HERSHEY, Pa. — Passover is coming up on April 22 and for Jewish athletes, it's a holiday that can be difficult while competing at the professional level.
Hershey Bears defenseman Chase Priskie is one of a handful of Jewish professional hockey players in the American Hockey League (AHL) and has learned the art of balancing his faith and professional hockey career.
“I think the biggest thing getting into college, getting into pro, was learning how to manage the best of both worlds," said Priskie.
Judaism has always been a part of Priskie's life and is a faith he wears on his sleeve.
"I’ve been pretty religious since I was a young kid," said Priskie. "The everyday teachings [of] Judaism have molded [me into] the person that I am."
Passover is a holiday with dietary restrictions as followers are to avoid eating or drinking anything leavened or fermented, including wheat, barley, rye and oats. It can be challenging for pro athletes, where these carbohydrates are a big aspect of their pre-game meals.
Priskie says it's a necessary sacrifice.
"I try to as best as I can, fulfill both needs. Sacrifices have to be made. I still have to perform at a high level," said Priskie. "Year five now of pro hockey and I’ve been able to find a happy medium so like anything observe my religion but at the same time find the best of both worlds.”
It's a sacrifice understood by both teammates and coaches.
"It’s all about finding that balance and all the coaches that I have played for have had nothing but understanding, and they come from a place of knowledge and they understand what it means to me," said Priskie.
It's a reflection of doing what you believe in for the things that you love.
"I don’t think anyone should shy away from anything that they believe in," said Priskie. "Anyone out there who observes the same faith, or observes a different faith and it might be in the minority, we’re all part of the same team and at the end of the day we are doing what we love."
Full interview with Chase Priskie:
