He’s a defenseman for the Seattle Thunderbirds. Jared Hauf hails from Calgary, AB. He shoots left and weighs 224 pounds. He stands at 6’5. He was born on March 6, 1995. Hauf has played nearly every game of every season he’s been contracted in, missing only 20 out of 288 games. Right now, Hauf is playing his fifth season with the T-Birds.

Hauf says that the key to being a good defenseman is to be an excellent skater. He was able to focus on some of his skills at the Winnipeg Jets Development Camp in the summer of 2014, where he says he was able to really compete with skillful players and learn some “high-end skills.” He has worked with both a skills coach and a skating coach to make sure his skills stay up to speed.

As a defenseman, it is no surprise that Hauf does not have a billion goals under his belt, with nine in his career. However, he has made 37 assists in six seasons, giving him a respectable 46 points. He has had 367 penalty minutes. He has also been in his share of fights, including standoffs with Keegan Iverson, Kayle Doetzel and Barrett Sheen.

Hauf says that the Thunderbirds have a “really good group of guys,” and that their strategy for a successful season is to simply continue working hard. Hauf pointed out that a lot of players are remaining on the team this season, which should also keep the team strong. He also says that there’s no secret to his success in playing in 268 games; he is simply “blessed to be healthy and stay in the lineup.” During the summer months, he also makes it a point to hit the gym. Hauf says that he goes to the gym most days and works with a personal trainer, but he takes the weekends off.

Now that Hauf is 20, he will have some big decisions to make as the team loses him. Jerret Smith’s 20-year-old season is also approaching. Jamal Watson, fellow T-Bird, is a good friend of Hauf’s. The two grew up together and played hockey as youths. Hauf’s fans can follow his stylish Twitter feed, where his profile advises, “Ice your hands, not your face.” To see Hauf’s latest photo shares, try his Instagram feed where you can see pics of his family, friends and even motorcycle. Hauf enjoys camping and “going to the lake.”

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia