For 2023 Summit High School graduate Finn Theriault, the dream of one day hoisting a championship trophy high above his head was set into motion when he was skating across the ice as a young mite under the bright lights of Stephen C. West Ice Arena.

Born in Frisco in 2004, Theriault learned to walk and soon after was lacing on his skates at the age of two.

“I’ve been on skates ever since I can remember,” Theriault said. “My dad grew up playing, and he put me on skates when I was 2, probably about the same time I was put on skis. My dad taught me how to skate and how to play hockey. He was my first coach that I can remember.”

While living in Breckenridge, Theriault attended Breckenridge Elementary School during the school day, and then was whisked off to the ice arena for practice. As a member of the Summit Youth Hockey program, Theriault began to grow more and more enamored with the fast-pace, high-action sport. 

It really stuck with me more than other sports back home because every day for me it was hockey this, hockey that,” Theriault said. “Going to the ice rink, skating around, I wouldn’t want to get off. I would go home, and I would just want to play hockey again or watch hockey on TV. It was just so fascinating to me growing up.”

Being committed to the game at an early age allowed Theriault to excel within the Summit Youth Hockey program, ultimately setting up the young skater with the skills he needed to excel once he reached high school.

“It helped me a lot,” Theriault said of his time with Summit Youth Hockey. “For being a small town and community, it really is a competitive organization. Chris Miller did a good job coming in when I was young and rebuilding that culture and wanting to not just make it a good program around Colorado, but make it a program that develops kids into the higher levels.”

The experience Theriault gained while a part of Summit Youth Hockey ultimately set him up for a breakthrough freshman season with the Summit High School boys hockey program during the 2019-2020 season. 

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In his first season in green and white, Theriault — a forward — scored nine goals and six assists en-route to an overall record of 14-6 and a Peak League championship title. The Tigers’ staunch regular season ultimately led to a first-round playoff matchup with Castle View High School, but Theriault and Summit failed to advance to the second round.

In the spring of his freshman year, the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world, which put Theriault — like many other high school and college student athletes — at a crossroads. With the hockey rinks and facilities shut down because of precautions, Theriault began wondering if he should take a risk and make the jump up to AAA hockey— the highest and most competitive level of youth hockey.

After analyzing the potential pros and cons of leaving Summit High School and the county to go play for the Colorado Springs Tigers, Theriault tried out for the 16U team and subsequently was rewarded with a spot on the roster. 

Theriault scored 10 goals in his first season with the team before slinging home 14 goals over the next two seasons as part of the Colorado Springs Tigers’ 18U team. 

“I took that risk and loved every second of it,” Theriault said. “I had a great experience down in Colorado Springs. I learned a lot, and it made me a better hockey player. I had a lot of great coaches and teammates. They helped me get to where I am at today.”

The experience Theriault gained from his three seasons with the Colorado Springs Tigers set him up to be signed by the North American 3 Hockey League’s Helena Bighorns last summer, sparking another move, this time to the capital of Montana.

Soon after graduating from Summit High School as part of the class of 2023, Theriault set up shop in Helena, where he began his rookie season as a Bighorn. The opportunity was a surreal moment for Theriault, who had been dreaming of continuing to play at the next level since he first dug his skates into the ice.

“It was surreal all the way through — It still is now,” Theriault said of his contract with the Helena Bighorns. “I signed that right away. It made me love the game even more than I do. Being up here pursuing my dream at the junior level has made all those hard days in the past worth it.”

Much like his time with the Colorado Springs Tigers, Theriault flourished with the Helena Bighorns. Throughout the winter season, Theriault scored 24 goals, racked up 18 assists and lended a hand in leading the franchise to a record of 58-2-1.

With only two losses throughout the entire season, the Bighorns’ hot streak continued deep into the playoffs. The team marched through four games in four days in order to win the league’s Fraser Cup on Sunday, March 24 — the first title in Helena Bighorns’ history. 

“We had been talking about it all year, and to finally see that clock hit zero in the championship game and see everyone out celebrating, smiles on their faces, tears of joy from all of our veteran players that have been around that process a long time — it was just really special, and I am glad I was part of it,” Theriault said. “There is no other place I would have wanted to be this past season than in Helena.”

With one last season of eligibility with the Bighorns before aging out of the league, Theriault hopes to act as a veteran next season while gaining more experience that will hopefully fuel him to future opportunities on the ice.

“I would like to come back up here and help lead this team as a veteran and help get them back to the Fraser Cup to go back to back,” Theriault said. “My long-term goal, I would love to go out and eventually get some NCAA offers at some colleges, get the opportunity to play at a school — which I haven’t done in a long time. From there, I would love to see where the game takes me. I want to play as long as possible.”