Five Things to Know About Coach Peppi Laboy
Peppi Laboy coaches for the Northwest Chargers and Saint Viator High School, both of which call the Nicholas Sportsplex home.
His journey with hockey began at the age of eight, lacing up his skates and gliding onto the rink with a sense of determination. Raised in Chicago's sports culture, he played several sports, juggling between hockey and football in the fall/winter, and baseball and swimming in the summer. ‘I just love sports, especially hockey – it’s a part of who I am. My parents told me at a young age that I was athletic, and I should embrace it. Sports would keep me on the right track in life,’ Peppi recalled. Now, Peppi has the chance to coach and mentor both of his sons, Peppi III and Joseph.
For Peppi, hockey is more than a sport; it's an opportunity to mentor the next generation and provides a conduit for life lessons. It teaches resilience in the face of adversity, camaraderie in the heat of competition, and the importance of perseverance. ‘Hockey is not an easy sport,’ remarks Peppi. ‘You can’t just jump on the ice and start playing. Players must learn to skate before they can learn to play. As hockey players, you put so much time into your craft, and because of the time commitment, the sport becomes deeply personal, and therefore a chance to mentor and impact kids in such a positive way and teach them life lessons.’
Beyond the boards, Peppi followed another calling in life —a calling rooted in faith and fueled by a desire to serve. For the past decade, Peppi has served as a youth minister. Through programs like Hockey Ministries International (HMI) and youth bible camps, he found a bridge between his two greatest passions—hockey and faith. ‘God has given me the ability to pull out the best in kids,’ comments Peppi. ‘When I coach, I don’t necessarily talk about God or Jesus. Instead, I make sure I’m an example of Jesus’ teachings like showing love, mercy, kindness, and patience. Serving as that example, I can reach the kids that have been unreachable before and help them reach their potential.’
Not only does Peppi often turn the life tables for the young athletes he mentors, but he also works turntables as a Christian DJ. Peppi’s love of music stems from going to DJ gigs with his dad starting at the age of ten. As he grew older, he found himself borrowing his dad’s equipment to work his own school dances and parties. Now mainly producing music in his own basement, Peppi just loves listening to and creating music. ‘Music is an important part life; it can just put you in such a positive vibe,’ smiled Peppi.
Similar to his life, Peppi’s name also has a story. His grandmother’s baby doctor was Dr. Giuseppe; but his grandmother called him Dr. Peppi. So grateful for Dr. Peppi’s care and attention, his grandmother named her first son Peppi. Peppi’s father passed down his name and, in keeping with tradition, Peppi Laboy II named his own son, pictured here, Peppi as well.