A Hustler’s Ambition: Cole Kodsi’s Story Sparking Legacy & Hockey Culture in South Florida

By Christina Winnegar

Photos Provided By Cole Kodsi

Growing up in South Florida, the hockey dream is like trying to start a fire in the middle of a storm. Nothing in the surrounding environment fuels your spark, yet you guard it with everything you have until, finally, the fire catches. Ice is scarce, rinks are scattered, and the sport, while growing, still lives in the shadows of those grinding on fields in cleats. 

But from the time he could walk, Cole Kodsi’s world was already revolving around the ice. His dad, a native of one of the original six cities, Montreal, constantly kept the Canadiens games on television in the house. It didn’t take long before the game weaved its way into Cole’s identity as well.

His love for hockey never faded. If anything, the rarity and uniqueness of hockey in Florida sharpened it. While other kids in the neighborhood took a different path in athletics, he fully embraced being the outlier. “I think it gave me a sense of pride,” he said. “It made me super determined and hungry to want to be a player that can come out of Florida and make it, while also being a role model and pave the way for younger players in Florida coming up.”

His early teams were a mix of local programs, competitive enough to keep him moving forward, but average by national standards. The limited exposure meant his support system had to be all in. They were. Good coaches and mentors stepped in when the overall lack of opportunity fell short, helping build the habits that would carry him forward forever. Cole never had a moment where he questioned if he belonged in the sport. The difficulty of creating that fire didn’t isolate him; it drove him.

By 14 years old, his drive to immerse himself in hockey had pulled him far beyond the comfort zone for most 14-year-olds. He left home for an opportunity at a prep school in Massachusetts, where he learned to live independently while adjusting to playing at a significantly higher level. The move meant more than a new locker room and a new roster; it meant trading the warmth of home for an entirely new culture surrounding the sport he loved.  

Hockey was just as much of an adjustment to the lifestyle. The pace was faster, the expectations were higher, and the heritage surrounding the sport was different - more ingrained, more demanding. 

The following year, Cole made the move to New Jersey to join the North Jersey Avalanche, one of the top 16U programs in the country. The jump in competition was immediate. “I was around some of the best players and coaches in the country at the 16U level,” he said, and the standard was relentless. Talent was everywhere, but so was accountability, taking every drill, every rep, every shift, like they were one step closer to the end of the tunnel. It was in those rinks that he began to see the potential harvest; it became his future. The attention from scouts, commitments, and recognition for all the sacrifices made in pursuit of growth continued to fuel the determination to stand out from the rest. The environment itself pushed the culture forward, and players either chose to rise to the occasion or to be left behind. 

Photos Provided By Cole Kodsi

When he returned to Florida at 16 years old the next year, his training took a turn that would quietly shape the rest of his career. He began skating with a small group of older Florida-born players who had already carved their paths – Brandon Duhaime, Andrew Peeke, Nico Blachman, Timmy Kent, Mark Cheremeta, among others. These were NCAA and pro-level athletes, and Cole was the young one pushing his limits to keep pace. The small 3v3 games were fast, physical, and unforgiving, but being pushed by them forced him to raise every part of his game. “I was fortunate to be around older players… all elite guys that took me in and allowed me to train with them as a younger player,” he recalls. “I recognized that I was a great player and that I needed to train extremely hard to maintain that and continue to get better and chase my dream.”

That summer in Florida sharpened his edges and raised his standard for his game, and when the season rolled around, he carried that momentum with him. The next step meant taking that mindset into the national spotlight. 

The junior hockey years took him to Omaha, Nebraska, where he played two seasons in the USHL, the top junior league in the United States. It was another leap forward to spark that fire. But this time, the challenge wasn’t just the speed, skill level, or unfamiliarity with seeing new faces on the bench; it was the grind. Every opponent was vying for a spot on a Division I roster, and every shift was an opportunity for coaches, scouts, and anyone watching.

Cole secured that opportunity, leading to the next chapter of his career, college. 

Photos Provided By Cole Kodsi

This chapter proved to be anything but straightforward. Spending 3 years at Bentley University, transferring to Union University for one season, then ending with a post-grad year at Canisius University. Before the transfer portal became common among athletes, moving schools was a rare occurrence. Each change was bold and coupled with the pressure to prove his role all over again. Despite the discomfort of switching schools, one thing remained true: his belief in his success.

If the moves were complex, the injuries were brutal—a broken hand, a broken wrist. Each one meant the same painful routine: building momentum, then watching from the stands while his teammates battled without him. At times when many would consider hanging up their skates for good, he took adversity as a redirection to grow. “It made me extremely grateful for the game,” Cole said. “It made me realize that at any moment it could be taken away from me… Every time I got injured, it fueled me more and more.”

Those setbacks forced him to lean on mental toughness as much as physical rehab. Learning to reshape his mindset around adversity made him stronger, and without that, he wouldn’t be where he is today. 

Through it all, his identity on the ice solidified. He learned how to utilize his size and power on skates as a strength, a role that shaped his position on the ice. The clarity gained after working through the hardships in that chapter unknowingly set him up for his next.

Cole’s college career ended in a playoff loss, but the transition to pro hockey was immediate. “I lost in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs in college, and the next day I was on a flight to Orlando, playing the next day,” he recalled.

Photos Provided By Cole Kodsi

Despite transitioning with hardly a moment to spare, the jump from college to the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears didn’t feel overwhelming for him in the slightest. In Orlando, he found his footing quickly, as his role as a power forward transitioned seamlessly to the next level. Producing points, bringing that physical edge, even dropping gloves at one point, he was made for this. But just as momentum started to build once again, the shoulder injury cut the season short. “It was upsetting for sure,” he shared. “I wouldn’t say it was necessarily easier [because I’d been through it before], but being in that position gave me the confidence and belief to know I will be back soon and better and stronger.” 

While his playing career progressed, another project quietly took shape. The project had been growing its roots in the background for years: the founding of SOFLO Hockey. 

The same rink in Pompano from the summer Cole was 16 years old, wasn’t anything glamorous at first: a small sheet of ice, bright overhead lights, and the sound of skates cutting into the ice. Most days, it was the same group of friends, sometimes swapping jerseys to switch up the teams. There was just a bench and the heart that came with growing the sport in South Florida. 

At first, it was just about hockey –pure, raw competition with no cameras and no audience. But word began to travel. Soon, what once was just training in the offseason with friends who became family turned into NHL players lacing up their skates alongside the next generation of stars, all sharing the same sheet of ice with a mutual love of the game.

Over time, the Instagram account, created primarily for laughs, where they would post quick clips and interviews — nothing polished — evolved into something greater. The more they posted, the more their following grew. Before long, what had started in that small rink in Pompano was attracting sponsors, media crews, and a growing roster of players from across the hockey world. 

“What we’ve built in South Florida is something truly special,” Cole expresses. “A tight-knit, competitive group of elite hockey players and close friends whose bond goes back years. That kind of chemistry creates a culture that naturally spreads… It doesn’t matter who you are. You bring your game, not your name.”

Founding and running SOFLO hasn’t become just a small part of himself. It has changed his life entirely, introducing him to another aspect of his identity: an entrepreneur.  When it all began, it was small. Now, in the summer of 2025, it has evolved into managing a media team, over 100 to 150 players, sponsors, merchandise, ticket sales, and more. A lot of different layers to tackle, as well as being one of the athletes showcased on the ice himself. Cole’s gone from designing logos and coordinating skate schedules for fun to working with brands, negotiating partnerships, and figuring out how to keep the energy fresh as each summer rolls around. 

The business side of himself gave him something hockey alone couldn’t: balance. “When you’re thinking about the game too much… you start to overthink,” Cole said. “SOFLO allows me to get away from that side of the game… It’s good for me.” It becomes as much of a mental outlet as it does physical, constantly sharpening those parts of himself in a creative yet active environment. A place where he goes during the summer, and his competitive spirit remains, but the joy of the culture comes first. 

Nothing about his journey has been easy; people have been writing his aspirations off from the very beginning. “Kid from South Florida, ‘he’s not gonna play Division I.’ Then I play D1. A couple injuries, a little bit of adversity, ‘he’s not gonna play pro.’ Now I’m playing pro. Same with SOFLO.At first, people were laughing at it… I see visions, I write them down, and then they (come) to fruition,” he remembered. 

At his core, Cole is driven by competition, connection, and a desire to leave a lasting legacy. He wants SOFLO to inspire the next generation of Florida players to chase opportunities fearlessly, blocking out the noise. And when his playing days are over, he hopes to be remembered not just for his stats on the ice, but for the culture he helped build. Hopefully, one that will outlive him.

In Cole’s story, the spark became a fire, and the fire became a legacy. It was the determination in his spirit, the kind that keeps showing up even when the odds are stacked against him—the true mark of a hustler’s ambition. 

Disclaimer: The thoughts, experiences, and opinions shared in this article are solely those of Cole Kodsi and are based on his personal journey. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any organizations, sponsors, or institutions with which Cole may be associated with.

To ensure accuracy and maintain context, Cole Kodsi reviewed this article before publication. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this material is strictly prohibited. For any inquiries or concerns regarding this article, please contact info@hazzemedia.com