Colorado Extreme Founder Sheldon Wolitski will give the skates off his feet to pass along what hockey has done for him, not only the feeling of freedom gliding on the ice but the life lessons inherent to the sport. It’s become his mission. Colorado Extreme intends to bring hockey to the bicultural mid-valley community, some of whom may otherwise not have access.
He comes from modest roots. He grew up in Alberta, Canada, and was on the ice by the age of three because up North, “If you’re old enough to walk, then you’re old enough to skate,” Wolitski says. Hockey is not just a game to him, but it lifted him to new heights, and was there when he needed it most. As a teen, similar to many young people from small towns, he struggled with mental health and started down a wayward path. Looking back, he says hockey was his saving grace. “Hockey kept me on track,” he says. “I’m so passionate about it because it changed the trajectory of my life. I know there’s a lot of kids out there; if they were to latch onto a sport that, it can really change the trajectory of their lives as well.”
As a youngster, he played for the St. Albert Eagle Raiders before achieving a spot with the Vernon Lakers in the British Columbia Hockey League. From there, he received a scholarship for, and you guessed it, hockey. Wolitski got a full ride to the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) to play Division One hockey. “So, I went from the cold, rocky mountains to sunny Alabama – I didn’t even know they played hockey there,” he laughs. At UAH, he studied entrepreneurship. After graduation, he started his own IT consulting company, The Select Group, out of his garage in Raleigh, North Carolina. It became a multi-million dollar business, supporting scores of employees in Canada and the US. He stepped down as CEO to pursue his passion and bring hockey to the people. “Being a hockey player and seeing how it positively impacted my life, I was super passionate about giving kids that same opportunity,” he says.
Wolitski served on the Aspen junior hockey board and volunteered as a coach there. He noticed that his neighbors in the mid-valley didn’t tend to have their kids join the youth leagues in either Glenwood Springs or Aspen, whether it be because of the cost, travel, or for other reasons. “I wanted to overcome that barrier to entry into the sport,” he says, hoping that Colorado Extreme would fill a need. And it did! The turnout has been incredible, with hundreds of local kids hitting the ice with Colorado Extreme. “It’s exciting. It’s inspiring,” he expresses.
Wolitski notes the efforts the National Hockey League (NHL) is making toward diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to set an example for the major league here in the Valley. In return, taking note of Colorado Extreme’s tremendous success in embracing diversity, the NHL’s Diversity and Inclusion Program fitted the bill for the first 100 sets of hockey gear for the program.
He notes the mental health benefit for kids, “When they get on the rink, they’re just free out there and can take their mind off of everything else that’s going on.”
Parents and players familiar with Colorado Extreme know about the HEART award, which stands for hustle, effort, attitude, respect, and teamwork. “That’s something that’s going to carry on for them down the road, whether at work, college, or school,” he affirms. “They’re going to remember those five strong Colorado Extreme values, and I know it will positively impact them outside of hockey.”
Wolitski has five children of his own. His wife played soccer for North Carolina State and paid it forward in the community by coaching locally. “There are not a lot of programs in the US that offer free hockey, and we’re one of them,” Wolitski proudly concludes.