Nathan doesn't wait for someone to hand him anything. He mows lawns. He rakes leaves. He shovels driveways in the bitter Minnesota cold. And now, thanks to a $250 youth sports scholarship, he’s heading to summer hockey training camp.
It started with a simple question from a seven-year-old boy to his new neighbor: "Would you like me to mow your lawn?"
That neighbor said yes. She also asked him to rake her leaves and shovel her driveway. And just like that, Nathan Alderete was in business.
Now 12-years-old and living in Crystal, Minnesota, Nathan has channeled that same can-do spirit onto the ice, where he plays hockey with what his coach calls "a never-ending motor." This spring, his hard work was recognized in a new and meaningful way: Nathan was named a recipient of the Sportsline Photography Youth Sports Scholarship, receiving $250 to put toward a summer hockey training camp.
It may sound like a modest sum. But for Nathan and his family, it was nothing short of a miracle, and a reminder that community support can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
"I am grateful because it will allow me to do a summer hockey training camp."
Born to Move
Nathan’s love affair with hockey began at age eight when his family heard about a "Try Hockey for Free" event through a friend. His mother, Kristy Wacek, admits she didn't expect much to come of it.
"I assumed he would play the one 'Try Hockey for Free' season and be done," she admitted. "However, he thrived on the ice and quickly became a strong player."
What hooked Nathan wasn’t just the competition or the camaraderie. It was the pure, electric sensation of speed.
"I fell in love with speed and the need to have quick responses and reflexes," Nathan said. It's the kind of answer you'd expect from a seasoned athlete, not a child still in intermediate school.
His coach's end-of-season assessment says it all: Nathan is "a center with a never-ending motor" who "sets the tone with relentless energy every shift." For a player who is admittedly shorter and smaller than most of his peers, that energy is his superpower. "He does not slow down for a minute on the ice no matter what the score or how many times he is knocked down," Kristy says.
Working for the Dream
Here's what sets Nathan apart from most kids his age: he pays for part of his own hockey.
When he decided he wanted to play travel hockey, his family sat down and had an honest conversation about budgets and values. The result was a partnership: the family would contribute what they could from their activity budget, and Nathan would make up the difference through his own earnings.
So he went to work. At seven, he knocked on that neighbor's door. Today, he mows lawns, rakes leaves, shovels driveways, and helps with babysitting. He uses his Christmas and birthday gift money from extended family specifically to buy his hockey sticks. He pays a monthly contribution toward his hockey fees.
"Nathan is non-stop when he is doing something he loves," Kristy says. The same intensity that drives him across the ice drives him through every yard he maintains.
When asked what he has learned from working for something he loves, Nathan’s answer is quiet and wise beyond his years: "That I don't just get everything I want instantly."
A Family That Sacrifices Together
The Sportsline scholarship landed in a household that knows what sacrifice looks like.
Kristy describes a household that approaches finances with intentionality and grace. During winter sports season, the family doesn't eat out; instead, they prepare their own food and bring it to travel tournaments. They forgo vacations so they can afford hotels and travel costs for competitions. Kristy's husband manages concessions at the local ice arena in exchange for compensation toward hockey expenses. Kristy herself spends hours networking to find quality used equipment.
"We frequently discuss what we value as a family and then make decisions about where to spend our budget so we can honor those family values," she explains. "Winter sports are important for both kids, so we have discussions each year to decide what other things we are willing to sacrifice."
Then, almost like the timing was planned, everything came together at once. Nathan had asked, the day before Kristy was reminded about the Sportsline Scholarship, if he could attend a summer hockey training camp. The payment was due June 1st, weeks before his lawn-mowing season would hit its stride. The camp cost exceeded his summer activity budget.
"We prayed about the training camp and applied for the scholarship," Kristy says.
When the scholarship came through, the family celebrated the only way that felt right.
"We did a little happy dance," Kristy said.
More Than Hockey
Ask Nathan what hockey has given him, and he doesn't talk about trophies or stats. He talks about who he is becoming.
"It has made me more determined and disciplined as a person and as a teammate," he says.
And Kristy has watched that transformation with the the kind of pride you can't really put into words unless you've watched your own kid grow up. She’s seen him navigate conflict. Hockey introduced Nathan to persistently mean kids and bullying for the first time, and he has learned to advocate for himself and to know when to bring in adult support. She's watched him become more confident.
But her proudest moment? It wasn't a goal. It was a pass.
"Watching Nathan pass the puck to another player and assist instead of score is where I am most proud," she says. "The fact that he is willing to put the team before himself makes me very proud."
Nathan’s favorite memory, meanwhile, is his first breakaway goal. That glorious, wind-in-your-face, anything-is-possible moment. His future goals are equally bold: he wants to play varsity hockey in high school.
"The fact that he is willing to put the team before himself makes me very proud."
The Hidden Cost of Play
Nathan’s story is inspiring, but it also points to something that's quietly breaking families across Minnesota — and honestly, the whole country. Youth sports are becoming unaffordable for millions of families, and hockey is among the worst offenders.
According to the Aspen Institute, ice hockey is the single most expensive youth sport in America, costing families an average of $2,583 per year. And that’s before adding registration fees, which alone range from $300 to $800 and rise as players get older. This excludes extra equipment fees, private coaches sessions, travel, and lodging.
And it adds up fast; faster than most families expect. One analysis found that the average U.S. sports family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024 alone, a 15% jump from just two years prior. Nearly 60% of families say youth sports are a financial strain, according to PlaygroundEquipment.com.
For Nathan's family, the financial pressure is not hypothetical. It is a daily reality that they figure out with a lot of hustle, some creative budgeting, and a refusal to just walk away. And they are far from alone.
How You Can Help: Applying and Donating
Sportsline Photography, the local Ramsey-based Minnesota sports photography company, launched its youth sports scholarship program as a direct response to this crisis. Founded in 2012, Sportsline has long donated a percentage of every photo sale back to Minnesota youth sports leagues, totaling $21,855.20 in 2024 alone.
The scholarship fund is sustained primarily through Sportsline’s own business proceeds, a commitment they've stuck to since the beginning — the idea that sports shouldn't just be for kids whose parents can write a big check, not just those whose families can afford them. Along the way, local Minnesota businesses have also stepped in as partners, helping to grow what the fund can offer. Community donations are welcomed as well, not because the program depends on them, but because every contribution, whether from a neighbor, a business, or a family who simply remembers what it felt like to be that kid playing their favorite game, helps reach one more family that needs it.
Quarterly scholarships are awarded to Minnesota families to help cover league fees, equipment, or training costs. It’s exactly the kind of help that allowed Nathan to say yes to summer camp.
"Sports build confidence, community, and unforgettable memories," said Joey Freeman, founder of Sportsline Photography. "Every kid should have the opportunity to play the sport they love."
Kristy has a message for parents who are watching their children fall in love with a sport but feel paralyzed by the cost: "I would encourage them that there are many ways to overcome financial barriers. I have seen friends and neighbors willing to hire kids to do work when they see the kids are passionate about putting the money towards goals."
Nathan himself would probably say it more simply. He'd point to a lawn that needs mowing, a driveway that needs shoveling, and a pair of skates waiting by the door.
"I have so much fun playing hockey so I want to do anything I can to be able to play."
Sources:
Aspen Institute Project Play, Youth Sports 2025 Parent Survey | jerseywatch.com/blog/costs-of-youth-sports | playgroundequipment.com/the-average-cost-of-each-childrens-sport | sciencesport.org | sportslinephotography.com/resources/scholarships
