Friday, September 7, 2012

Life of a Hockey Player...



September through April. Monday through Friday. School, homework, practice, sleep and repeat. Saturday and Sunday. Sit in a car, or on a plane, for hours.Wake up, eat, warm up, play your butt off and repeat. This is the insane life of a hockey player.

In my opinion ice hockey is one of the most underestimated sports. It takes the endurance of a runner, hand-eye-coordination of a tennis player, strength of a wrestler, mental toughness of a boxer and all while doing all of this we are standing on a 1/8th inch strip of steel.

Not only do we work hard on the ice but we also work hard off the ice. We run like soccer players and life weights like football player. After all of that we gear up and skate for hours. Your legs feel like jello but its all about finding that extra gear inside to keep skating hard.

After practicing until 10 o'clock at night homework time comes next and very little sleep. Friday nights are spent driving or sitting in airports. Games are played all saturday and then its right back at it early sunday morning. I've had a game that ended at 11 pm and we had to play again  the next morning at 7 am but it was all worth is because we went home that weekend league champions! Once all the games are played we hop back into the car, or on airplanes, and finish our homework as we fight to keep our eyes open because we've gave it all we can give during our games.

Even though hockey is extremely challenging its so addictive. Once you gear up and step on the ice for the first time it surely won't be your last time. Hockey players are some of the most passionate athletes you will meet. We will do ANYTHING to get the chance to play the game we love. Even if it means missing Homecoming, parties, and countless days of school. We live for that feeling when you score a goal or when you beat the reining national champions, and also the fact that you get to spend all weekend with your 15 other best friends. Its more than a sport, its a lifestyle.   

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