From Homework to Hockey Tournaments: Launching an Event Medical Company as a High Schooler
1. Where It All Started
I’ve been around the rink for as long as I can remember.
Growing up in St. Louis Park, hockey was a huge part of my life. I started playing at a young age and spent countless weekends on the ice with my teammates. But around age 10, I backed off from playing and picked up a whistle — becoming a youth hockey ref at just 10 years old.
By age 12, I had moved into scorekeeping. I was the kid sitting in the box, managing the scoreboard and handling game sheets. As part of that job, one of my responsibilities was calling medics into the rink anytime a player went down on the ice. That meant literally pulling out my phone, finding the medic’s number, and dialing them directly to get them to the ice.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but those moments in the score box were helping me build experience I’d carry with me for years to come.
I got to know many of the medics who worked our games. They’d stop by the box between periods, share advice, and encourage me to look into getting my own certification. When COVID hit and the age requirement for a Minnesota First Responder Certification was temporarily lifted, I jumped on the opportunity. While most people were sitting at home, I was taking steps to become a first responder.
At that point in my life, I wasn’t thinking long-term or dreaming about starting a business. I was just enjoying the work — being part of the action, learning from those around me, and doing what I could to help keep games running smoothly. I loved being in that environment and took pride in being someone the teams and coaches could rely on.
Those early years were about learning, gaining confidence, and doing what I enjoyed: working in youth sports, staying involved, and showing up when it mattered.
2. Getting Certified at 14
When the opportunity opened up to become certified during COVID, I didn’t hesitate. With the usual age requirements temporarily lifted, I enrolled in a course and became one of the youngest certified first responders in my community.
The class itself was intense. I was surrounded by older students — many of them already working in the field or preparing to — but I kept up. I studied hard, asked questions, and passed my exams. At 14, I officially became certified.
That milestone didn’t just open doors professionally — it deepened my confidence. It gave me a new way to stay involved in the world of youth sports, this time from a medical perspective.
3. First Shifts in the Field
Shortly after getting certified, I started picking up shifts with two different event medical companies. I was young — really young — but I thought I was ready.
My first few weekends on the job were a mix of excitement and nerves. Most of the athletes I covered didn’t know I was just 14. To them, I was simply "the young medic." I took that responsibility seriously. I showed up early, stayed alert, and learned everything I could from the medics I worked alongside.
But there was one thing that stood out from day one: there was no job-specific training. No shadow shifts, no in-depth onboarding, no real preparation for the actual experience of working a live sporting event. I had the book knowledge from class, but that was it. The companies sent me straight into work.
Some shifts went great. Others showed me just how inconsistent the industry could be. I saw medics who were highly professional and locked in — and others who sat in the corner, blending in with the crowd, barely looking up from their phones. I saw the good, the bad, and the gaps in between.
But at the time, I wasn’t focused on changing anything. I was just focused on doing the job — gaining experience, building trust, and proving to myself (and others) that I belonged in this space.
Those weekends on the job were foundational. They shaped how I saw event medicine. They taught me how to work with coaches and directors. They showed me how fast things can go sideways when a player goes down — and how important it is to be ready when that moment comes.
And over time, all that experience added up — planting the seeds for what would eventually become Smith EMS.
4. Starting Smith EMS at 16
As I gained more experience in the field, it became clear that the standard for on-site medical coverage at events was far too low — and no one seemed to be addressing it. Clients would pull me aside during shifts to vent their frustrations: poor communication, unreliable staffing, and never knowing what kind of medic would show up next. The inconsistency wasn’t just frustrating — it was a liability.
I had already started forming a vision in my head of what better could look like. I wanted medics who looked professional, stayed engaged, and actually felt like part of the event. I wanted faster responses, clearer communication, and a better experience for athletes, parents, and directors alike.
I just didn’t know where to start.
Then one day, while volunteering on the medical and security team at my church, I noticed a trailer parked across the lot. The logo read Apollo Medical Training — a name I hadn’t heard before. Curious, I jotted down the number on the side and shot a text.
That text led me to Phil, the owner of Apollo and one of the people who would become a close mentor and honorary board member in the early days of Smith EMS. Phil didn’t just have decades of EMS experience — he believed in raising the standard too. And he saw potential in what I was building.
With his guidance, and with a few medics willing to take a chance on a teenager with a vision, I started booking our first events.
We began with small school games, weekend tournaments, and last-minute fill-ins — anything to prove that we could show up differently. I built processes from scratch, got feedback after every event, and started investing in real training, uniforms, and structure.
We weren’t just trying to “be there” — we were trying to change what being there looked like.
5. Growing with Focus and Purpose
Those early events gave us traction. And the more we worked, the more people started to notice the difference.
Today, Smith EMS serves a wide range of clients across the Twin Cities and throughout the Midwest — from high school athletic departments to major weekend tournaments. We’ve become a go-to solution for private and charter schools that don’t have in-house athletic trainers, and a trusted partner for tournament directors who need a reliable, professional medical presence.
We’ve built a system that works — one that’s built around people.
We pay our medics more than the industry standard — not just to attract better providers, but because we expect more of them. We train them not just on medical protocols, but on how to be present, approachable, and proactive. Our uniforms are standardized. Our setups are visible. Our communication is direct and intentional — with coaches, directors, and families alike.
We don’t sit in the corner. We don’t scroll our phones all weekend.
We show up, look sharp, and stay ready — because that’s what your game deserves.
Everything we’ve built so far has come from a commitment to serving better. And every event we cover helps us raise the bar again.
6. What’s Next: The Future of Smith EMS
This spring, I’ll graduate from high school. And in the fall, I’ll be attending the University of St. Thomas to study entrepreneurship as part of the Schulze Innovation Scholars Program — a decision that isn’t just about education, but about building a future around something I’ve already started.
Smith EMS is not a side project for me. It’s not something I plan to outgrow. It’s the foundation of a bigger vision. A vision to help create safer sporting events.
Over the next four years, I’ll continue running and scaling Smith EMS while attending St. Thomas full-time. I’ll be hiring more medics, expanding our reach throughout the Midwest, and continuing to refine the systems and training that make us stand out. We’re not trying to become the biggest EMS provider — we’re working to become the most trusted and respected for sports and event coverage.
We’re also working to redefine the role of the medic — not just as someone who responds to rare injuries, but as a true part of your team. Our medics are trained to assist with all aspects of event management when needed — whether that means helping run the score clock at a hockey game, assisting coaches and staff during setup, or supporting event flow in medical and non-medical ways.
And most importantly, we’ll keep our promise to every client we work with: that when Smith EMS is onsite, they’ll have a team that shows up professionally, communicates clearly, and puts athletes and event operations first.
We’re building more than a company. We’re building a new standard.
7. Final Thoughts: For Those Who Expect More
If you’ve ever:
Struggled to get consistent EMS coverage at your games
Had a medic who looked like they were just there to go on their phone
Wished you had someone who understood the flow of a tournament or the pressure of a big game
You’re not alone. That’s exactly why Smith EMS exists.
We were built for athletic directors, tournament operators, and event organizers who expect more — and we’ve proven, event after event, that it makes a difference.
If you’re planning an upcoming season or tournament schedule and want to raise the bar on medical coverage, let’s talk. We’re ready when you are.
Let’s Connect
Want to talk through your upcoming games or events? Reach out to me personally via call/text at 763-297-1650, or via email at chase@smithems.com. I look forward to meeting you!
