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and had eight points in 11 games through early February. They are each other's support system. "It's so awesome to see the strides he's taken as a player since we were freshmen in college," Turnquist said. "It really comes from his work ethic. In college, he came to the rink every day and almost treated it like he was a pro already. He did every single thing that he could to make him the player that he is. I strive to have the work ethic that he does. It's inspiring to me. He just never ceases to amaze me. And now, to see him playing for the team that I grew up as a little kid going to games and rooting for and wanting autographs, it's super awesome. "I try to make it to as many of Nico's games as I can. I have a busy schedule, with my practices and stuff. Sometimes I'll practice at 7 and then I'll just quick head over to the X to catch the last half of his game. But it 's just amazing to see every thing he's been able to do and accomplish and I really do think that each day he grows more confidence and you can see it on the ice. He's always wanting more for himself. He's not com- placent with where he's at. I think the future has great things in store for him." TIRELESS WORKER As for Turnquist being inspired by his work ethic, Sturm scoffs at that notion. It 's the other way around, he says, as he is constant- ly blown away by Turnquist 's energ y and enormous heart. Not only is Turnquist a fantastic hockey player, she is navigating hockey with her ambition of one day becoming a special ed teacher. While playing pro hockey in Boston, Turnquist taught autistic students at the New England Center for Children, a school with students from preschool through age 22. She specifically taught 12 students rang- ing in age from 12 to 16. During hockey season, Turnquist 's days were long. The Pride would practice three days a week. She'd wake up at 6 a.m. those days, eat a healthy break- fast and be at school by 7:30 a.m. W hen school ended at 4 p.m., she'd hit the g ym, rush home for dinner, then be at the rink for an 8 p.m. practice. "It 's a field of work that proba- bly most of us wouldn't be able to do. I certainly wouldn't," Sturm said. "Her job takes a lot of ener- g y. The stories she tells me are tough to hear, and it 's tough to leave that at work and not take it with you, not to think about what the families of those children have to go through every day. I just admire her for that. It takes special people to do that kind of work, and we all know that these people don't get paid enough for the kind of work they do." W hile playing for the W hitecaps, Turnquist also is pursuing her masters at the University of Minnesota. On the side, first semester, she taught at a middle school. This semester, she's at an elementary school. Sturm is in the final year of a contract that pays him $750,000. "I feel guilty," Sturm said. "I get to make a really good living by playing a game. A nd then I talk to her every day and the ty pe of pay that teachers get paid for doing work that, let 's be honest, is a lot more valuable to society than playing the game of hockey is pretty unfair." But that work has been so valu- able to Turnquist and some days has her leaving school inspired. "It's a very challenging job," Turnquist said. "The students (in Boston) are very low functioning and they can't be in public school. That's why our school is so amaz- ing. It gives these families a place 31 M A R C H 2 0 2 2 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M Taylor and Nico try to attend each other's games as much as they can.