Gallery by Allison Cho These photos are owned by Hazze Media and the American Hockey League (AHL). They may not be redistributed, sold, or used for commercial purposes without explicit permission.

Gallery by Christina Winnegar These photos are owned by Hazze Media and the American Hockey League (AHL). They may not be redistributed, sold, or used for commercial purposes without explicit permission.

By: Josue Cambara | February 9, 2025 This March 15-16, Rolling Loud is making its highly anticipated return to Los Angeles, California, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The 2025 edition of the festival boasts a powerhouse lineup, headlined by A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, and—for the first time in Rolling Loud history—Peso Pluma.  Fans are still eagerly awaiting the long-teased albums I AM MUSIC from Playboi Carti and DON’T BE DUMB from A$AP Rocky, both of which have been hinted at by Rolling Loud’s CEO and Co-Founder, Tariq Cherif to make an appearance at the festival. Adding to the fan excitement, Peso Pluma’s headlining slot marks a historic moment as the first time a Regional Mexican artist has taken center stage at the festival.  The lineup doesn’t stop there. Attendees can expect performances from West Coast legends like YG, Blxst, Ab-Soul, and Dom Kennedy, as well as Rolling Loud mainstays such as Ski Mask the Slump God, 03 Greedo, and Quavo. The festival also highlights rising stars who have been making ways in Hip-Hop such as Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and Ian, promising a unique mix of established icons and new-comers in Hip-Hop.  Notably, Rolling Loud California 2025 will be a two-day festival instead of the usual three-day format. According to Cherif, this change aims to make the event more affordable for festival goers while packing the weekend with high-energy performances, surprise guests, and unforgettable moments.  With an epic lineup and a reimagined format, Rolling Loud California 2025 is set to deliver another unforgettable legendary weekend for hip-hop enthusiasts this March.

Photo provided by the American Hockey League PALM DESERT, Calif. — The American Hockey League (AHL) All-Star Classic is scheduled for this weekend, Feb. 2-3, at the newly constructed Acrisure Arena, home of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The event promises an exciting weekend of hockey, fan engagement, and community outreach in Southern California. How to Watch: The event will be broadcast live on NHL Network   in the United States, TSN  in Canada, and streamed on AHLTV via FloHockey , with coverage spanning both days. Feb. 2: Skills Competition: The weekend will begin with the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. Players from the league’s four divisions — Atlantic, North, Central, and Pacific — will compete in a variety of events, including fastest skater, hardest shot, accuracy shooting, and breakaway relays. Fans can anticipate an exciting evening of competition, as well as interactive activities that celebrate the league’s top talent. For a full list of players participating in the weekend’s events, view the official AHL All-Star rosters here . Feb. 3: A Full Day of Hockey and Community Engagement: The following day, the event will continue with a community outreach initiative in Palm Desert, where players, teams, and volunteers will come together to support a local cause (details to be announced). Later in the day, the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony will take place, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the league, including players, coaches, and executives. For more information about the ceremony, visit the AHL Hall of Fame 2025 Class . The weekend will culminate with the AHL All-Star Challenge, a series of fast-paced 3-on-3 games. The East (Atlantic and North Divisions) and West (Central and Pacific Divisions) will face off for bragging rights, with some of the league’s top talent competing for the honor of being named All-Star champions. The AHL All-Star Classic not only highlights the exceptional skill of the league’s players but also emphasizes its commitment to community building and fan engagement. At Hazze, we are excited to provide full coverage of the weekend’s events. Be sure to stay tuned for exclusive content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes access. For more information on the event, visit Acrisure Arena   and Coachella Valley Firebirds . All information is provided by the American Hockey League .

WASHINGTON — Late Wednesday night, an American Airlines flight carrying 60 passengers collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter before crashing into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. American Airlines Flight 5342 departed from Wichita, Kansas, carrying U.S. figure skaters, their coaches, and family members returning from the National Development Camp, which was held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships  in Wichita. At Hazze Media, we are profoundly saddened by this heartbreaking loss. In this difficult time, we stand with those affected by this devastating tragedy and remain committed to supporting our communities. We will honor the lives lost and ensure their stories are remembered. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, skaters, and communities impacted by this tragedy. For further updates, please follow official reports from the NTSB . — Hazze Media

Written By: Allen Hale | Album cover courtesy of moribet Released on the first day of 2025, moribet’s “so, ho hum” has been a favorite album of mine early in the new year. Following a collaborative work with khc in 2023 and a solo EP released in 2022, “so, ho hum” is moribet’s debut full-length effort. In a written correspondence with HAZZE, moribet noted that while being based in Seoul, the album was also partially created in Liverpool. The record is intricately arranged, featuring the consistent fluttering of electronic minutiae often accompanied by mellow, folk-inspired backings. For anyone enticed by this combination, often dubbed folktronica, this project will likely delight.  On the opener, “dead dial,” several glitchy sounds emerge in tandem, brimming with quiet but tense energy to set the tone for the experience that follows. At the 0:32 mark, soft vocals enter; the percussive support remains active and detailed while settling into a more familiar, consistent pace. Even as distinct electronic elements incessantly move in and out of this complex composition, the listening experience remains surprisingly relaxed. Across its 30-minute runtime, “so, ho hum” consistently delights in this regard, producing an easygoing atmosphere while utilizing various mechanical skips and whizzes. Amplified in volume outside this context, the glitchy soundscapes could easily convey a sense of frantic inconsistency. Here, they instead hum like the sound palette of lively, spring-like natural ambiance: squelching, crinkling, creasing, folding, scratching or bubbling in the listener’s ear. “paris syndrome” follows the strong beginning by introducing a layer of woodwind instrumentation and vocal harmonies, floating elegantly towards its psychedelic conclusion. The simply stated vocal refrain smoothly asserts, “Nowhere but here now / Does revolution break out,” resulting in a memorable lyrical moment. Staccato bleeps and bloops continue to punctuate vocal phrases on “anhedonia” without feeling overly busy, despite eschewing traditional chorus/verse structure, as on the previous two tracks. Airy singing accompanies the ending’s scattered energy, eventually fading away as the digitized components overtake their human counterpart. Unsurprisingly, the most-streamed song on the album is a catchy tune. “bigger plot” opts for an indie-inspired sound and standard drum-kim while continuing to feature glitchy parts, albeit in a less prominent role. “labyrinth” instead dials up this element to create the album’s most notable instance of this style, frequently starting and stopping the passage of sound; it briefly settles into a groove earlier on only to quickly abandon this grounding structure. Later in the piece, strings accelerate fiercely, unlike anything else within the LP, followed by cacophonous tension that eventually gives way to its beautifully melodic ending. Acoustic guitar compliments “long dream” and “providence” more prominently, the latter of which closes the album without vocals. The track’s middle portion is darker and more dissonant than most of the album’s varied but emotionally consistent textures, concluding with the soothing repetition of the song’s central theme. Following the lush prettiness and ambient water noises of the earlier, similarly-named “I am providence,” the emotive contrast is notable and effective.  If anything, the album’s runtime might be too concise. Songs like “providence” made me retroactively desire earlier, additional detours within the tracklist’s consistency, a testament to the song’s distinctive success. “smell good to be okay” fits a lot into its brief timeslot, for instance, but ends in a quick manner that leaves one wishing for additional length and tonal contrast. The excitement of “so, ho hum” is calming throughout its twists and turns, even as it ceaselessly avoids stable rhythmic foundations. In the harsh, dour days of winter, the album’s fantastical atmosphere provides much-needed warmth; I sense it will remain a top pick of mine during the year to come. Although it may sound familiar in some respects for fans of acts like Mid-Air Thief or Four Tet, “so, ho hum” is still essential listening.

Written By: Zach Lee | Photos By: Richeille Formento & BJ Formento Having been a longtime style collaborator with the legendary David Bowie, British designer and singer-songwriter Keanan Duffty has not only made a large impression on the fashion industry, but he has also created waves across the music scene with his band, Slinky Vagabond. He is best known for albums like “Killers in Glitter” and “Total Dragon Pop”, where he covers artists including David Bowie and Katy Perry alongside his original songs. I had the pleasure of speaking with Duffty about his upcoming album titled “The Eternal Return” with Slinky Vagabond and about his music career in conjunction with his fashion career. Keanan Duffty’s dream was always to get to London to pursue music. He grew up in a small mining town in Northern England, and in high school, started a punk band called Sordid Details and an electronic band called Wonder Stories. After being placed in the University of the Arts London’s fashion program at the renowned Central Saint Martins, he simultaneously began to look for ways to make music whilst selling his designs. “At art college, I released an EDM record called ‘Watersport’ which was record of the week in the big pop magazine at the time, Smash Hits, and my clothes were featured in the coolest style magazine of the ‘80s, The Face. That exposure made me feel like it was possible to make a living as a creative person,” said Duffty.  Taking a large creative influence from David Bowie, one can hear and experience the homage that Duffty pays to his native England in “The Eternal Return.” The following segment is the conversation between Duffty and myself about his artistic prowess when it comes to both the music and the fashion: Q: How do you approach blending streetwear and high fashion in your collections? Is it a conscious effort or more of a natural fusion for you?   A:  For me, music and fashion are symbiotic. There is a great exhibition in London at the moment called “ Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of ‘80s London .” The exhibition centers around the legendary nightclub Taboo. My clothes are not in the exhibition because most of my designs were either trashed in nightclubs, stolen or lost, but my Watersport record and I are both name checked in the accompanying book by Maur Valance, a big collector of ‘80s fashion. That era of 1980s London was so exhilarating and most of us — designers, nightclub people and performers — were just simply not interested in Gucci, Saint Laurent or Balenciaga. They were labels worn by old aristocratic ladies with blue hair. We were only interested in making our own designs, which today would be classified as street wear. There were no rules and streetwear did not mean just sneakers and athleisure, it meant crazy silhouettes, bold colors and high energy expression. Music and fashion synthesized into one language of pure creativity. Music was the soundtrack to the endless fashion shows that happen on the streets and in nightclubs. Q: Have you ever faced challenges in breaking into the fashion industry, and if so, how did you overcome them?   A:  The fashion industry is ruthless, just like the music industry. There are so many challenges to breaking into both and then staying relevant. To be honest, I think the best thing anyone can do is to find your community of like-minded souls and be kind to and supportive of them, and at the same time be true to yourself and your creative vision. You have to have a clear point of view and be able to balance creativity with commerce. Be clear about why you are doing what you are doing. Being able to live by your creativity brings freedom, and it is important for creatives to be free to express themselves.   Q: Congratulations on your newest album “The Eternal Return.” I can definitely hear a strong Bowie influence as well as a general wave of English rock vibes. What was the process of putting this project together? Tell me about the ups and downs and what you are most proud of.   A: “The Eternal Return” and the previous Slinky Vagabond record “King Boy Vandals” were made in collaboration with my songwriting and musical partner Fabio Fabbri. Without Fabio, these records would not exist. We met in 2017 and have a kinship, sharing so many of the same British musical influences. We have a complimentary style of writing and Fabio is an excellent guitarist, songwriter and producer. His Wolf Mountain studio is where we do most of our recording. He is very much a rock guy, whereas I also have a big interest in electronic music and left field art rock. The biggest challenge over the last few years was working during the COVID pandemic. But musically that allowed us to bring a lot of collaborators on board because no one was playing live, and they had time to record. For “The Eternal Return,” we were able to continue to work with collaborators including Mike Garson and Ava Cherry, who are on Bowie albums. A couple of the songs were co-written by my good friends Earl Slick and Glen Matlock , both of whom were part of the first version of Slinky Vagabond, which began in 2007. Clem Burke of Blondie was the drummer.   Q: Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your artistic vision in both fashion and music? For you personally and/or for your band Slinky Vagabond.   A: I feel a lot of gratitude because the people whom I have had the good fortune to work with are also my biggest influences. I collaborated with David Bowie in 2007 on a fashion collection and my experiences of that collaboration are documented in Dylan Jones’ book David Bowie: A Life. I have also worked with the Sex Pistols and so many other musical heroes. I worked with Gwen Stefani on her fashion collection and Midge Ure, who co-founded Live Aid, played on a couple of tracks from our last album along with many other musical guests. Collaboration is a big part of my creative process. Additionally, I would say that my biggest influences are where experimentation, pop culture and groove intersect. That applies to both music and fashion. Experimentation brings the shock of the new, pop culture is how that will relate to the zeitgeist or spirit of the times, and groove really means the pulse, whether that is the energy of the streets or the beat of a record. Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren had a really great t-shirt (that was actually designed by The Clash manager Bernie Rhodes). It had the slogan, “which side of the bed are you on?”. ..  and then listed on one side of the t-shirt the things that were good, and on the other, things that were bad. That is a great exercise for anyone to try…   Q: “Slinky Vagabond” is a sick name! Is there a story you’d like to share about how that name came to fruition?   A: When I came to New York, I moved here illegally, and in order to get a visa, I incorporated a company [which] in turn sponsored my visa. I chose the name Slinky Vagabond as it is a lyric in Bowie’s “Young Americans,” and the company could not have my own name, or it would be a bit of a give-away. And it worked. Thirty-one years later I am still here … legally.  “Slinky Vagabond” is a name I began to use for a fashion collection in the 1990s and then as a band name in the 2000s. So it’s been a pretty useful   nom de plume. Q: How do you balance staying true to your personal vision with responding to industry trends?   A: To be honest, I don’t follow any industry trends, because if you do, you are a follower and not a leader. I prefer to do my own thing. Sometimes that is in synchronicity with what is happening more broadly, and sometimes it is the opposite of the current trend. I actually prefer to be the opposite of what is happening because then I will stand out.   Q: What is your advice for aspiring designers or creatives trying to make their own mark? A: In the early 2000s, a really nice and bright young guy came to interview me for a magazine article and at the end of the interview he said “I am in a band and our first record is out soon.” And I said “Oh great! Good luck with it, stick to it and keep me posted.” His name was Jake Shears, and the band … Scissor Sisters. You know the rest of the story. Years later, we both performed in Central Park at a Marc Bolan tribute show, alongside Patti Smith, Moby and the New York Dolls. Jake remembered our first meeting fondly. So, my takeaway from that is always be kind and support other creatives.   Q: Is there an area in your work where fashion and music converge? What does that look like, and how do you tackle it?   A: In my music and fashion work, both inform the other. But to be honest, I prefer the term Style to Fashion. I always loved iconic musicians’ style. Whether it is James Brown in an outrageous jumpsuit or Bowie in satin, they set the tone that others follow. In the ‘60s,’ 70s and even the ‘80s, stylists were not yet part of the music industry. That came later. With my fashion shows, each one has a distinct theme. Same with my fashion collections. I do this because I find it easier to work that way.   Q:  What’s next for you and Slinky Vagabond? A: In 2025, I would like to do some live shows with Slinky Vagabond. So that is on the horizon. This year, I worked with my Italian production partner Francesco Michelacci to launch a new fashion collection called University of Failure. The collection made its debut in 200+ stores across the UK and Germany. We began with graphic t-shirts, which make a comment about the cost of  higher education, and also that it is important to embrace good failure, by taking creative risks. Why the name University of Failure? Because failure, as thinkers like Samuel Beckett say, it means pushing beyond your comfort zone. If you’re not risking failure, you’re not aiming high enough. I always try to do that in my fashion designs and my music. University of Failure will continue to develop in 2025. I will also be on the road talking about my latest book “ The Fashion Entrepreneur: The Definitive Guide to Building Your Brand ,” which shows aspiring entrepreneurs how to bring a fashion business idea to life from forming a legal entity and writing a business plan, organizing a structure, scaling a business and strategizing for growth. It includes interviews with Tommy Hilfiger and British designer Jenny Packham, who was my classmate at Saint Martins and designs for A-listers including Taylor Swift, Keira Knightley and Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. Needless to say, Keanan Duffty is a renaissance artist. By staying true to his roots and finding a balance between his passions for the studio and stage and for the runway, his music rings with a refined, raw angst, and his designs ride the line between elite and down-to-earth. The new Slinky Vagabond album, “The Eternal Return” will be released on January 14, 2025.

Written By: Jessica Reed | Photos By: James Cant Shonda Scott is many things; none of them idle. Over the course of her lengthy and prosperous career, Scott has worn many hats: CEO of the major consulting firm 360 Total Concept, one of President Biden’s appointees on the U.S. Advisory Trade Policy and Negotiation Committee, formerly President Obama’s appointee on the Platform committee, entrepreneur, advocate and mother. Her various roles have all been intense as they have been impressive. But it wasn’t until 2019 that Scott finally tackled a more personal and daunting challenge: self-discovery. In this interview, Scott discusses her 12 New Things challenge and how this individual path to wellness became an internet phenomenon. Background Scott shares that her family, especially her mother and grandmother, heavily influence her outlook on personal growth and spirituality. Her grandmother lived to 104 — “Well, 103 years and 348 days,” she joked during our interview, “But we’ll count it” — and still remained active in her community, retaining her faculties and spirit. An active member of her church for 80 years, her grandmother passed this faithfulness down to Scott’s mother, who then passed it on to her. She finds the rootedness of faith to be indispensable, both in her business practices and in her self-care, citing that her support system — populated by family members, mentors, and even an ex-therapist — helps her grow. Still, mixing personal and public life can be difficult. “I am conscious of what I share,” said Scott. “People feel like they know a lot about you when you share anything.” Her ability to compartmentalize her private life while still sharing her own 12 New Things adventures speaks to her commitment to this project. “Since I am so busy, the whole concept of self-development and self care is very important. Some tools I’ve received in coaching and therapy that I’ve gone to [have taught me that] if you’re taking care of other people and not taking care of you , you’re missing the first step.” 12 New Things Online Since its conception, 12 New Things has evolved into a thriving community far beyond its original intention as a personal, exciting way to embrace change. Scott herself started with karaoke on her birthday in 2019, but emphasizes the power of simple changes too. “Start with something light and fun, that embraces your inner child,” said Scott. “Take time to laugh and have fun and enjoy life; it can be as simple as taking a different route to work, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.” 12 New Things is accessible for any age as participants from all walks of life share their experiences on the 12 New Things website and social media. The feedback from participants has been helpful not only from a business perspective, but personally too. “One of my followers knew that I was trying to be a [sommelier,] and they told me where to go. I took my family and we all made our own separate bottles of our own special wine,” said Scott. As participants share their own experiences, the community, and the associated encouragement, grows. Personal Testimony Travel is central to Scott’s 12 New Things experiences, with her family trip to Yosemite being the most impactful place she’s visited. “It was right in my backyard. People from all over the world came to the place that’s in my own backyard that I had never been to,” said Scott. “The beauty and vastness, how God had created this place… I didn’t know that was going to be the experience.” She reveals that her and her family went camping there for a weekend and made some of her most treasured memories right there in her home state. She expresses that this journey has forced her to carve out time for herself, something that her busy schedule allowed her to neglect for too long. “I didn’t realize some of the 12 New Things would be as fun and fulfilling to my soul; I didn’t necessarily think of it as a wellness platform until mental health professionals told me, ‘That’s such a great concept. Do you know how hard it is to get people to change?’” When asked if any of her experiences have gone wrong, Scott pauses and thoughtfully rephrases in her answer, citing an experience organized by the UCLA Alumnus Society organization in which she hosted 12 random UCLA alumni for dinner. “I’ve felt challenged . The 12 strangers dinner at my home — like I said, I’m private. I didn’t realize this would cause me social anxiety. But we have more alike than we have different. We came as strangers, but we left as friends.” Her advice for those who want to participate but feel too busy is to make the time that they need. “You realize you have more time when you carve out time. You can always find that kind of time - and you should, to prioritize yourself.” She points out the irony that not engaging in self-care actually limits the productivity that people are so afraid to lose: “You’re draining yourself in order to maximize all this other time.” In terms of staying motivated through the year or longer, Scott advises, “Start and end on your birthday when you’re going to plan something anyway and can have something to look forward to. And then your community and family will encourage you [as well].”  Politics and 12 New Things Scott’s lengthy engagement in politics is intrinsically linked with the philosophy of 12 New Things. She explains how politics was always a natural part of life for her as a child and college student; even when she knew she did not want to be an elected official, serving the community remained important to her. “I was one of those little children that was always at political affairs with my parents. Politics and policy have never been separated from my life. I always saw the intersection between community, politics and business, so when my parents were involved in political affairs … I matriculated and always was part of something political.” Her undergraduate experience at UCLA exposed her more to the field, and helped narrow her career goals. “I studied political science and business at UCLA, but at some point I decided I didn’t want to be an elected official. I didn’t want to always be involved in my civic duties, so I do what I can to support elected officials, and I serve where I can as a business leader and as a civic leader in these different areas.” In fact, Scott uses her political experiences as some of her 12 New Things. “The first meeting I went to with a U.S. Ambassador [as part of the Advisory Trade Policy and Negotiation Committee] was one of my new things; I had been to D.C. all these times, but I had never been to serve in this capacity… so it all ties into the 12 New Things for me. So I don’t have any separation in my life that way… you can say you’re not political, but in essence, you are.”   The Future of 12 New Things Scott shares her exciting plans for the future of 12 New Things. “We partnered with Alaska Airlines and did a twelve days of Christmas giveaway… The website is where I will share other special opportunities and features that we’ll do as the brand grows.” She also explains the benefits of having a membership, which is currently free, to the 12 New Things website, and how its presence on social media has intentionally grown to foster community since its conception in 2019. “The website was intentional to grow the community… I want to do more things based on that website, and if you’re not there, you’ll miss it!” This upcoming VIP or A-list group would increase the sense of community, and the 12 New Things social media presence as a whole. For Scott personally, she looks forward to countless more experiences, particularly regarding travel. Internationally, she’d be thrilled to finally visit Japan and Singapore, adding these two countries to a list of 30. On a slightly more local level, she also looks forward to visiting Mount Rushmore here in the U.S., emphasizing the beauty of what we can do and find in places already close to us. “This one woman had lived on a golf course all her life and didn’t know how to play golf; at 80, she started taking golf lessons as one of her 12 New Things.” Like this participant, and like Scott’s own experience at Yosemite, the beauty of 12 New Things can be an increased appreciation for the beauty and excitement that lives right under our noses. The 12 New Things website can be found here , and you can learn more about Shonda Scott on her website  or on her social media, @shondascott360.

How the UK Singer is Creating Her Own Genre in the Industry Written By: Anna Cales | Photos By: Hannah DeVries | January 9th, 2025 The UK ex-opera singer Ella Rosa is bringing a new flair to the music industry with her latest single, “FUN.” The singer is combining genres into her own new music genre.  Rosa is signed under Palm Tree Records in LA and has been releasing music for the past few years. With various EPs and singles out, Rosa is most known for her 2023 track titled “OFF+ON,” but new music is on the horizon for the British pop artist. Rosa grew up in the United Kingdom and traveled to New York around the age of 10. There, she discovered her love for opera and electronic music and the idea to combine the two would become her own sound. Rosa visited Los Angeles when she was 19 and fell in love. Immediately after visiting, she decided to stay there, but this meant she had a decision to make about her future. “I was scared to be an artist,” said Rosa. “I was an assistant to someone at a label for a very long time. I thought, ‘the only thing that's working for me right now is writing and performing, so I did that—and that was pretty much it.’ I had to swallow the pill of actually being an artist.” To find her sound, Rosa turned to her biggest inspirations—massive operas. “I find that I like come-up stories. They’re really inspiring, especially ones that involve underdog women,” said Rosa. That sort of underdog story reflects Rosa’s experience with the industry so far, specifically with being a woman. Rosa admits that it’s been a difficult journey and hard to keep pushing through at times. “It's constantly like an everyday choice to keep going,” said Rosa. “The more and more I do it, it's like a parking space. Like the more I wait, the chances are higher of me getting in.” Rosa’s most recent project, a single entitled “FUN,” was released on Oct. 11, 2024. Although the song’s upbeat energy perfectly matches with the connotations of the title, the piece holds a deeper meaning for Rosa. She expresses that the song was written when she was at a low point in her life. “[‘FUN’ is] written in third person to keep distance from myself at that time. I want people to take away the funness and the polishing up of a time that necessarily isn't that polished or pretty. Experience the song in a lighthearted way, even though it’s not lighthearted for me. I want people to think, ‘I'm just gonna go out and dance,’” said Rosa.  That’s exactly the kind of feeling Rosa hopes “FUN” evokes for listeners and their support means the world to her. With the struggle of surviving in the industry, Rosa explains that it’s encouraging to hear people enjoying her work.  “FUN” combines the classical style of opera that Rosa grew up loving with her own unique twist of dance music.  “I feel very blessed to have people DM or text me about their experience listening to my music—that keeps me going,” said Rosa.  Future plans are in store for Rosa and her fans. Rosa says that she’s hoping to release music every six weeks with a tour also in the works. Music videos and special live performances of “FUN” and Rosa’s other songs like “STAY 4 LOVE” are available online for fans to enjoy. Listeners can check out “FUN” and more of Rosa’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and YouTube. Be sure to follow her on socials (@itsellamusic) to be ready for more updates.

By: Ezzah Rafique Swinging in the backyard  Pull up in your fast car Whistling my name – Lana Del Rey Photo by: Filippo Fior Born and raised in Mumbai, Naeem Khan ' s upbringing immersed him in a rich tapestry of culture, architecture, and design. Under the mentorship of his grandfather and father, who crafted clothing for Indian royalty, Khan honed his expertise in textiles from a young age. Relocating to the United States as a teenager, he began his journey as a designer under the tutelage of renowned American designer Halston. During his apprenticeship, Khan embraced the ethos of modern restraint, mastering the art of draping and fabric cutting to achieve a clean and timeless silhouette. In 2003, Khan launched his eponymous collection, quickly gaining recognition and retail presence at prestigious stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. His designs have graced the likes of Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Michelle Obama, solidifying his status as a fashion icon. Inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2008, Khan expanded his repertoire with the introduction of the Naeem Khan Bridal collection in 2013. Today, his Ready-to-Wear and Bridal lines are revered worldwide, available in over 150 retail outlets. Photo by: Filippo Fior As the first model made her way past the white curtain, separating the awaiting audience from Naeem Khan’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection on February 13th, all heads turned to the tune of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Video Games.’  Accompanied by the tunes of Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish, Khan's collection unfurled like a tapestry of dreams, each garment a testament to his unparalleled artistry. From floor-length gowns that seemed to cascade like liquid silk to radiant sequined dresses that shimmered like constellations in the night sky to impeccably tailored suits exuding an aura of sophistication to ensembles with avant-garde flair, Khan's collection embraced a spectrum of styles and moods. Photos by: Filippo Fior The collection's color palette embraced a symphony of hues, from tranquil blues and fiery reds to regal purples, deep blacks, shimmering golds and vibrant fuchsias, adorned with intricately placed jewels, glistening glitter and meticulous embroidery. Heaven is a place on Earth with you Tell me all the things you wanna do   Adding to the looks were statement accessories, including jewel-encrusted earrings, sparkling eye-makeup and intricate headpieces, imbuing each ensemble with a touch of glamor. With confidence and grace, the models traversed the runway, their every step commanding attention and admiration. The guest list was nothing short of glamor as well, including the attendance of Matt Damon, Ryan Seacrest, Julianne Hough, Katya Tolstova, Karolina Kurkova, Anna Estrin and more. If there is one person who can elegantly intertwine Eastern and Western fashion with elaborate stitching and glamor, it would be Naeem Khan .  They say that the world was built for two  Only worth living if somebody is loving you – Lana Del Rey Photos by: Filippo Fior Lead Makeup Artist @georgisandev Lead Hair Stylist @fashionmeetspassion @lakmehair_official Casting @seanpuffycombs Undergarments @wearcommando Content Producer @kylemaranhas DP @patrickginnetty Cinematography Scott Wagner Editor @kateannfisher Music @colemanmusic AV Production @powerposseproductions

Interview and article by: Ezzah Rafique Gina Farmer, the visionary founder of Revved Beauty , is on a mission to transform the beauty industry through clean products and empowering messaging. In a candid interview with HAZZE  MEDIA, Farmer shared her inspiring journey, challenges, and ambitious vision for Revved Beauty's future. A Personal Journey to Empowerment: The Birth of Revved Beauty Revved Beauty's inception is deeply rooted in Farmer's personal experiences. Following a difficult divorce, she found herself struggling with self-esteem. Farmer recalls, "I had gone through a pretty terrible divorce and I just felt a lot of shame. I felt like a failure. And so I think I was just sitting in that. And after the marriage, I had very little self-esteem, little self-worth. And so I just kept trying to fix that externally." This challenging period led to a profound realization about the beauty industry's impact on women's self-perception. Farmer explains, "I became hyper-aware of marketing tactics in the beauty industry toward women, which has played a big role in setting the standard of beauty. And then we look to these beauty products to fix things when we're not broken. We don't need to be fixed." Farmer's frustration with the beauty industry extended beyond messaging to the products themselves. She became increasingly concerned with "greenwashing" – the deceptive practice of falsely claiming products are clean, safe, or non-toxic.  "I became frustrated with greenwashing, products that are claiming that they are clean, safe, non-toxic. And really, a lot of it is a manipulation of words, and of what they're allowed to put on the label," Farmer explains. "I would even spend a lot of money thinking I was making a better choice for my health. And then doing a deep dive on ingredients would learn that it was bad for your skin." The Power in Name The name "Revved Beauty" was carefully chosen to evoke a feeling of empowerment. Farmer elaborates on the meaning behind the name: "I want the name of the company to evoke a feeling. So it's how I want our products to make women feel. I want them to use the products and feel revved, revved up, ready to go, ready for anything. And it's also how I just want them to feel in general. I want women to feel empowered and I want them to feel like they can take over  the world." Navigating Challenges as a Solo Entrepreneur As a solo entrepreneur in the competitive beauty industry, Farmer faced numerous challenges. The most significant hurdle was the loneliness of being a "one-woman show". Farmer reflects, "I think anyone who goes that route is going to face some lonely moments in the beginning when they're setting out with a new idea... But for me, the biggest challenge was honestly being a one-woman show." Beyond the loneliness of being a "one-woman show," she encountered obstacles in various aspects of building her brand. Formulating clean beauty products required extensive trial and error to ensure effectiveness. Farmer explains, "Despite the lengthy testing, you must stay patient and mission-focused to make sure you're doing things the right way." Additionally, as a small player in an industry dominated by big names, Farmer had to navigate complex business landscapes through extensive research and networking. She notes, "When you're small, you have to navigate that. And that entails a lot of research and talking to different people. You really have to put yourself out there in that way." Despite her background in cooking and baking aiding in product formulation, Farmer found that packaging presented its own set of challenges. Through it all, she remained committed to her vision, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit by constantly pushing forward and embracing the mindset that "everything is figure-out-able." Standing Out in a Saturated Market In a crowded beauty market, Revved Beauty aims to differentiate itself through its messaging and commitment to clean, effective products. Farmer emphasizes, "Hopefully the messaging resonates with women in a huge way. We are the antidote to outdated beauty standards and we have effective products that put women’s health first. By offering clean, effective products alongside empowering messaging, Revved Beauty carves out a unique position in the market. Farmer’s Favorite Product : Cheeky Brew Farmer's favorite product, "Cheeky Brew," is a green tea energizing face tonic that embodies the brand's ethos. She describes it with enthusiasm: "Cheeky Brew is definitely a moment. I mean, I've reached for it multiple times a day. I absolutely love it. It has an energizing, refreshing scent to it, like a spa-type scent. It's like a self-love moment that you can use anytime throughout the day." A Moment of Realization Reflecting on her journey, Farmer shares a pivotal moment that bridged her personal and professional life: "When it became real was when it wasn't friends or family that have to be nice to me and tell me that they like something, and it was an actual customer that used a product and had incredible feedback, that is when it became very real for me." Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Farmer's advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, is to trust their instincts. She emphasizes, "The biggest piece of advice I would give to them is to tap into their gut instinct. That is your superpower. And if you can listen to that intuition, you're unstoppable." She expands on this concept by highlighting the connection between intuition and capability. Farmer believes that the ideas and aspirations that occur to an individual are inherently aligned with their abilities. "Nothing is going to occur to you that you can't achieve. You're capable of whatever it is that occurs to you," she asserts. She emphasizes the significance of timely action, suggesting that entrepreneurs should not delay pursuing their ideas. "If it occurs to you and it doesn't leave you alone, there's something to that," Farmer explains, encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to recognize and act on their persistent instincts. Looking Ahead: Expanding Impact While Revved Beauty plans to expand its product line carefully, Farmer is most excited about the potential impact on young women. She envisions partnering with youth organizations to promote self-esteem and confidence among preteen and teenage girls. "We're not just going to be in one category. We're going to be across many, but just sort of the lifestyle messaging around Revved and then how it can impact young women, all women, all women of any age, but the younger, the better," Farmer shares, highlighting her commitment to empowering the next generation of women. Through Revved Beauty, Gina Farmer is not just selling beauty products; she's championing a movement of self-love and empowerment, encouraging women to feel "revved up" and ready to take on the world. Her journey from personal struggle to entrepreneurial success serves as an inspiration for women everywhere to trust their instincts and pursue their dreams.

by Holly Arend Mental health in sports has often been a taboo topic, overshadowed by the physical demands and glory of the game. Zhilkin’s Vision, a non-profit initiative launched by Danny Zhilkin and Lauren Shoss, seeks to change that narrative. Born out of personal experiences and a passion for advocacy, Zhilkin’s Vision is dedicated to normalizing conversations about mental health and providing accessible resources for athletes at all levels. In this interview, Danny and Lauren share their journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and their mission to make mental health a priority in sports communities. Photos provided by Lauren Shoss What inspired you to start Zhilkin’s Vision in August 2022? We had talked about starting a non-profit organization as a way to give back to our community and use the platforms we had been given to do some good in our community for quite some time. On the Guelph Storm, Danny’s junior hockey team, we were fortunate to see two former Storm players, Cam Hillis and Garrett McFadden launch non-profits, which showed us just how supportive the Guelph community is and inspired us to launch ours as well. COVID and Danny’s draft year delayed our plans a little bit, but we felt like the time following the draft would be the optimal time to launch, as we now had the support of the Guelph/Ontario community, as well as our new Winnipeg family behind us. Our decision to focus on mental health really came from each of our own experiences growing up in elite sport environments, hockey and dance. We’ve seen and experienced the impacts of the mental health stigma in sports, and the culture of silence it creates, so naturally we had a desire to normalize conversations about mental health and improve access to mental health resources in ways that we didn’t have when we were younger. It was pretty incredible once we launched- the immediate support we received from fans, our teams, our friends and family, and big organizations like the NHL and Hockey Canada inspired us to continue working to grow our platform, amplifying the voices of athletes like ourselves who have had their own experiences with mental health challenges, and creating a community and space where conversations about mental health are accepted, supported, and encouraged.  How did your time in graduate school at BU and Danny’s draft to the Jets influence the timing of launching this initiative? At the time that we launched ZV in August of 2022, I was entering my second year of my Masters program at Boston University, studying mental health counseling with a specialization in sports psychology. Not only was I gaining a ton of knowledge about mental health and sports psychology, but I was also doing applied work with DI and DIII college teams and youth sports teams in the Boston community, offering team and individual sport psychology services. I was also about to start a clinical internship at a partial hospitalization program working with kids and adolescents. My experiences at BU really showed me how intertwined mental health and performance are; athletes must be feeling at their best, mentally and physically, to be able to perform their best, but their performance often influences their mental health as well, especially for elite athletes whose livelihood may depend on their sports performance. The services provided by professionals in sports psych and mental health, or both, are often somewhat inaccessible, financially, logistically, or otherwise, so I had a desire to share some of what I was learning with a broader network of people- parents, fans, athletes, coaches, organizational leaders, etc. We were able to do that through things like our keynote presentations at several events, as well as through our Mental Health Monday initiative, during which I created weekly posts breaking down mental health and sports psychology concepts and research in a digestible way.  About a month and a half prior to the launch of ZV, Danny was drafted 77th overall by the Winnipeg Jets. When we launched ZV, he was a week or so away from heading off to his first NHL training camp and was going to be returning to the OHL shortly after to play his 4th, and likely final, season of Junior hockey. While the draft is both an exciting and somewhat stressful time, the classic saying of “this is just the beginning” is 100% true. The draft really kickstarts several years of incredibly grueling, hard work of trying to make a career as a professional hockey player, and this reality becomes real quite quickly after the draft. Suddenly the sport you grew up playing as a hobby becomes your source of income, your livelihood, the way you plan and hope to support your family, and something that can be taken away from you in the blink of an eye. The pressure to perform skyrockets, with people expecting you to dominate the junior hockey scene now that you’re a drafted player, while also trying to prove to your NHL club that you deserve a contract and a chance to play pro. The draft brought with it a lot of opportunities, including the growth of Danny’s platform with an entirely new fan-base we were able to tap into to support the launch of ZV, which is, in part, why we waited to launch until post-draft (and because of time, obviously). It was a new community we wanted to impact in a positive way, which we feel like we have, but it also showed us the reality of how much pro sports can and will take a toll on athletes emotionally and mentally. It made it all the more clear why an organization like ZV, led by an up and coming professional hockey player, was needed.  You’ve mentioned the impact of strong leaders like captains/alumni—how did they guide or inspire you in creating this foundation? Cam Hillis and Garrett McFadden were instrumental in inspiring us to create ZV. Truthfully, the idea of starting an organization and building it from the ground up, all while balancing being a full-time student, high-level athlete, and still being so young can be pretty intimidating. It’s easy to come up with reasons not to do it, but I’m so glad we just went for it. Seeing them start their own organizations, being supported by the team and the community, and being able to give back to the families and fans that have been such a big part of their hockey career not only showed us that it was possible, but the incredible impact doing something like this can have. It solidified for us that we should go for it, knowing we’d be supported. Organizations like McFadden’s movement have now been around for several years and really set the stage for creating change with regards to mental health in the world of sports. It’s incredibly inspiring to witness and we’re thankful to have had such amazing role models to show us that creating something like ZV was possible and not something to shy away from.   Both of you have faced challenges with mental health, including the pressures of hockey and academics. How have those experiences shaped the mission of Zhilkin’s Vision? I think for both of us, our own experiences inspired us to start ZV as we both grew up in sport environments where mental health was stigmatized, hidden, and ultimately kind of ignored. The experience of being an elite hockey player, playing in front of thousands and representing your country or province nationally and internationally, navigating drafts and such at a young age is obviously quite unique, and yet I see a lot of parallels between the psychological challenges that can arise in that type of environment and the one I grew up in as a competitive dancer, and now as a doctoral student. There is a constant pressure to perform, to prove yourself, to be perfect and do everything right so as to not jeopardize your spot or others’ perceptions of you. It’s a constant uphill battle, and unfortunately I think these “pressure cooker” environments like elite/professional sport and grad school can exacerbate and really amplify mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, substance use, and psychological burnout. While mental health is such an individual thing that affects everyone differently, there is a lot of commonality and unity in some of the experiences Danny and I, and so many others in both the sport and academia worlds have had which continues to show us the importance of organizations like ours that help people to realize they aren’t alone, and advocate for better support to be available so people don’t have to suffer in silence.  How does Zhilkin’s Vision work to normalize conversations about mental health in sports communities? We feel that one of the best ways to normalize conversations about mental health is by modelling that, and having open conversations about it ourselves. Presenting at events, sharing content about our own experiences, talking about mental health openly on things like podcasts and interviews, and even magazines like this is a great way to show others that it’s okay to talk about it. Also, some of our content that we released for mental health mondays was centered around showing how common mental health challenges are, which we hoped would help people to realize that what they’re feeling is common and a shared experience amongst many. That’s a big goal of our work with ZV, and I think just by being open ourselves, and having an organization that openly discuss these topics, we’re actively contributing to the de-stigmatization and normalization of mental health in sport.  What are the challenges of running this initiative while juggling a PsyD program, long-distance, and professional hockey? We do everything ourselves for Zhilkin’s Vision. All of the social media posts, the interviews, presentation and event appearances, and even the events we’ve run like our fundraiser for the CMHA, is all organized by us and us only. It can be pretty challenging to juggle everything. I’m a full-time clinical psychology doctoral student. That means I’m in 4 or 5 classes a semester, am seeing several therapy and assessment clients for my clinical practicum, work a 20 hour per-week GA as a sport psychology consultant, am writing a dissertation, and also have a part-time job with the Toronto Blue Jays, so it’s safe to say I’m incredibly busy! Danny’s hockey schedule also makes things tough, as Winnipeg is pretty far from all of the other teams in our division, and other teams in general, meaning road trips tend to be pretty long and grueling. They play at least 2, and sometimes 3 or 4 games a week, often travelling across Canada and the US for weeks on end. Long distance definitely adds another factor. It was a bit easier when I was in Boston and he was in Guelph, as we were seeing each other more frequently, once every month or so, didn’t have a time difference, and the junior hockey schedule was lighter than what we have now. Nowadays, we’re thousands of miles away from one another and sometimes go 3+ months without seeing each other in person. The last time I flew out to Winnipeg to see him, I had an overnight layover in Denver and was travelling for 24 hours straight to get there. It’s pretty tough to plan events and coordinate everything over texts and Facetime, especially when we’re both also doing so much on our own for school and hockey. This is truthfully why we’ve been on a bit of a hiatus recently. ZV is still very much alive and we hope to get things back up and running soon, but both of us have a lot going on and want to be sure that when we do get it back up and running, we’re able to give it the level of time and energy it deserves.  Photos provided by Lauren Shoss Your mission extends from youth athletes to professionals—what specific programs or tools have you developed for these different levels? From youth to pro athletes obviously there are some stark differences in the types of stressors and pressure present, depending on the level of sport. Youth athletes, for example, you have things like parent pressure, parent-coaches, getting cut from teams, missing out of “typical childhood” events like things at school and with friends, and burnout that can come from balancing a busy schedule while still being a kid. They are also so young, and being thrown into a pressurized environment when they’re young, immature, and lack coping skills can add to the risk for developing mental health challenges. Pro athletes, on the other hand, their sport is their livelihood, so the pressure ramps up a little as they fight to keep their spot on a team and fight to keep their contract. Things like contract renewal years, trades, etc., add an extra layer of stress, but then you also factor in that these players are older, hopefully have established a good support system of friends, family, and maybe a partner, and just generally have more maturity to be able to cope with some of these things, that a youth athlete doesn’t have yet. For us with ZV, our approach is to release a wide range of information and educational and support resources that are relevant to a wide range of athletes, as well as those around the athletes like parents and coaches, as they play an essential role in creating a culture that provides space for mental health to be acknowledged and prioritized. I don’t think we’re expecting a 10 year old youth athlete to read our content, fully understand it, and apply it, although I’m sure some could and would, but we hope that by inspiring others to have these conversations and just to think more about mental health we can support people across all levels of sport.  Have you considered expanding Zhilkin’s Vision beyond hockey to other sports? Yes! Hockey is of course the sport community we have the most access to- and involvement in, just given Danny’s career and both of our long-standing histories in the hockey world. That being said, we do want to branch out to other sports. I’ve worked with softball, baseball, soccer, track and field, rowing, volleyball, lacrosse, and hockey during my time as a sport psychology professional thus far, and would love to bring some of our work with ZV into those spaces using connections with coaches and athletes I’ve been able to develop. It’s a work in progress, but we definitely hope to branch out in the future while recognizing that hockey is our home.  Danny, can you share the story of moving from Moscow to Canada at eight for hockey? What was that transition like? So I came from Moscow to participate in a hockey camp in Toronto that summer, and a coach happened to notice me and my potential and asked me to stay in Canada and play for his team. My family ended up deciding that if I wanted to pursue hockey, Canada and more specifically Toronto was the best place to do it, so we flew back to Moscow, and then a couple weeks later, the whole family (my younger brother, older sister, mom, and dad) moved to Ontario to start the hockey season. Looking back on it, it’s pretty crazy that my entire family made those sacrifices so I could follow my dream of playing professional hockey. It worked out, because not only am I playing professionally, but my younger brother also started playing hockey and was just recently drafted into the OHL to start his junior career. The transition to Canada was okay. Truthfully, I think being only nine made it easier. The hardest part was learning English, but it’s easier to learn another language when you’re a kid so I think that made it easier on me. I had to leave my friends and people behind, but when you’re nine it’s mostly about your family and your parents anyways, and I am very thankful that I had my parents and siblings going through it with me. We’ve been here for 10 years now, so Canada is home. We’ve really enjoyed our time here. My family made a lot of sacrifices for me and my hockey career that I am very grateful for. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.  How did playing with Lauren’s brother in the offseason and on regular teams shape your relationship? Lauren’s brother Matt and I are good friends now and were good friends when we played together too. There’s a couple of pictures of us from games and stuff as kids and we’ve shared a lot of memories together. Some of my best memories as a kid playing hockey are from the tournaments and games we played together, like going to Europe and playing in Switzerland and Italy for two weeks, and our Silver Stick game that went past midnight. It’s special to be part of their family now since we all grew up together. I’ve known them since I moved to Canada. Family dinners at their house usually result in Matt and I just laughing about one of our old teammates or some goofy memory from a hotel or something. Lauren, Matt, their parents, and even their extended family like her grandma, aunt, uncle, and cousins are all very supportive of my career and watch me play whenever they can. I think there was one game a couple years ago where there was like 12 of them watching me when I was playing junior. Ironically Lauren ended up not being there, she had the interview for her doc program that day, but it was pretty cool that her entire family came out to cheer me on.  Choosing to represent Canada over Russia was a significant decision—what led to that choice? I felt like I had spent a significant portion of my childhood, and my hockey career, growing up in Canada since I moved at such a young age. It made sense for me to represent Canada internationally, and to be able to play alongside the friends and teammates I had shared the ice with since I moved several years prior. It was pretty awesome getting to play against some of my old buddies on Team Russia at the U18 worlds though, and winning gold against them. I’ll never forget that.  What have been some of your most meaningful hockey moments, from winning gold with Team Canada in 2019 to signing with Winnipeg and now playing with the Manitoba Moose? Getting drafted 14th overall to Guelph in the OHL in 2019, and scoring my first goal in junior hockey on my first shift in my first OHL game shortly after  Getting drafted 77th overall to Winnipeg in the NHL in 2022, and signing my first contract a few months later Winning gold with U18 Team Canada in 2021 after defeating Team Russia in the finals  Being named to- and representing Team Ontario at the Canada Winter Games in 2015- this was my first big national tournament that was televised and everything. We took home Silver against Quebec. Playing for U17 Team Canada Black, this was my first time representing Canada internationally which was a really special feeling just wearing that jersey Playing in my first pro game as an AHL player for the Manitoba Moose and scoring my first professional goal a few weeks later  Lauren, how did your background as a competitive dancer influence your career in mental health counseling and sports psychology? Dance is a really unique sport environment that places an emphasis on physical appearance and others’ subjective judgement, similar to sports like gymnastics and diving. Imagine spending the equivalent of a part-time job, 20+ hours per week, staring at yourself in a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall mirror, being trained to pick out flaws in your lines, your posture, your technique from the ages of 3 to 20. That’s competitive dance. I saw, and experienced several serious mental health challenges, from anxiety and perfectionism to body dysmorphia and eating disorders, those problems may develop during your time as a dancer, but they stick with you long after. Unfortunately, we were never really spoken to about the realities of these experiences, by our coaches, our parents, and even each other, because of the stigma that exists and the lack of awareness about the psychological aspect of sports like dance that existed then, and continues to prevail now. That’s not to say it’s all bad. Dance was, and will forever be one of the things I love the most. It gave me a voice, a creative outlet, and allowed me to connect with people and tell stories without ever needing to speak. My teammates on my various teams throughout my career are forever friends, and some of my coaches were like second parents to me. However, the things I observed, along with what I observed through my brother’s hockey career, painted a clear picture that mental health support and education was lacking in sports as a whole. In order for people to experience the benefits like lifelong friendships, they have to be cared for mentally, and this realization definitely pushed me towards a career in psychology and mental health work.  What inspired your educational journey from McMaster’s Health Sciences program to your PsyD at James Madison University? During my 3rd year of my undergrad at McMaster in the Health Sciences program, I took two courses, one with Dr. Debbie Nifakis entitled “Critical Examination of Mental Health”, and the other with Ms. Stephanie George “Indigenous Health”. These two courses completely changed my trajectory in the program, and ultimately pushed me towards pursuing a career in mental health as opposed to medicine. For the Critical Examination of Mental Health course, our final assignment was to write an integrated reflective and research paper about any mental health topic. I chose performance anxiety in young athletes, which led to my professor connecting me to Dr. Kate Hays. She was a clinical and sport psychologist based out of Toronto who took me under her wing and helped me to learn about the training and opportunities available in the field of sport psych, and ultimately led me to find the program at Boston University that I went on to pursue.  Photos provided by Lauren Shoss How do you envision creating a long-term impact and sustaining Zhilkin’s Vision as a resource for athletes? Once we feel like it’s the right time to get ZV back up and running, I think a main goal for us will be fundraising. Something we’d love to do more long-term is continue to share content, but also to be a financial source of support to help athletes access mental health resources like counsellors and therapists. It would be wonderful to partner with some of my colleagues from school to provide mental health resources to athletes at a discounted rate, that ZV could then help cover the cost of. We think that would be particularly useful for younger athletes who might not have access to a covered professional like some college and pro athletes do. Beyond that, continuing to raise awareness, both online by sharing content on our social media, and through in person events and partnerships with other organizations, will be a focus as well. Even when we’re not actively posting content or running a fundraiser or event, I think just continuing to speak about our organization and the mission of it is effective in and of itself. It’s important to show athletes of all ages and sport backgrounds that it’s okay to talk about and acknowledge our challenges, to seek support and help, and I think the existence of ZV communicates that even when we are less active like we are right now. We’ll continue to bring ZV with us wherever this hockey journey and my career takes us. We hope to introduce ZV to each new community we’re a part of it, and expand our platform to inspire as many athletes as possible to join our efforts to normalize conversations about mental health and advocate to make mental health resources and awareness a priority in sport communities.  If you could achieve one major milestone in the next five years for Zhilkin’s Vision, what would it be? I think becoming a registered non-profit and being able to run fundraisers that would allow us to support athletes in financially accessing mental health resources would be a major milestone that we’d love to achieve. There are several complicated logistical hurdles we’d need to sort out prior to that, but that’s one of our biggest long-term goals. Otherwise, I’d love to grow our partnership with the CMHA to continue hosting events and running fundraisers to support mental health resources and efforts in our local communities, while continuing to grow our platform online through social media and raising awareness about mental health there.  What advice would you give to other athletes or professionals looking to advocate for mental health in sports? I think using their voice to model positive change and encourage conversations is the most powerful. These people are role models with the potential to inspire younger generations, stakeholders, and other athletes/professionals to openly speak about mental health and advocate for resources. Simply using their voices and platforms to model those conversations is a simple yet powerful way to play a role in this effort.  Zhilkin’s Vision stands as a testament to the power of advocacy and shared experiences in driving meaningful change. By addressing mental health stigma and fostering a culture of support, Danny and Lauren are paving the way for a future where athletes feel empowered to prioritize their well-being. As they look ahead, their unwavering commitment to mental health awareness promises to leave a lasting impact on sports communities worldwide. Disclaimer : This article includes direct quotes and contributions from Danny Zhilkin and Lauren Shoss, shared with their explicit permission. All names and affiliations are used for context only and do not imply endorsement by the AHL, NHL, or any associated organizations. The opinions expressed are personal and reflect the views of the individuals quoted. This article was reviewed by Danny Zhilkin and Lauren Shoss to ensure accuracy and context. Any reproduction or distribution of this material without prior consent is prohibited. For questions or concerns regarding this article, please contact info@hazzemedia.com .

By: Christina Winnegar Next Level Prep , curated through NIL by Twin Bridge Sports and Studio Place , is a platform designed for the younger generation of student-athletes to create videos where their skills are accentuated and their inspiring anecdotes are highlighted to be told; offering insights from leading role models across various sports and schools to help kickstart personalized journeys to success within the sports community. Athletes are given the platform to expand and emphasize the importance of the recruitment process, adapting to the increase in demands of college sports, mentorship importance, evolving mental strength and toughness, and learning to blend their time to perfect personal-professional harmony. Next Level Prep provides the next generation of athletes with the tools needed for varying sports to embrace their talent and prepare for eminence. Rendering guidance from college athletes in sports such as basketball, football, baseball, softball, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, diving, golf and more.  Ryan Wilkins - UCLA FOOTBALL On the topic of pursuing a career in football, Ryan Wilkins  from UCLA Football opened up about his journey. Topics of conversation ranged from receiving advice from former NFL player Scott McKillop at a young age, McKillop stating, “This is hard, this is where you’ll become a good player. These skills that you learn as a 10-, 11-, or 12-year-old will carry you not only through football but through the rest of your life. Just keep working at it, do your thing, and have confidence in yourself.” To his transition to long snapping to play at a higher level. Wilkins’  was candid in his advice, expressing his challenges, how his knowledge of the game from his father gave him insight as a football coach pushed him to improve, and the advice he gives to aspiring football players aiming for a Division I scholarship, stating, “My advice to anybody that wants a Division I scholarship is don’t have your goal be a Division I scholarship, have your goal be the best player that you can be. If you set small mundane daily goals for yourself that are achievable, that is how you get to the level that you wanna play at.” Josh Nichols - MICHIGAN FOOTBALL In another video,  Josh Nichols  from the University of Michigan Football shared a piece of advice that stuck with him from a young age, that pushed him to strive for greatness. The words of advice that resonated with him and he believes can help others is, “Practice how you play; you can’t create lazy habits. Repetition creates a man; without repetition, getting what you got to do done, and working on your craft, you’re not going to make it where you want to make it.” Alongside this he shared his training experience, taking advantage of the opportunities presented by coaches, and staying on track with your goals.  Mari Bickley - PRINCETON BASKETBALL From Princeton Basketball, athlete Mari Bickley  revealed the advice she received from her mother, the challenges she faced as a top prospect, what led her to commit to Princeton, the knowledge she gained at the college level, and her advice on how she is able to balance going to a prestigious school like Princeton and putting her full effort into basketball. After starting at the collegiate level, Bickley  shared some of the knowledge she gained, “One thing I didn’t really do in high school much was pay attention to the small things; so I feel like coming into college, like my first couple of practices, I realized how important details are. You know, your college coaches are gonna nitpick at every single little thing because they want you to be a great player; details really do matter, and they do really help when you start to play an actual game.” Mark Estapa - MICHIGAN ICE HOCKEY Senior forward for the University of Michigan Ice Hockey team, Mark Estapa , demonstrated vulnerability in sharing his advice from his father, his experience with injuries, the transition from junior hockey to college, and his approach to managing his time as a student-athlete. His biggest challenge faced was injuries throughout the last couple of years of his time as a student-athlete. Estapa  revealed, “I had some injuries with my knees; and, you know, when everything’s not fine-tuned and perfect, and not feeling good on your body, you’re not going to be able to perform at the level that you want to. Rehab and making sure you do all of the little things right every day to keep yourself from getting injured.” Philippe LaPointe - MICHIGAN ICE HOCKEY Another ice hockey player from the University of Michigan, Philippe LaPointe , gave great advice for those who might be comparing themselves to other athletes surrounding them, “I’ve learned that, over the years, you can’t be comparing yourself to other people because everyone develops at their own pace and everybody has their own path. If you stick to your identity and you stick to your journey, and you have that faith in yourself and everything that you’re doing within your process of trying to be the best that you can be, and you have that belief, then you will achieve what you want. Having that mindset is really powerful for any individual.”  Kaylee Young - USC BEACH VOLLEYBALL Freshman athlete, Kaylee Young  from USC beach volleyball, tells the story of her journey of the unique process to receive an opportunity at the college level for beach volleyball, the training regimen for collegiate players at USC, and the overall impact her sport has had on her. With a sport of smaller popularity such as beach volleyball, Young  expanded on her personal experience, in being recruited to a school like USC. Despite the NCAA having a rule that coaches can’t talk to you until June 15th following your sophomore year. She shared that the recruitment process begins long before that, “The recruiting process actually starts a few years before that; you kind of have to kickstart it by reaching out to the coaches yourself, emailing them, and cutting up your film. I would spend about two hours of my weekend cutting up my film and making videos to send out to the coaches; then, I would write a really personalized email to each coach, send it off, and that is how the coaches get to know you.” Savanna Morris - PEPPERDINE TRACK & FIELD Track & field star Savanna Morris  from Pepperdine University touched on how her goals had changed to wanting to be a collegiate athlete until her junior year, how her mentor pushed her to strive for greatness, believing in yourself, and how to get ahead of the curve to achieve your goal of being an athlete at a Division I school. Morris  expressed, “You can always be late in the recruitment process, but you can never start too early; if you’re even remotely interested in competing in collegiate athletes, I say start now. The time is now. You can work on those times if you’re a track athlete, or work on your shooting drills; try to become the best athlete you can be right now, and don’t wait until later.” Opening up about her regrets about not starting to be serious about the sport earlier than she did, taking advantage of the time, and encouraging young athletes not to repeat the same mistake.  Next Level Prep is a program by Twin Bridge Sports  and Studio Place to be a guide from college athletes to the next generation; taking their experiences and transforming them into videos with their stories. The vulnerability of the athletes, a part of the program, is meant to offer insights from role models on how to get to the level that they’re currently at. The platform encourages the youth who may be interested to start young; laying out all of the information needed to set these goals that can be achieved with the guidance of these college athletes from various sports ranging in popularity.

Photos By: Camila Molina | November 16th, 2024

Gallery by Holly Arend On December 14, 2024 , the Hartford Wolf Pack triumphed over the Laval Rocket 5-2. This marked their first encounter of the season. Another thrilling match will take place in Hartford on January 24, 2025, followed by consecutive games in Laval on January 31 and February 1. Sources and Verification: To ensure the accuracy and depth of our coverage, this article draws from trusted sources such as AHL.com and ESPN .  These platforms provide official game statistics, player insights, and up-to-date reports, enabling us to deliver well-rounded and factual information. By leveraging these reliable sources, we aim to offer a detailed and verified account of the games, including key moments, standout performances, and post-game analysis.