’t grow up playing the sport, she has been a lifelong hockey fan and recently joined the rec league herself in an attempt to keep up with her two son hockey players. 

Professionally, Patty has served as an emergency and forensic nurse. She is dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments for young athletes. She believes in emphasizing a team culture where players feel comfortable speaking up, building emotional resilience, and values practical safety skills - including calm and confident responses to injuries. 

Patty spent many years as both a competitive athlete and a coach, and she brings a deep passion for youth sports and the life lessons they teach—hard work pays off, life and sport balance, team dynamics, and focusing on the next play.

Jeff moved to Steamboat in July 2020 with his wife Stephanie. They have two kids in the program, daughter Danica and son Blake. He has been a coach with both of their teams for the past five seasons. While he did not grow up playing hockey, he instantly found a love for the game playing as a young adult and still play in the adult rec leagues today. In his youth, he played competitive baseball and club soccer at the highest levels. Some of his best youth memories include traveling around the country with my teammates and playing tournaments in Europe.

Currently, he is the president of a small sales company and this leadership experience has equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive organizational growth and ensure sound financial stewardship for long-term success.

As a North Dakota native and graduate of University of North Dakota, Jen grew up surrounded by hockey. When she and her family moved to Steamboat in 2016, they jumped right into the hockey program here. Her daughter, Gracie, plays for 15U girls and her son, Austin, will be a second year Squirt next year. Her husband, Steve, is the 15U girls head coach and also plays in the Men’s league. 

Jen works for U.S. Bank in Human Resources on their Compensation team. She loves volunteering at school along with cheering her kids on in hockey, soccer, lacrosse, baseball and basketball. She also enjoys golfing, fishing, skiing and traveling with her family.

Her goal as a board member is to increase transparency, communication and expectations with players, parents and coaches. She finds value in the mid-year and end-of-year surveys to determine the best aspects to continue as we are today and make incremental changes as needed.