April 8, 2022 | SPORTS | By Samwel Makyao | Photo Courtesy of Chase Foley
Chase Foley ’24 plays for the Colorado College Hockey team. He lives in Mendota Heights, Minn. Apart from playing hockey, he enjoys camping and fishing. Prior to arriving at CC, Foley was named Defenseman of the Year for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League in 2019-20 and tied for 20th in the league in scoring among defensemen. We talked to Chase in Palmer Hall about his athletic career at CC. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Samwel Makyao: What made you choose to play hockey and continue it here at CC?
Chase Foley: I started playing hockey when I was around the age of four. Growing up, I played different sports like soccer, lacrosse, football, and baseball, but hockey was the one that I enjoyed doing the most. I chose to attend CC because both my parents went here, so just growing up hearing all their stories about CC and how much they love the college was always what I wanted to do from a young age. That was my goal, and I am glad to be here.
Makyao: How does it feel to represent the Tigers?
Foley: It feels unbelievable to represent the CC Tigers. It feels so awesome to represent the hockey team and the Colorado College community as a whole. It’s one of the most prestigious colleges in the country, so just being able to represent the community’s hockey team is an unbelievable feeling.
Makyao: What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years?
Foley: In the next five years, I hope to continue to grow both on the ice as a player and off the ice as a young man. I hope to continue to help the hockey team for the next two years that I’ve left here, and then hopefully, after that, I can maybe play pro hockey somewhere. Whatever the next five years have in store for me, I know CC is preparing me in the best way possible for what is coming.
Makyao: What drives you to be the best?
Foley: I would say my teammates and coaches drive me to be the best possible player. The friendships I’ve made through the team are just something I’ll cherish forever, both on ice and off the ice. My teammates give me the most inspiration because when the guy next to me is working as hard as he possibly can, you know it’s easy for me to go out there and try my hardest to do my best and just try to perform to the best of my abilities. This is because I know that the guy next to me and the whole team is working their hardest.
Makyao: What quote or mantra do you live by?
Foley: The quote I live by reads, “Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards.” This quote really stuck out to me, and it’s something that I live by because if you’re going to do something in life, you might as well go in go all-in on it. Give it your all, do it 100 percent. Moderation is never good, so if you’re going to do something in life that’s important to you might as well go all-in on it.
Makyao: In hockey, what do you wish someone would hurry up and invent and why?
Foley: I wish somebody would hurry up and invent an unbreakable hockey stick. The hockey sticks that we currently have break all the time. So when you get a good one out there on the ice, you just want to stick with that and then ultimately end up breaking, so I wish somebody would hurry up and invent the unbreakable hockey stick.
Makyao: If you could look into a crystal ball and find out about the future of the CC Hockey Team, what would you wish to see and why?
Foley: I would love to see a continuation of the hard-working, virtuous man that is on the team and acknowledges what it means to be a member. It’s important to be involved in the CC community, so being involved there is super important. On the ice, I would love to see the CC hockey team be one of the top teams in the NCHC and compete for a national championship.
Makyao: How many times do you work out per week, and walk me through your typical intensive work out day?
Foley: During the season, we usually work out around three or four times a week. We work out before class, so seven to eight, and then we’ll go to class from nine to noon. We usually have games Friday and Saturday, so after class, most days during the week will go to the rink and start warming up and stay for around an hour and a half. Usually, from three to five is our time slot for ice. Then we usually do some video or pre scout on the team that we’re playing that week just to get as prepared as possible for the weekend.
Makyao: Do you remember your first ever CC goal in a hockey game? How it was and what team were you playing against?
Foley: My first CC goal came this season against St. Lawrence. It was our first weekend of regular-season games this year. It was at the home opener and the first regular-season game ever at Robson. I was able to score the first regular season goal in CC hockey history at Robson arena, and it was just a very special moment and one that I will never forget.
Makyao: Name five things that you will carry for an away game, and why.
Foley: I will carry my computer, headphones, and my neck pillow. I bring those because we usually have long flights and bus rides. So being able to just relax for a little by listening to some music or watching some Netflix. I would also carry a deck of cards and play with the guys on the bus to keep entertained and make the time go by faster. Furthermore, if we don’t have too much homework, I just like to bring a book.