September 2026 • edition 02
THE STANDARD: ARCHIVES
News • Highlights • Updates • Development
Athlete Spotlight: Kayla O’Donnell
This fall, Kayla O'Donnell begins her freshman year at Cornell University as a member of the Big Red women's hockey team. Watching her reach this point is special to me, because I remember exactly where our work began.
I first started working with Kayla in the summer of 2020, when she was just 13 and playing up at the 14U level for the Amherst Knights. Although she was a year younger than most of that group, she never looked out of place. She proved immediately that she belonged alongside some of the best girls in the area.
Her talent was obvious, but what separated Kayla was her mentality. Even at 13, she was one of the most antifragile athletes I had ever worked with — meaning she didn't just survive challenges, she used pressure and setbacks to get stronger. She met every obstacle head-on and never made excuses.
Because of that mindset, I knew her development would compound over time. Her success wouldn't come from one breakthrough workout, but from years of discipline, sacrifice, and consistency.
After the Amherst Knights, Kayla became a standout with the Bishop Kearney Selects, winning multiple state championships and a 2025 USA Hockey National Championship. Each offseason, we went back to work — never to repeat the last summer, but to build on it.
This past summer may have been one of her best offseasons yet. She made speed development a priority and took advantage of every session available, female and coed alike. She never missed. Even with her spot at Cornell already secured, her urgency to improve never changed. That says everything about who she is.
Kayla also brings a positive personality into the gym and makes the people around her better — qualities that will add value to any college program. Working with athletes like her is what makes this career so fulfilling.
I could not be prouder of Kayla, not only for where she's going, but for how she got there. Cornell is an extraordinary next step, but it is not the finish line. It's the beginning of a new chapter — and I know she'll approach it the way she has since she was 13: head-on, without excuses, and determined to come out stronger.
Kayla, congratulations on everything you've earned. I'm proud to have been part of your journey, and I can't wait to see where it takes you next.
What’s New: Virtus Athlete
I've joined Joey Muldowney, Patrick Geary, and Liam Lesakowski to co-found Virtus Athlete, an athlete-to-athlete mentorship program built to support young athletes chasing their goals.
We started Virtus because becoming a successful athlete requires more than talent and physical development. Young athletes must also learn to manage pressure, build confidence, overcome setbacks, develop strong habits, and make important decisions throughout their journey. Our program connects them with current Division I and professional athletes who understand those challenges because they have experienced them firsthand.
Through individual mentorship and group development sessions, we provide young athletes with the guidance, perspective, and support that can make a lasting difference—both in sports and in life.
We built Virtus because we believe in what it can do for young athletes. Mentoring services begin October 1.
Roster Watch
Great seasons aren't made when the schedule begins—they're built during the off-season.
This month, KAD highlights three 15-year-old athletes who had tremendous off-seasons and dedicated themselves to their development. They consistently invested their time and energy, embraced challenges, and learned how to grow through the process.
Each of these athletes has incredible potential. If they continue stacking productive off-seasons and learn how to maintain their progress throughout the competitive season, there is no limit to what they can achieve.
Emme Nobel — Nichols School and Flash Soccer
McKenna Daley — Niagara Falls native and member of the Ridley College 19U hockey program
Charlie Spencer — Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15U hockey
Their commitment is a reminder that reaching your potential requires sacrifice, consistency, and a willingness to work when nobody is watching. This is where seasons are made
On the Blog: Caught Between Two Worlds: The Challenge Facing Today's Female Athletes
Season's here — practices, games, team workouts. But team training is built for the group, not the individual.
Every athlete's different. Some need strength. Some need mobility, speed, power, or injury-specific work.
In-season isn't about more work. It's the right stimulus at the right time, managed around practices, games, and recovery.
The offseason is where we build hard. The season shouldn't be where we give it back. Athletes who separate themselves don't develop three months a year — they follow a structured, individualized process year-round.
We don't stop developing when the season starts. We adjust and keep building.
Programs & Partners
Coach to Coach: Dave Leggio — The Grind Is Part of the Development
Dave Leggio built an impressive career as a goaltender: Division I hockey at Clarkson, 11 years pro across North America and Europe, and a spot on the 2018 U.S. Olympic team. Today he's home in Western New York running Leggio Goaltending, developing goalies at every level.
But what matters most to me isn't the résumé. It's what we share: a philosophy on development.
Dave understands that off-ice work isn't an afterthought for a goaltender — it's essential. He gets what I call "the grind": the discipline built by doing hard, purposeful work through setbacks and slow progress. We both believe in embracing the suck. Talent gets an athlete in the door, but handling adversity and staying consistent is what keeps them there.
We also share a commitment to elite-minded, driven athletes at every age. Dave's clients range from 12-year-olds to college and pro goalies, and the common thread is a competitive mindset. He requires it, and so do I.
That's exactly why I train goalies differently at Kaifas Athlete Development. Goaltending places unique demands on the body — explosiveness, lateral agility, deceleration, stability, and vision. Goalies need their own program, not a copy of what the skaters do.
Dave has referred several of his elite clients to me because he trusts that goaltender development is a real priority in my program. His on-ice expertise and my off-ice approach complement each other, and I'm grateful for the relationship we've built.
Learn more about Dave at LeggioGoaltending.com
