For 9-year-old Spencer Bathen, hockey is more than just a sport. With his parents, Amber and Larry Bathen, cheering him on at every game, he spends many hours on the ice.

Spencer lives in Pine Creek with his mom, dad, and dog, Tova, as an only child and attends Chesterfield Elementary. At home, he also enjoys soccer, math, playing chess with his dad, and spending time with his dog.

Spencer initially started skating lessons when he lived in Minnesota and he wasn't exactly a big fan.  However, once the coach started making it competitive, and not just skating, he started feeling an affinity for the sport. Afterwards, he asked his mom if he could start playing hockey for real.

After moving to Missouri this school year, Spencer now plays forward for the Chesterfield Falcons on the 10U A3 team. In total, he has been playing hockey for a little over four years.

Throughout those four years, Spencer has earned many awards and honors, including two championship medals and being chosen for an AAA Selects tournament in Minnesota. One of his favorite hockey memories was winning a championship game for the Falcons that went into shootouts. He also enjoys playing the sport alongside his friends, which makes the game even more fun.

But hockey isn’t always fun and easy, there are challenges too. One of the biggest challenges Spencer faces is playing against kids who are older, bigger, and usually more experienced than he is. His advice for others who love hockey is simple: keep going, practice on your own, and make sure to learn how to skate first.

So, whether he’s racing down the rink or celebrating with his friends, one thing is clear: hockey is a big part of who Spencer is, and there’s definitely more skating ahead.

And Spencer, keep making plays, making memories, and making goalies nervous - or at least make falling look cool.