Hockey has never been "just a game" for Shawn Element. It has been a journey that has been filled with adversity, perseverance, and growing through it all, even before he reached the professional level of hockey.

Element's love of hockey started at home, with family, and idolizing one of the sport's biggest stars. "The greatest memory is seeing my dad on skates, and falling in love with Sidney Crosby playing. He's the reason why I started following the NHL. My dad taught me at three years old with his roller skates on, then bought me my own skates, and we went on the ice." Young players across Canada dreamed big and idolized players like Crosby, but watching him for Element fueled his ambition in the sport. "To actually be watching hockey, Sidney Crosby was on, and I already wanted to be like the best player in the league."

Element's dream was in jeopardy when he was 12 years old. "The year I broke my neck, I was 12 years old."  For many athletes, that type of injury would have been devastating. It defined Element and shaped his mindset through the rest of his career. "Coming off that was the biggest challenge in my life. After that, I'm like, well, this is a small bump in my career. How can I overcome that while I overcome the nine-month rehabilitation of my neck?"   The experience, especially that young, changed how he viewed any adversity.  "I was like, this is doable. I can do whatever I want. All the challenges that I will gain in my life, well, it's just another bump in the road for me."    The odds kept stacking against Element when doctors told him that he would never play hockey again, but he refused to accept that outcome. "When I broke my neck, the doctor told me that I wasn't supposed to be playing hockey, never again. Well, after that, I played rugby, and I played football. I still overcame the challenges, and now I'm still a professional hockey player."

Being able to play professional hockey has remained one of his biggest accomplishments. "I'm proud of that beyond. It's more of just overcoming challenges."   Resiliency would once again be tested for Element as he came into the professional world of hockey. Many skilled players, Element came into the ranks believing that he could produce at the same level that he did in juniors. He quickly discovered that it is a different environment. "When I turned pro, it started in junior a little bit. I was in a third-line role, a kind of greedy player. I like to be offensive. At some point, I wanted to score goals, and then I was like, man, I can't do it."  The adjustment to the the professional world wasn't easy for Element. "There's a big difference between junior and pro hockey. I was in Syracuse, and that's a tough division over there. The guys were much bigger and faster."

The challenges in that division, at that time, were not only physical, but it tested his confidence as well. he challenges weren't only physical. He admitted to The Hockey News "I actually think that maybe I lost a little bit of confidence that year."  As difficult as his early career was, it helped to shape Element into the player and the person that he is today. "It helped me along the way to find myself as a pro player and develop me into the man that I am today."

Adapting to life in the United States, and living away from home, and navigating the professional level of hockey, fast tracked his maturity. "I'm a much, much different guy at 26 years old than I was when I was 21."

Despite all of his setback and adversity, he has never abandoned ship on his personal and ultimate goal. "I still dreamed of playing in the NHL. That's what's big for me, so why not keep going until nobody wants me anymore?"

Being a professional hockey player comes with highs and lows, but Element has the belief of being consistent and not taking shortcuts. "I have to keep doing the same thing over and over again, even though you're in a slump a little bit. You gotta keep doing the same thing that made you who you are."  Having persistence separates the players that have success from those that fall away. "It's not about giving up when times are hard. That could be pretty easy to do. To be consistent is the hard part as a professional hockey player."

Element has the mental toughness aspect, and he needed that during the early career as he had to navigate the waters of coaching changes and difficult seasons. "I went through a lot with changing coaches. We had a tough coach when I started in Syracuse. Mentally, a lot of guys were down. You gotta play through that." Getting through those tough times, he leaned on teammates and had manageable goals, instead of focusing on a bigger picture and isolating himself. "Sometimes, just focusing on a small thing." Having those experience has helped Element with the veteran presence that he has today in the locker room. "I would say now I'm more of a leader. Trying to talk with everyone, trying to tell people about the experience that I have."

With 244 American Hockey League games and five professional seasons in the books, Element has learned valuable lessons that he can pass along to his younger teammates. "I'd like to share some experience of what I've seen, what I've experienced. I played with guys who are almost at 1,000 pro games. Their experience, I can show them to other guys too."

The core of everything for Element, remains the mentality that he developed after breaking his neck at the young age of 12. "Since I broke my neck, it's the only thing that I've been doing is working through challenges. I never give up, and I'm not ready to give up on anything."

Playoffs arrive every season. The determination for Element fuels his goal for the games ultimate prize: Championship. "You see that Kelly Cup. You want to have it."

The season is a long one that leaves players exhausted and tired, but playoff hockey gives players a different kind of motivation. "You think that you're not in there. I don't have enough energy tonight. Then you get to that game, and you don't even know, but you have the energy to get through that game and keep pushing because you have one goal."

The goal remains unchanged from the time he was a child to being in the professional world. He keeps pushing forward, facing and overcoming adversity, and will keep chasing the dream.