Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1348405
PHOTOS BY Kyle Huson T heresa Feaster headed home from heresa Feaster headed home from the World Junior Championships in the World Junior Championships in Canada without her cell phone. Canada without her cell phone. Yet, she didn't leave the country Yet, she didn't leave the country e m pt y- h a n d e d . A f t e r a l l , Fe a st e r e m pt y- h a n d e d . A f t e r a l l , Fe a st e r came home with a gold medal because came home with a gold medal because of her role on the coaching staff of of her role on the coaching staff of Team USA. Team USA. That's a tradeoff she will take any day of That's a tradeoff she will take any day of the week. the week. "Absolutely," Feaster said with a laugh. "Absolutely," Feaster said with a laugh. Feaster finally has her phone back again, Feaster finally has her phone back again, just in time to talk about her experience. just in time to talk about her experience. And the gold medal is still in her possession And the gold medal is still in her possession as well. as well. A rising star in the coaching profession, A rising star in the coaching profession, Feaster said the experience in Edmonton Feaster said the experience in Edmonton proved to be one she will never forget. proved to be one she will never forget. As the celebration unfolded inside Rogers As the celebration unfolded inside Rogers Arena on the first Tuesday of 2021, Feaster Arena on the first Tuesday of 2021, Feaster savored the moment with her fellow coach- savored the moment with her fellow coach- es. Team USA was enveloped in overwhelm- es. Team USA was enveloped in overwhelm- ing joy after beating the heavily-favored ing joy after beating the heavily-favored Canadians, 2-0, in the finale of a tournament Canadians, 2-0, in the finale of a tournament staged inside a pandemic bubble. staged inside a pandemic bubble. It was a record-setting night for several It was a record-setting night for several players on the American squad and also a players on the American squad and also a historic one for Feaster, who became the historic one for Feaster, who became the first female to serve on the staff of a U.S. first female to serve on the staff of a U.S. men's team at the tournament. men's team at the tournament. As she reflected on the experience, the As she reflected on the experience, the word that kept coming up was incredible. word that kept coming up was incredible. There was also a sense of pride rushing There was also a sense of pride rushing through her as she celebrated with the play- through her as she celebrated with the play- ers, coaches and staff at center ice. ers, coaches and staff at center ice. "I am incredibly proud of the country," "I am incredibly proud of the country," Feaster said days later. "Standing there and Feaster said days later. "Standing there and watching the flag g o up and hearing the watching the flag g o up and hearing the anthem played, it was an amazing moment. anthem played, it was an amazing moment. I'm proud to be an American and proud of I'm proud to be an American and proud of the players and all they accomplished." the players and all they accomplished." For Feaster it marked another accomplish- For Feaster it marked another accomplish- ment in what has been a career full of promise. ment in what has been a career full of promise. I t wa s a s a n u n d e r g r a d a t P r ov i d e n c e I t wa s a s a n u n d e r g r a d a t P r ov i d e n c e College, where she would earn a bachelor's College, where she would earn a bachelor's and master 's degrees in history, that she and master 's degrees in history, that she joined the Friars hockey staff as a student joined the Friars hockey staff as a student assistant filming practices and games. That assistant filming practices and games. That eventually led to an expanded role providing eventually led to an expanded role providing video and statistical support and analysis for video and statistical support and analysis for the head coach Nate Leaman and his staff. the head coach Nate Leaman and his staff. When Leaman was tabbed to serve as When Leaman was tabbed to serve as h e a d c o a c h f o r t h i s y e a r 's U. S. N a t i o n a l h e a d c o a c h f o r t h i s y e a r 's U. S. N a t i o n a l Junior Team, he didn't hesitate before add- Junior Team, he didn't hesitate before add- ing Feaster to his coaching staff. ing Feaster to his coaching staff. "It was a no-brainer," Leaman said. " We "It was a no-brainer," Leaman said. " We needed her. Being male or female didn't needed her. Being male or female didn't have anything to do with it. It was entirely have anything to do with it. It was entirely based on her being overqualified for this based on her being overqualified for this job, her making us better, her making our job, her making us better, her making our country better." country better." A love of the game has always come nat- A love of the game has always come nat- urally to Feaster. She was only 12 when her urally to Feaster. She was only 12 when her father, Jay, served as the general manager father, Jay, served as the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning that won the of the Tampa Bay Lightning that won the Stanley Cup in 2004. But she was more than Stanley Cup in 2004. But she was more than just the little girl hanging out at dad's work. just the little girl hanging out at dad's work. She immersed herself in the game and grew She immersed herself in the game and grew to develop a passion that still burns today. to develop a passion that still burns today. "My earliest memories are of being at "My earliest memories are of being at the rink and my dad recognized early on the rink and my dad recognized early on that hockey was something I was passion- that hockey was something I was passion- a t e a b o u t , s o h e i n c l u d e d m e o n a l ot o f a t e a b o u t , s o h e i n c l u d e d m e o n a l ot o f stuff," she said of her dad, who is back in the stuff," she said of her dad, who is back in the Lightning front office as the vice president Lightning front office as the vice president of community hockey development. of community hockey development. 30 // MARCH 2021 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM After Helping Team USA Win The World Juniors, Theresa Feaster Sets Her Sights Even Higher By Brian Lester STANDARD Theresa Feaster with her coaching colleagues enjoy another World Juniors victory. T H E T H E G O L D G O L D