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30 "I was able to talk to him about anything really. We became really close and, yeah, he had definitely the biggest impact on me." Sadly, Olinger passed away after a battle with cancer in 2017. Seeler still keeps all his text exchanges with Olinger on his phone and still scrolls through them during tough times. "These texts mean something to me," Seeler said. "He was very important to me and our family. It was hard to see him go through that because he was such a good, good person. He had a really strong faith, which is very important to me, too." Best Buds Lately, Seeler has recollected a lot about his time growing up playing hockey in Minnesota. His large senior group at Eden Prairie is "still best friends," and "my favorite times as a young hockey player were those trips you do with your buddies. I mean, going up to Duluth for a few days and playing in tournaments and being in the hotel when you're young with your best buddies, those are the times you really fall in love with the sport. "A nd then to grow up with all the same kids and win it all our senior year is something I'll always cher- ish. I mean, most of us are still best buddies to this day. In the summer, that 's really our time to spend time together. We're in group (text) chats and we still talk about the State Tournament when it comes around every year. It 's something that I'll never forget and I know those guys won't forget." Seeler has two older sisters, who were both athletic. In fact, his sister, Kelly, won a National Championship in 2012 at the University of Minnesota. Seeler knows how lucky he is to have made it to the NHL and to play right here in Minnesota. He has a big heart and gives back to such foundations as the United Heroes League and DinoMights and tries to go on the ice with kids any chance he can. The Call A few years ago, Seeler's mom, Kris, and dad were visiting him in Des Moines when they all went out to breakfast. As his parents got in their car to drive back to Minnesota, Seeler got a phone call in the parking lot. He frantically signaled from his truck for his folks to hold on a second. He hung up the phone and walked over to his parents' car with tears Russo's Rants M H J ON L I N E . C O M | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 "I do hope kids in Minnesota look at me as a role model. It's pretty humbling, too, knowing that all the hard work and the support I've had growing up accumulated to ultimately playing in the NHL." – Nick Seeler Photos / Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, The Seeler family; Minnesota Wild/Bruce Kluckhohn in eyes. It was former Wild execu- tive Brent Flahr calling to ask if he wanted to bus with the Iowa Wild to Grand Rapids or make his NHL debut for the Minnesota Wild that night against the New York Rangers. He chose the latter, of course. "We had a great moment togeth- er, very emotional and very special, because you realize at that moment what it really takes to get that opportunity," Dan said. "I do hope kids in Minnesota look at me as a role model," Seeler said. "It's pretty humbling, too, knowing that all the hard work and the support I've had growing up accumulated to ultimately playing in the NHL. It makes you look back at all the help you did have along the way, the coaches that impacted you, obviously your family and their support and the teammates you've had along the way. "It's cool to look at that and look back on it and then ultimately be here. It's pretty, pretty cool. You have to pinch yourself but obviously be grateful for the opportunities I've been given. Yeah, it's special. I'm lucky to still be playing and I'm grateful for it and I never once take it for granted. I'm just so proud that I get to play at the highest level in this state and for our fans." Michael Russo writes for The Athletic. He enters his 15th season covering the Wild and 25th covering the National Hockey League. He co-hosts the Russo-Souhan Show on talknorth.com, can be heard weekly on KFAN (100.3-FM) and seen throughout the hockey season on Fox Sports North. Follow Russo on Twitter at @RussoHockey. To subscribe to The Athletic at a 40 percent discount ($2.99 per month), go to theathletic.com/iknowrusso. If you're a student, you can get 50 percent off ($29.99 for the year) at theathletic.com/student. P R E S E N T E D B Y