12-year-old Ezra Chhoun gets national attention for ice hockey
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Team USA’s Men’s Hockey team is inspiring young athletes around the country, including Mililani’s 12-year-old Ezra Chhoun.
Ezra, an inline and ice hockey player, is competing in a sport that’s not common in the islands.
“I just felt like it was a sport that I could actually be good at,” Ezra told Hawaii News Now.
“He’s always been around hockey,” Bo, Ezra’s father, added. “I remember when he had a stick, basically when he came home.”
Young athlete trains on mainland
At a young age, the game has taken Ezra to big stages.
Transitioning to the ice, his skills got him a shot to train with the USA Hockey National development program and a spot on the Anaheim Junior Ducks — one of the top youth teams in California.
Ezra can now interact with mainland coaches despite Hawaii having minimal ice hockey resources.
Besides facing tougher competition, Ezra is also fielding questions about being a hockey player from Hawaii.
“(Teammates) act surprised and ask questions about what it’s like to live here and, you know, if I surf,” Ezra said.
Ezra often away from family
With the new opportunities comes some sacrifice.
Ezra spends about a month on the mainland, training and competing on the ice while living with family friends, before returning home for a short time.
“It can sometimes be hard, you know, being up there so long without family, but I know it’s part of the sacrifice I need to make to play,” Ezra said.
The separation demands a full-time commitment from his entire family.
“They’ve played a crucial role in why I’m this good at hockey, and I’m really appreciative of them,” Ezra added.
Olympic aspirations
With his dedication to the sport, Ezra is striving for more.
With the Winter Games happening in Milan, he has his sights set on one day chasing Olympic Gold.
“Yes, being in the Olympics is a big dream of mine,” Ezra said. “I want to make my parents proud.”
Focus on local sports community
In the meantime, Ezra is hoping to bring eyes to Hawaii’s small hockey community.
With only one ice rink on Oahu, the Chhouns said they feel this could be the beginning of the sport’s rise in popularity.
“A lot of the coaches have said for Ezra, he’s basically the one opening the doors,” Bo said.
“Every time I’m out there, I know that I’m showing that kids from Hawaii can play other sports and not just the sports that are commonly played here,” Ezra said.
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