Big Decision Finally Behind Apple Valley High School's Hudson Fasching

Rick and Shannon Fasching knew their son, Hudson, faced a huge decision. They just wanted to see one thing: his desire.

“We were waiting on him to say, ‘Yeah, I want it,’ ” Shannon said. “He had to come to us and say, 'This is really what I want to do.' ”

And that’s exactly what Hudson Fasching did. The standout hockey player at made the difficult decision to leave his high school team, accepting an offer to move away from Apple Valley and join the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, MI.

Hudson just finished his sophomore hockey season at Apple Valley, where he tallied 18 goals and 32 assists and helped his team to a 20-7-1 record. He led the Eagles to the state playoffs as a freshman, but this past season the team came up just short with a 1-0 loss to Eagan in the section tournament.

Even though it was a tough call, Hudson said he knew the NTDP was something he wanted to do.

“About a week or two before I made it official, I noticed I started saying ‘when’ instead of ‘if,’” Hudson said. “I really want to do this. It’s exciting.”

The offer came last summer for the 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward to join the national team. Hudson and his parents visited Ann Arbor in late February, and when they got to the airport on the way home, Rick told his son he didn’t want him to think about the decision until after Apple Valley finished its playoff run.

But that didn’t stop Rick and Shannon from talking about it.

“We thought it was a good experience for him,” Rick said.

The NTDP requires passion and commitment. Players are required to commit for two years, live in Ann Arbor and attend Ann Arbor Pioneer High School.

The under-17 team, which Hudson will play on, competes in the United States Hockey League, the only tier I junior league in the U.S. The USHL plays a 60-game schedule and participates in three international events.

“This is a pretty unique opportunity,” Rick said. “[Hudson] wrote a paper in the fourth grade and said he wanted to play in the U.S developmental program.”

Apart from Hudson’s hockey-playing abilities, which have drawn the attention of the college hockey world, his sensibilities and kind nature also have claimed headlines. ESPN and local news outlets have told the story of Hudson’s relationship with his two younger siblings, who have serious health issues. The closeness of his family played a large role in his decision.

“As a family, we’re a very tight unit,” Hudson said. “This will be a big change for them as well. They were on the same page. This decision wasn’t just for me; it affects the family.”

Hudson spent a lot of his younger years in hospitals as his parents sought answers for his younger siblings, Cooper and Mallory. Cooper, who is two years younger than 15-year-old Hudson, developed problems when he was 6 weeks old, which the family was told stemmed from a mitochondrial disorder that causes seizures and cerebral palsy. They were told the chances of it happening again were one in a million.

But when Mallory was born a year later, she also showed symptoms at 6 weeks. Neither Mallory nor Cooper can walk or talk.

“They’re dependent on us for everything,” Shannon said. “Over the years, it’s become what it is. At first, we were so anxious to have a diagnosis to fit in. Then, we just said, this is who they are. We treat the symptoms. If there was a cure, we’d be all over it. We’ve decided this is who they are, and we can’t imagine them any other way. We just roll with punches and deal with the next thing we have to.”

“What we tried to tell [Hudson] is, ‘If you take your brother and sister out of it, what would you do?’ ” Rick said.

Ultimately, Hudson was pragmatic in his decision-making, noting he would have left for college in two years.

“We obviously have a different family scenario,” Rick said. “Hudson is as sensitive to that as any 15-year-old could be. If we told him he needed to stay, he’d stay. No problem. He’s given up a lot because of his brother and sister. He really wants to do this, and we’re behind him 100 percent.”

Hudson said the training available at the camp was a big draw, as was the chance to represent his country.

“They have a great reputation for development,” Hudson said. “I get to play for my country and go overseas. It’s a good experience. It’s like the first year of college. This will be a buffer for me, so it won’t be as big a jump.”

But the prospect of leaving his teammates at Apple Valley also made the decision tough. He’s been a three-sport standout and went to the playoffs in soccer, tennis and hockey. He was part of the 2010 boys soccer team that made a 47-0 run and won a state title.

“They wanted me to stay, but they’ve been understanding,” Hudson said.

For Hudson, it came down to making a decision to get him closer to his dream.

“He wanted to focus on hockey,” Rick said. “He wants to play in the NHL. He knows there are multiple ways to get there. He felt like he was ready for the experience and wanted to go full force in hockey and see what he can do.

“He will play against the best kids in the country. This is a nice bridge between here and college. He’ll have to study on the road and be more self-disciplined.”

“My goal is to make the NHL,” Hudson said. “I want to get settled and play the best I can. This is the road I’ve set on, and it will help me get to college hockey.”

While things still haven’t sunk in for Hudson or his parents, the big decision is behind them. Now, it’s about the game.