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18 DECEMBER. 2015 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM GODORS.COM $14.95 FOR 12 OZ CONCENTRATED EAST COAST • Wesco Sports Center, Brookfi eld, CT • Top Shelf Sports, Shelton, CT • Wonderland of Ice, Bridgeport, CT • Ray's Ultimate Hockey, Smithfi eld, RI • Ice Vault, Wayne, NJ • X-Hockey Products: • Amity Harbor Sports, Amityville, NY • Pro Shop @ The Rinx, Hauppauge, NY • Pro Shop @ Superior, Kings Park, NY • Port Jefferson Sports, Port Jefferson, NY • Amity Harbor Sports, Amityville, NY • Hockey Underground, Farmingdale, NY • Play It Again Sports, Massapequa, NY • The Pro Shop @ Newbridge, Bellmore, NY • Sports Plus, Elmsford, NY • Peck's Skate Shop, Westchester, NY • Brewster Ice Arena, Brewster, NY • Westside Stick and Skate, NYC, NY • City Ice Pavilion, Long Island City, NY • World Ice, Flushing, NY WEST COAST • Golden Edge Sports, Poway, CA • Play It Again Sports, Aurora, CO • Hockey House, Brainerd, MN • Amity Harbor Sports, Amityville, NY • Dave's Sport Shop: Stillwater, MN, Maple Grove, MN, Fridley, MN, Blaine, MN • 4 Season's Athletics, Waseco, MN PRODUCT AVAILABLE AT: "We use Godors on all the used gear that comes into the store because it works." —Vickie, Owner Play It Again Sports, Aurora, CO Bridgewater, NJ Dunelien, NJ Hardyston Township, NJ Little Falls, NJ Monmouth Junction, NJ Union, NJ TRIPLETHREAT The Despins brothers, Gage, Lucas and Dane, along with their father, Rob, are helping to usher in a winning tradition at the University of Tennessee. "We've been playing together for so long, you kind of just have to keep us together," said Lucas, who is studying mechanical engi- neering. "A lot of hockey is knowing where the other person is going to be without the puck. That's why coaches want you to com- municate on the ice. Sometimes, we don't even have to talk and we know where the other will be." The three live together in a house off campus and sometimes ride with their dad to practices and games, which is something that is very familiar among the four. "I never really thought I would be coach- ing them in college," Rob said. "I really thought I would just be helping out the UT team. It just kind of worked out. I've got a lot of experience on the ice and here I am." The boys couldn't be happier to have their dad coaching them in college. According to Gage, this definitely wasn't in the plan but it has worked out for the better. "In Eastern Tennessee it's hard to come across coaches who actually know hockey and understand the game, and who can actually help a team improve and put lines together that make sense," said the account- ing major. "We are used to playing for him so there isn't any tension or awkwardness." GROWING UP After having three girls, the Despins want- ed a boy to round out the family. Instead of one, they got three. Gage, Lucas and Dane were born on March 15, 1995 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. "The delivery room was chaos," Rob said. "The first one was born, they put him in my hands then took him away, the next one came and the same thing and again. There were three or four nurses for each one of them. It was interesting." As Rob continued his story of the boys' birth, he said there really wasn't a plan in naming the boys. He left that up to his wife. She ironically named them in alphabetical order from oldest to youngest. "As each one was born, they just tagged them as Triplet A, Triplet B and Triplet C. My wife pointed at each one and said 'Dane, Gage and Lucas.'" In 2002, when the boys were 5 years old, they moved to San Antonio, Texas, and five years later the family uprooted again, this time to Knoxville. WELCOME TO KNOXVILLE The triplets attended and played hockey at Farragut High School when they moved to Knoxville in 2010. Gage and Lucas also played for the Knoxville Jr. Ice Bears and went on to win the Tier II 18 & Under National Championship in 2014, becoming the first team from Tennessee to lay claim to a USA Hockey title. The college search was fairly easy for the brothers and judging by the big grin on the boys' faces; the University of Tennessee was the perfect fit. "The club team at UT has been really enjoyable," Gage said. "I really enjoy the campus and we consider ourselves to be part of a fraternity with the hockey team. We're a group of brothers but we pay for ice time. We all hang out together outside of the rink too. It's nice to get to school and have that clique." So far Knoxville has treated the Despins very well and the boys have created memo- ries that will last a lifetime. And, maybe Rocky Top will always be home sweet home for the Tennessee triplets. N Maren Angus is a freelance writer in Hendersonville, Tenn.