QUICK Q&A: MATT KOCH, HASTINGS, SR.

It's not hard to tell who Koch's favorite player is from his most memorable Christmas gift. Here is a closer look at the senior, who also plays baseball for the Raiders:

What is the most memorable Christmas gift you have ever received? Getting a Jonathan Toews jersey from my godfather. [Toews is a forward for the Chicago Blackhawks.]

What is on your Christmas list this season? An iPhone and some new clothes.

What is your favorite Christmas carol, and why? "The Twelve Days of Christmas" because our hockey team had to sing it and we made our own version of it called "The Twelve Days of Hockey."

The best movie I've seen in the past year? "Miracle."

Three songs I never skip on my iPod: "Cruise" by Florida George Line, "Levels" by Avicii, "The Champ" by Nelly.

Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me? Leader, hard worker, talkative.

At my first varsity practice, I felt ... excited for everything to start and to get going.

How do you balance school and sports during the year? My parents have always been hard on me about getting good grades, so I try to get as much done during school. When I don't get it all done, I just do it after practice, so I can go to bed at a halfway decent time.

In 10 years, I hope I'm ... still playing hockey.

What is the best sports advice you ever received? Enjoy it while you can because you won't be able to play forever.

RON HAGGSTROM