Let’s Play HOCKEY!

I never liked hockey as a kid – for a number of reasons, which I will explain. Now though It’s something I love, have fun with and am getting better at in general. Now, later in life hockey has come to be special to me, not beecause I was forced to like it, but because I tried it a few friends also love it, and when I got on the ice, I realized I wanted, and did have fun with it. 

Growing up I was on the ice nearly every year, and I could skate by early elementary, on used figure skates, that I wasn’t using correctly because I let my feet lean in. I still had fun going around city rinks with my sister and friends.

When high school came all the frustrating kids played hockey, their parents could somehow afford it. I was still stuck on figure skates, and then in the spring those kids decided to play the sports we could afford as well. 

I had also never been to a professional game. 

Fast forward to college and I made a friend who absolutely loved the Minnesota Wild, she had jerseys, had met the players and had collected a few signed pucks. She was so excited about it, and hearing her explain the game better, going to a game with her, and seeing how excited she was got me seeing the sport a little differently, especially since she didn’t feel obligated to play herself, she likes being a fan and owns that.

Come junior year of college, I actually made a friend who I found out was a hockey player in high school. I ended up going to pickup games at the local rinks with them and other college kids, where they promptly gave me the name toepicks, because, yes, I was still stuck on figure skates, but I made it work, and rocked the game.  

That same year that friend had an extra ticket to a wild game, it was the stadium series one and we beat our rival by a landslide. I was hooked. 

Fast forward to one of the following summers where I saw hockey skates in my size at a garage sale, I tried them on and immediately bought them for $5 dollars, I could afford to buy the missing laces. 

It was weird at first compared to my figure skating ones but I went out with my family, did a few (hundred) laps, and got the hang of it. 

later last fall and winter I go to play with my cousin, who I’ve informed is my informal “coach”, and I went after work to the rink most days.

I finally mastered my hockey stop, getting my puck of the ice, as well as navigating corners and better puck handling.

Even if you come to be frustrated with a hobby over time, take a different look at it, look past the others who like it that you don’t get along with and see if you can find value in it for yourself, you might find yourself with a new passion.

That is to say I’ll never be pro, or better than my cousin I imagine, but I’ve come to enjoy getting better, playing with family and friends, as well as watching the Wild win. So if you’d like to play a game of pick up hockey or catch a Wild game on the TV sometime, let me know!

#letsplayhockey