Compete, Enjoyment, “Dream Come True”
By Hailey Finch
Jan 13, 2025
Devante Stephens, defenseman for the Colorado Eagles and new recruit in Eagles country, has officially landed in the nest at Blue Arena. Stephens has played pro hockey for eight years, following his fifth-round selection by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, but has officially made his mountain high debut this season, joining for his first year playing with the Colorado Eagles.
Joining a new team presents challenges, and learning how to play effectively and smoothly with a new group of players with a new dynamic is a transition many athletes in this sport consistently face. In order to win, the team has to work together as a unit to play the game with both strategy and exceptional execution and in order to provide those skills, the team has to be well-rounded in how they play individually but also how they coordinate together.
"It's been good, it's been a little bit of an adjustment. You know, every team is a little bit different but it's a really nice place and a good group of guys so the transition was kind of easy regarding that aspect of things," Stephens said.
Colorado has shown its ability to perform on the ice, but the Eagles are more than just a group of competitors playing on the same team; they are a brotherhood. When asked about joining the Eagles' family, Stephens stated, "I love it! It has been pretty easy to connect with the guys right off the hop. I mean the culture in the locker room is great and that's one thing, they bring in guys that can join together and we become a big family at the end of the day."
The respect given from having that brotherly dynamic off the ice translates into how the team performs on game day. But even though "there's no 'I' in team," each player still has their own unique experience when playing the game. When on the ice, Stephens has three main phrases going through his mind that describe how it feels to be on the ice in the moment during each game.
The first and most moving is "dream come true." Elaborating, Stephens stated, "How could you not love coming out and playing in front of all these fans each and every night." The second word is simple but effective…compete. As stated by Stephens and seen by fans, he is a very competitive player. "Compete always comes to mind when I get out there. I like mixing it up."
And to wrap up his final choice of three words describing being on the ice, Stephens went with enjoyment. "It's just fun to be out there. You know, it's fun competing with your brothers out there for one goal."
Enjoyment, compete, and "dream come true." All things racing through Stephens' mind each time his skate hits the ice, but another word that crosses the minds of every athlete would arguably have to be motivation. What drives them? What inspires them? When asked what motivates him every day through both his wins and losses, Stephens said, "It roots back to why I started playing hockey. My grandparents had a big impact on why I play. Unfortunately, my grandpa passed away a couple years ago so each and every night when I'm out there I think of him and just try to make him proud. And also it's the guys in (the locker room) banding together and going for one goal, and that's to win a championship. So that being said, it's pretty easy for them to get up each and every morning."
In every home game, on the rink, and in the stands, players and fans come together to become what Eagles Country is at heart: a family. And that is all thanks to the nest we call home, Blue Arena. "I just want to say this is by far the best building to play in. Just the atmosphere, the energy they bring each night, it is so easy to get up and it's so fun to play in front of them and you want to make them proud". Stephens will continue to make fans proud this season as he sports the number 74 on the ice, and Eagles Country is thrilled to welcome their new Eagle to his new home.
