October 23, 2009
By Becky Olsen
Special to USAHockey.com
Spend a few moments speaking with National Team Development Program Under-18 goaltender Andy Iles and it’s easy to feel his energy, enthusiasm and love for the game of hockey. One more thing stands out — his love for Team USA and finally reaching the goal that he has worked for since he was a youngster.
“I think I started skating as soon as my dad could get skates on me,” Iles recalled. “I starting skating when I was two and playing organized hockey when I was four. It is a family affair — my dad, brother and grandfather all played hockey.”
 | Andy Iles earned his first win in September in shutout fashion. |
Family is very important to Iles. Ask one question about his helmet, and the pride in his voice rings clearly. He designed his own goalie helmet and incorporated the colors (red, white and blue) and the flag on the helmet for a patriotic feel. Wait, there is more — three marks on his helmet remind him of the significance of his family.
“I have a pink ribbon on one side in honor of my grandmother, Kay Ross, who has battled breast cancer,” said Iles, a native of Ithaca, N.Y. “There is a lime green ribbon for my grandfather, George Ross, who is in his second round of chemo for lymphoma. The ribbons are a tribute not only to them, but to my family.
“Finally, at the top of my helmet, there is the Statue of Liberty. It is associated with America but also my roots in the state of New York.”
It has been said on more than one occasion that goalies have their own personalities and Iles is no exception to the rule. His competitive nature drove him between the pipes and of course, that “cool” helmet the goalies got to wear.
“Honestly, I became a goalie by choice because one, when I watched hockey on TV, I liked the goalie equipment and I thought the painted helmets were cool,” Iles said. “And two, it is part of my personality. I thrive in a competitive environment.
“I grew up playing a ton of sports and I always wanted to play the key positions that everyone was familiar with. I wanted to be in the spotlight, stick out and be noticed and of course, that role, I had to have passion for.”
His passion shows up no matter the circumstances. Iles joined Team USA after spending the 2008-09 season with Salisbury School in Connecticut. He was selected as the New England Prep Goalie of the Year and the New England Tournament MVP as Salisbury captured the New England Prep School Championship.
“Hockey is a sport that has lots of ups and downs,” Iles said. “To succeed at one end and win a championship is a thrill. I can look back at the year and see how far we came as a team. To win a championship is the ultimate goal and we could not ask for anything more.
“To play in a championship environment, you have to approach everything the same way. You must build comfort because if you lose you are done; it stirs my competitive soul.”
That competitiveness is a bonus for Iles. Prior to joining Team USA, Iles gained valuable experience as a member of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team that competed at the 2008 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Slovakia. He appeared in two games and posted a 2.50 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage.
“It was such a surreal feeling in Slovakia,” Iles said. “The first day, I walked into the locker room and saw the flag and the jerseys and the photos of past championship teams on the walls, I knew that I was part of something special.”
For Iles, wearing the Team USA jersey was a childhood goal for him and something that he has strived toward.
“It has been a main goal of mine since I started playing hockey to wear the USA ‘letters’ and represent my country and show what I have achieved,” Iles said. “It is important to me. I am excited and honored to be able to wear the USA jersey [for the NTDP].”
Since joining Team USA, Iles has posted a 1-2-1 (W-L-OTL) record, along with a 2.26 GAA and a .889 save percentage. He earned his first win in the pipes, stopping all 15 shots he faced, in an 8-0 whitewash of the University of Waterloo on Sept. 18.
“Andy is such a competitor and he eats up every single thing this program has to offer,” U-18 coach Kurt Kleinendorst said. “From the moment he got here, we could see his focus, his competitiveness and the way that he carried himself.”
This weekend, Iles will have the opportunity to return closer to home, including a stop in Ithaca, where Team USA faces Cornell on Saturday, Oct. 24 sandwiched around an Oct. 23 contest at Utica College and an Oct. 25 matchup with Colgate. Even though his family and friends will be in the stands cheering him, he understands the importance of controlling his emotions, remaining calm and focusing on the team.
“I am going to enjoy being there,” Iles said. “When I get to the rink for pregame skate, I’ll have a chance to take in the ambiance and scenery. You can realize where you are and what you are a part of and get the jitters out. Once I get back to the hotel, take my pregame nap and meal and come back for the game, I’ll approach it with a business mindset. I want to give my team the best chance to win a hockey game.”
What more can the coaches and his teammates ask for? That energy, enthusiasm and love for the game of hockey is one thing that each of them can count on from Iles.
Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc. |