ORLANDO, Fla. — If home is where the heart is, the rink has all of Peyton Compton’s heart. This high school senior is at her best when she’s on the ice.

“Hockey’s not just a sport, it’s kind of like a safe place almost,” Peyton said. “Cause it’s like, obviously your passion, but you enjoy it, too. And it gets you a break from everything on the outside world and all you focus on is working hard and having fun.”

Peyton’s hard work on the ice has led to a lot of fun — and even better — a spot on the under-18 USA team. She recently traveled to Canada, the hockey heaven, for some intense competition and games.

“It was just a very big honor,” she said. “It made me really understand that I am part of something that is bigger than myself.”

Those that know her best say representing her country was predictable. One of her coaches, Sondra Pacey, says Peyton is simply a rock star.

“She’s just so special,” Pacey said. “She lights up the room when she walks in. She makes everyone around her feel better. She’s a great teammate. She’s a great leader. She’s a great follower when she needs to be. So seeing her wear that red, white and blue, it put the final marking on everything that I have believed for so long.”

That inevitable moment has been years in the making. When she was eight years old, Peyton attended a birthday party at the RDV Sportsplex facility in Orlando and she got to see the game of hockey up close and personal. It was love at first sight. 

That Christmas, Peyton’s mom surprised her with all new hockey equipment. She surprised her again by signing the registration form giving her access to the ice. Amy Compton did all of this all while battling ovarian cancer, a battle she would lose.

“She ended up passing away 10 days after I was able to play,” Peyton said. “So she never really got to see me, so she was my motivation.”

That belief her mom had in her ability to take on this difficult sport means everything to Peyton. 

“I always kept telling myself, 'Always try new things, always be the best at whatever it does,'” she said. “Follow your passion and just enjoy it. Yes, this sport’s fun. Yes, you can go so far in it but you have to make sure you take care of physically and emotionally, because it’s a very tiring and draining and awesome experience. It’s such like an up and down roller coaster. ”

Her mom’s motivational message is always with her. And it helps guide her as she progresses in the sport that she loves. The sport that’s taught her so much about herself.

“There’s so much energy and so much fun stuff you can do with it, and it’s just a great experience.”