David Spina moved to the South Sound as a toddler and began skating at the tender age of 3 with the Tacoma Amateur Hockey Association at Sprinker Arena in Spanaway. He played in Spanaway until he was 9, then continued his hockey education elsewhere (Texas Tornado/NAHL; US Development Team and Boston College), before taking his game to the next level. He's spent the last three years with the Phoenix organization, logging most of his time as part of the team's AHL affiliate, San Antonio Rampage.

When I caught up with him today, he was enjoying a very productive preseason and working hard to secure a place in the Coyotes lineup. But he was more than happy to take a walk down memory lane, to relive his hockey start right here in Western Washington.

David Spina/Photo Courtesy: San Antonio Rampage

KING5: Tell me how you're doing.
DS: I'm doing great. It's been a really good camp for me so far. Every day I'm here is hopefully a day I'm staying longer to be a part of the organization and try to use my assets, my speed and my skill to earn a spot on the team.

KING 5: How long have you been with the team?
DS: This is my third year with the organization. I spent the last two years in the minors down in San Antonio and did really well. Led the team last year in points, so I feel like I'm ready to make that jump.

KING 5: I found out that you actually cut your hockey teeth right here.
DS: That's true. I actually lived in Puyallup. We moved from Illinois at the age of two. I guess my mom couldn't take the rain the first year so she went to the first place that was bright and white and it was the ice rink. She threw me on skates and the rest was history. It was at Sprinker, which was the name of the arena. It was like a rec center in the Tacoma area and I grew up playing there. Played against the Seattle teams, up in Vancouver and around here against the Wenatchees and the Spokane teams and up here in Everett. It was a blast. It was a great, a huge piece of my life and the WHL had a big influence on me, wanting to play pro hockey.

KING 5: How long did you play youth hockey here?
DS: From three to nine years old, six years. It was a stepping stone in my life and the culture was a blast. I still keep in touch with a lot of friends and my older sister, her husband is actually a scout for the Seattle Mariners. Her dad was the Assistant GM for the Mariners so we still have our ties and our friends here. It's a big part of my life still.

KING 5: Where did you play your junior hockey?
DS: I actually went to college. I signed as a free agent with Phoenix but I went and played for the US National Team when I was 17 years old, my senior year of high school and I had a scholarship to go play at a lot of schools but I chose to go to Boston College. Played there for four years and played pro hockey right after that.
What's the biggest memory you take from growing up playing hockey here?
That was definitely a big part of it, that and when I was young, that was when the Tacoma Rockets were here, so just watching that rivalry between the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Tacoma Rockets at the was such a major part because I knew guys that billeted those players and you just wanted to be like them so bad. As I got older and started to get to that level, it was just really cool to go and play college and to go that path and to realize that I'd made it to the same stage that I'd wanted to make when I was young, and then to get to this level is the cherry on the top. Hopefully, I'll get to stay.

KING 5: Boston College, that's a really great training ground as well.
DS: It was. That was the reason I went there. It just seemed like when I went there, it felt right. Aside from the hockey, the school by itself is, it's just a privilege to go there, but the hockey is second to none and you get treated just as well as I'm sure these guys here in Everett get treated. I mean, look at this (he gestured toward a large group of kids waiting to say hello). This is great- to have this much attention and quality following, it's just great.

KING 5: These guys are here to see you.
DS: I know, but that's what I mean. Because of the WHL program here, these kids have a desire for it, they want it. They come out and support it. It's just fantastic.

KING 5: Have you had a chance to talk with any of the Silvertips?
DS: I haven't really had a chance to talk to many of them. A couple of guys know some of them. I know that Peter Mueller and (Shaun) Heshka on our team that played here, they speak pretty highly of the place and how much fun it was to be here. All I've heard is good things about the town and the people. I know the people because I grew up in this area. It's such a great town.

I've read that David Spina will play on a line tonight with Coyotes Captain Shane Doan and Matthew Lombardi. I can't think of a better way to showcase his talents and share his enthusiasm. From the input I've received here at the KING 5 hockey page about David, I know I'm not the only one who hopes he succeeds beyond his wildest dreams.