A Way of Life...
Sunday, November 27, 2005

Posted by mfhockey18

Wriiten by a GSH Member:

"Dad come on let's get outta here, game starts in forty five minutes. Its gonna be a big one, and just maybe they'll play that music during warm ups again. We gotta get my skates sharpened, tape my stick ya know."

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Just a few years ago I sounded like this, rushing to mite and squirt games. Arriving five minutes until the game starts, fully dressed with the big white skates guards on. Cold mornings, 6 a.m. games, the real deal. Or at least at the time it felt like the real thing. I’m now playing high school hockey, at one of the best catholic schools where I live. Hockey has changed a lot for me since the time I was eight years old. The speed of the game, the hitting and training and preparation that goes into the game these days. Except one thing has always stayed the same, my love and desire for the game of hockey. Saying this anyone who hasn’t felt the emotions of winning division championships, holding that trophy in the air, letting the cold air brush through hair back isn’t the same. Some may laugh and say it's only a game, but to this kid this game has revolved around his life. My family sacrifices a lot for me to play hockey. Not being able to go on summer vacations because I was away at camp, and couldn’t spare to waste any money because of my tuition payment coming up soon. Hockey is an expensive sport, and takes time out of your life.

Hockey has taken a part of my life away. Games taken place on the weekends, means no time to hangout with your buddies on the nights, and all the training that takes up most of my free time. Yet hockey has also given that part of my life taken away back. Playing hockey has allowed me to meet the new lads I hangout with now, watch games with and enjoy the perks of playing hockey with. Is all of this sacrificing actually worth it?

Just the other day I realized something. After all this time, wasting money to buy sticks, skates and other gear, not being able to head out on the weekends to hang all because of that new five hundred dollar pair of skates, was worth every penny and second spent. In twenty years from now, I will have no regrets looking back on my life. Knowing that the only thing I really and truly loved was there for me, and provided me with great memories, great friends, and great times with teammates.