Often lost in the glitz and glamour of being a professional hockey player is the real blood, sweat, and tears that lead to one of the most rewarding lifestyles one can imagine. For some players the road to a career in professional hockey can have humble beginnings.  For Tulsa Oilers defenseman Steven Kaunisto, his hockey journey began on the frozen ponds in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

“Both of my brothers were goalies,” Kaunisto reflects. “I started skating on a beaver dam growing up. Hockey is a big part of our community, it’s what we’re known for. I started playing organized hockey at age four. In Sault St. Marie I had played at pretty much every level from triple A, to one year of high school, to junior and then college. It was nice to do everything right in my hometown.”

After concluding his junior career with the Soo Indians of the NAHL and the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the USHL, Kaunisto looked toward life as a student athlete in the NCAA as a possibility.

“I grew up watching Lake Superior State. My parents live a mile away from there. After every win they got to ring the bell and I grew up wanting to be a part of it. When I received my offer from Lake Superior State, I was excited to be able to play at the college level in front of my friends and family. It definitely made the jump to the next level easier for me to be able to play in my hometown.”

Kaunisto enjoyed four strong seasons with the Lake Superior State Lakers in the NCAA’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association. When reflecting on his time in college, he attributed most of his success to the opportunities that head coach Jim Roque offered him in Kaunisto’s freshman season in 2006-07.

“I had a lot of growth at the school. When I was a freshman there wasn’t a lot of veterans on the team so the first year players got a lot of opportunity. I was pretty fortunate that way. A lot of younger college players just don’t get a chance to see that type of playing time.”

The Lake Superior State hockey program is steeped in culture having won three NCAA championships in ’88, ’92 and ’94. They have produced notable alumni such as Jim Dowd, Brian Rolston and Doug Weight. When he was named Captain in his senior season, Kaunisto was honoured to take on a leadership role for a school that meant so much to him.

“One of my biggest accomplishments was being named captain in my senior year,” Kaunisto recalled. “Knowing the Coach has the faith in me to lead the team. It was just cool especially playing so close to home that my family got to see me as a leader.”

Kaunisto finished his college career with 59 points in 154 games across four seasons while playing rock solid defence on the Lake Superior State blueline. When his college career wound to a close, Kaunisto caught on with the ECHL’s Reading Royals to close out the 2009-10 season.

In the summer of 2010, Kaunisto signed with the Central Hockey League’s Wichita Thunder for his first full season of professional hockey. The jump from college to the pros didn’t seem to phase Kaunisto. He scored 20 points in 62 games as a rookie and even earned CHL Player of the Week honors. While he may not have shown it, that season was a tougher transition than Kaunisto let on.

“At first I thought I could walk into the pros with the same approach as college, and halfway through my rookie season I was running on fumes. I knew I had to change my approach.”

The initial problem for Kaunisto was finding time to recover in a professional schedule that is longer and more condensed than college.

“Once you get to pro hockey, you realize just how long the seasons are. In my first couple years it was all about finding a balance between rest days and workout days. It’s now a 72 game regular season in the ECHL and you have to find time for rest days. It was a huge adjustment at the time.”

Not only was the schedule a major adjustment, but Kaunisto also found that the jump in skill level from college to pro was palpable.

“The pro game is not only faster, but smarter. Guys aren’t skating just to skate. They’re skating to get into the right position. In college it can feel like guys are moving their feet just to prove that they can skate as fast as possible.”

Now in his ninth season of professional hockey, Kaunisto has played for 14 different organizations split between the CHL, SPHL, and ECHL.  Out of all of his stops, the 2013-14 season with the Denver Cutthroats was Kaunisto’s best season to date. He ended up scoring 45 points in 66 games and helped Denver advance to the Finals of the CHL playoffs. This career year was partially the result of the guidance of coach Derek Armstrong and his staff.

“When I was in Denver I felt that I really grew. I used to be someone that was looking for the perfect play. My coaches let me play and be me. They let me work things out and I’m much better for it. Being able to get into the Central League finals with Denver was a highlight of mine. Great city, great fans.”

That season was the final year for the Central Hockey League before it consolidated with the ECHL in 2014.  As someone who has extensive experience in both leagues (187 career CHL games and 319 in the ECHL) Kaunisto believes that the CHL was a higher caliber of play than people may remember.

“The hockey in the CHL was getting better. It made sense for the teams to get absorbed into the ECHL. The Allen Americans were winning the CHL championship pretty often in its last few years. Then in their first few years after moving to the ECHL they won two championships. That proves that the CHL was better hockey than some people realize.”

Kaunisto continued to bounce from team-to-team including Rapid City and Florida. Of all of his stops, the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings was pretty much a family reunion for Kaunisto.

“Kalamazoo was an awesome market to play in. I have family there. My wife’s family is from just outside of Kalamazoo. I got to play with my cousin Ray (Kaunisto). We grew up playing together in Sault Ste. Marie. We played against each other in college when I was at Lake Superior and he was playing for Northern Michigan. He’s one of my best friends and it was awesome to get reconnected in pro hockey. My time in Kalamazoo was just great.”

This season Kaunisto is patrolling the blueline for the Tulsa Oilers where he has personally contributed 26 points in 59 games thus far. Like his time in Denver, he feels that the coaches let the team play the game to suit their style.

“Coach Murray gives me a lot of leniency to let me make the plays that I need to make. It gives me confidence that I think makes me a much better player. I know my game. My work ethic sets me apart. I know I’m not as skilled as some players but I work harder. My work ethic and strength are the keys to my game.”

Off the ice, Kaunisto is involved with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) as the Oilers’ Player Representative.  This past summer, he was elected by his fellow Player Rep peers to serve on the PHPA Executive Committee. This leadership role wasn’t necessarily something that Kaunisto was chasing but he has taken on the role in full stride.

“When I was in Brampton, our Player Rep wasn’t able to attend the PHPA Annual Meeting in Florida so I took his place. The following year, in Elmira, I volunteered to be the Player Rep. I’ve been to the PHPA meetings several times. They’re great and I learn a tonne each year. You learn about so many different aspects of the game of hockey, it’s incredible.”

“Now that I’m on the Executive Committee I understand in more depth how the PHPA operates. It’s been a lot of fun every day for me to learn something new about that side of hockey with the PHPA.”

At age 32, Kaunisto is still competing at a very high level. But as the years have gone by, he has realized that it’s important to be prepared for a future beyond professional hockey.

“I’m always thinking long-term. My wife supports me and has my back when it comes to me moving up the hockey ranks. We understand that at some point I could be cut or something could happen and I’ll have to go to the so called ‘real world’. I have my degree in finance and economics with a minor in marketing. Once I’m done playing I’ve thought about getting into the financial world whether it’s trading stocks or financial advising.”

Now in his second season with the Tulsa Oilers, Kaunisto is finally feeling some stability and it has resulted in a strong season on a team that’s in the hunt for a Kelly Cup. While he has considered a future after hockey, Kaunisto remains in the here and now.

“I’ve always wanted to move up and progress my career. Nine years later, I’m still in pro hockey and I have a lot left in the tank.”