Nothing can stop a Hockey Player (story of alan armour)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Posted by jtits23

My Comeback Story
Current mood: Inspired
Category: Inspired Sports


It's almost done. I got a phone call today from the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, which is a Tier 1(best) Jr. A league, saying that they were extremely impressed with my level of play at the Chicago Showcase. They gave me the oppurtunity to play in their Invite Only tryout camp, from which their 2007-2008 team is picked from. If I make this team, it will be one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. One of the biggest battles, comebacks, internal war, whatever you want to call it, that I've ever, let alone many MANY young hockey players, had to overcome.

Back in 2004, I was playing for a team in Tennessee named the Southern Ice Lightning. I was having the GREATEST season of my life. I was ranked 3rd nationally for my age group, on the NHL's central scouting service list of best goalies in North America as #6. I was on top of the world. We had a game against the Columbus Jr. Blue Jackets at home, and it was the end of the first period. Two minutes before that buzzer to sound the end of the period, I had come up with a unbelievable 3 on 1 save. The only problem was that I couldn't get up. No matter what I had inside myself, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get up. I finally pulled myself up, finished the period, with the score as 1-0 in our favor. The coach asked me if I was O.K. to go, and I will NEVER admit pain to a coach. I'll never show any weakness when I'm on the ice. So of course, I said "Yeah coach, I'm fine. Just thought the guys needed a breather." Well my whole leg had twisted around, and trying not to blow my knee, I ended up tearing my groin. I'll never know whether it was the pain I felt or the fear that I might not play for a while that made me push to finish that game. We won 3-2, and I couldn't put any pressure on my right leg, so I knew something was wrong. I held onto my pipe for the rest of the game, but made it look like I was just resting so my coach didn't pull me. I was totally off my angle to the blocker side so the shooters would HAVE to shoot glove side. I told my coach I think I should see the trainer after the game, he looked me over, and sent me to the hospital for an MRI. I'll always remember that day, for it was the start of a complete collapse for me. I was told I'd be off the ice for at least 2 years, and that included rehabilitation.

Coach Turcotte came to my billet house the next day and asked me how I was doing, but I guess he already knew. After 15 minutes of talking, and 5 minutes of me crying because I knew what was coming, he told me he was sending me home. He released me. I came home, had reconstructive surgery on both groins, since I guess both were pretty bad, and immediately started to unravel.

I started on down a road I wish I never traveled down. After 3 months of being in a wheel chair, I started smoking my Mom's cigarettes. I made friends that could get alcohol, and started drinking every night. Through that, I met people who were fond of weed. I started smoking that every day, all day. I ended up being home-schooled, since I couldn't stand to go to school. As my Dad said, "I was a total fuck up." That hurt me in a way, the kind of way that parents can say things that get to you, but I didn't care, because I wasn't going to be truly happy until I got on the ice again.

I continued this lifestyle for that year and a half, since I healed "quicker than expected." So my Dad started talking to me about hockey again. Let me tell you what hockey is like for me, so you understand a little better. Since I was born, my father tried to push me into the sports he played, basketball and baseball. I hated those. I couldn't stand the whole, "everybody gets a fair chance" aspect. I kept looking for a sport, and if you knew my dad, he wouldn't let me do nothing athletically. He was watching the stanley cup playoffs of 1998, and I remember he was watching the Red Wings game. I was entranced by it. He saw this, and got me into a youth program. Ever since then, the times I was happiest was when I put my skate blade to the ice. No matter what was going on in my life, no matter how bad things had gotten, no matter how terrible things got during the day, that clean surface of ice was my sanctuary. It was a place for me to get all my emotion out. If I had anywhere I could be in the world, it would be on the ice. I could step in the rink, feel that cold burst of air in my lungs, and know, that coming up, would be a great and totally happy time. Now going back to when my dad was talking to me about hockey, he brought up the fact that all the teams in the area, and all the teams at the level of play I was used to playing at, were already picked (it was December, teams are done choosing players around September). So I would have to wait a whole year until I would be able to play again, but something came up before then.

My father and mother are divorced. Yeah it was rough, but everything that happens in life happens for a reason. For instance my Dad finally saying,"Your mother is driving me out of my mind, I have to find another place to live. You're welcome to stay with me, but if you do decide to do that, you might want to look into the hockey situation there." So, I thought about it for a week, since I didn't even think I would be able to step on the ice ever again, and came to the decision that this isn't the way I should be living my life. I need to be on the ice, it's my destiny to be out there. So I thought of places that my father would like to spend the rest of his life, granted it's far enough away from my mother. Then the next chapter comes in.

I thought of all the places in the world that I could possibly imagine. The place I kept thinking about was a place we used to vacation as a family, the only vacation we only took, and a vacation my dad used to take twice a year for 30 years. Hayward, Wisconsin. So, believe it or not, I got on Myspace to look for people to add in that area. The first person I added was Steph O'Mara. She started me in the direction of Hayward, and is still the most amazing person I've met here to date. Then, I added Lory Schneider who goes to Hayward High School. So I got to talking to her, and she gave me the Head hockey coach's phone number. The call I made to him, has been the biggest phone call I have ever made in my life.

He answered the phone and he was on the way home from a 3-0 win against Spooner. I was a little nervous to say the least. So many things were rushing through my mind. He would decide my future. He told me something that I'll never forget. After I asked if I could skate with his team, and I reitterated the fact that I just wanted to be back on the ice, he told me, "Well sure, you can skate, and after 15 school days you can play in games." My mouth dropped. I was speechless. My heart almost literally jumped out of my chest. I was going to be able to play in games again. I was going to be back on the ice.

My dad and I made a visit up there before, came back home, and 2 days later we moved up there with only a SUVful of our things, no house to live at, and not that much money. We found a fully furnished house for rent on California Ave, for 500 dollars a month. We took it. I went to school the next day, since I had to get started so I could play in games. The welcome I received was incredible. I thank everyone here with all of my heart for making me feel like I have always been here. You are all truly great people.

I hadn't been in an ice rink in a year and a half now, since I couldn't stand to see my old friends play. It almost brought me to tears everytime I felt that cold rink air. But as I stepped into the Hayward Sports Center for the first time, I felt a renewed hope start to grow inside me, and being a pretty cold rink, that air was the best air I've ever took a breath of in my life. I still remember the first practice back, and how I warmed up by Coach Novak shooting on me, as some of the guys watched. All I wanted to do was become part of the team, to impress them, and hopefully give them a sense of comfortability with me being around them.

I started all 3 games to finish that season, and started a rivalry with Eau Claire Memorial as many of you may know. Like I always do, I left it all on the ice against them in my first game back in a year and a half. We lost 5-4 in overtime, after they scored with 12 seconds to go to tie it up. I had 68 shots. One of those things I'll always remember eh? The next year started, and my dad told me that this was a huge year for me. This was the year I would come out of hiding, the year I would resurface, the year that I wouldn't be counted as one of the "Top 88 Busts". I was #1 on that list. I was named captain at the end of the year banquet, and that showed me that I had gained respect in some ways. Anyways, I had a good year, the team had a great year. Even though I was an asshole on the ice, and a prick, I only wanted the best for the team. I wanted to win every game. I think when I got mad, was because I regarded you guys so highly. I don't know. I'm weird, I'm a goalie. My dad kept telling me not to get my hopes up about end of the year recognition. For the first time in my life, he told me that he didn't think I could pull off an First Team All-State selection. So I didn't get my hopes up, I mean he brought up good points. He said that I have only been playing for one full year. The other guys have been playing for 4. It was highly unlikely that a "recruit" from Chicago would get it. Well, I got it. Soon after, I made the Team Wisconsin Red Team, which was the best team they would be sending to the Chicago Showcase. Getting closer to the comeback. Getting closer to my dream of playing at the highest level.

This brings me to the Chicago Showcase. I played alright in the first 2 games, losing to Minnesota, beating New Jersey in a crucial game that would decide if we went to the playoffs or not. But my coach had me lined up for the championship, against whoever it may be. So I had to sit out the first playoff game, and Nick played a great game. Well, in the second period I had my mask up on the bench taking stats. My D-man came to dump it in the zone, and well, it hit me right above my left eye. It looked fine for that night, but the next morning I could barely see out of it. Of course, you probably know what I told the coach when he asked me if I was O.K. to go. "Yes, I can see fine coach." So gametime came rolling up. The time to put all the bumps, bruises, cuts (all 3 of which I had above or on my eye) to the side. It was the National High School Championship game against Pittsburgh. I stood on my head the first period. I let in 3 power-play goals against me in the 2nd, and I had little chance on any of them. Ask Podgey. Anyways, it was tied up, 4-4 coming to the end of the third. I had around 50 shots. Well, with 10 seconds left, we gave the puck directly to their Captain. It was almost like a fantasy, a visualization, what you dream about. Ten seconds left in the game, their captain has the puck on a breakaway in front of coaches, scouts, fans, family. He came in, shot it upper left, glove save. Huge eruption from the crowd. Huge eruption from my team. Huge eruption from me. I don't think I took a breath the whole time. I played great in the overtime, stopping 15 more shots throughout the 2 we played. But there was a USHL game that needed to go on the ice, so we decided to go to a shootout. Well 18 shooters for each side, and 4 goals later, we lost. I thought I did all I could, which added to my frustration. I'll never forget those lads though. They gave it their all and as a team, I feel we are the best group of High Schoolers in the nation.

This brings me back to the present day, comeback just one try-out away. I would have been playing in the USHL, maybe even farther, if I had never have made that 3 on 1 save against the Columbus Jr. Blue Jackets in Tennessee. I have been given a golden oppurtunity, built by desire, determination, and by never giving up. I guess I wrote this as inspiration to all who are going through a tough time right now. Who think there is no hope for them. Who think that they won't amount to anything. Who think their dreams are too far to reach. Your dreams are NEVER too far for you to reach. Never, EVER give up on something you want. You have to want it passionately, you have to have the heart, you have to dedicate yourself to doing it. Something I always kept in the back of my mind, throughout this whole time in my life, is the following...

Nothing in this world worth having......comes easy

Again, I'd like to thank everyone who has gotten me this far. The people who have stood by me, who have shown confidence in me, who have loved me, and all my friends who have my back through thick and thin. From the bottom of my heart, Thank You.

Your Goalie #33,

Alan Armour