Personal Narrative On Hockey

From the age of three, my life was nothing but Hockey. With a father who was a hockey player and a brother 3 years older already playing hockey, it was clear which sport I was going to get into. Once I started walking, my parents put me on the ice to learn the game of hockey. I instantly fell in love and I have continued playing to this day. Once it came time to play high school hockey, it all got serious. I was a freshman on the varsity team with my brother, who was a senior at the time. This was nothing but an emotional year for me, it was my first year in high school and my last year to play on a team with my brother. Once my brother graduated, he decided to go onto Juniors hockey, which is what I would do once I graduated. By the time I graduated high school, my brother would exceed the age limit for juniors hockey, so

Second year as an Under-10 Squirt level hockey player for the New Jersey Colonials ice hockey team proved to be a challenging and harrowing experience that shaped the course of my future hockey career. I was a determined, naïve child with fantasies of playing in the NHL when I grew older. The source of my troubles began with Coach Ruben, a relentless, unforgiving hockey coach. Coach Ruben was in charge of determining the AAA hockey team that I desperately wanted to make. Unfortunately, I would not have that opportunity. My mom, compassionate and sympathetic, guided me through the confusing maze of anger and depression. My dad, a coach and former hockey player, gave me valuable, supportive advice that would change my hockey expectations and

I step up to the plate. The hot lights of the Mets stadium hit my face. Clayton Kershaw was pitching. He is the best pitcher in the MLB. The pitch comes. It was a slow hanging curveball right over the middle. I swing will all my might. I hear the crack of the bat and I see the ball fly over the fence. I trot around the bases and I am approaching home plate. I step on home then I wake up.

My heart was pounding like an elephant walking as I waited in line, although I wasn’t even really that nervous. In my head I knew it was going to be hard to make the team as a 6th grader I think that’s why I didn't get myself all worked up about it and nervous because there was a 50% chance of me making the team. In my head, I said to myself that I would love to make the team.

Playing hockey is a huge part of what defines me as a person. If I learned anything about growing up in Philladelphia, it would definitely be that you do not trash the hometown sports teams. In my house my dad lives and breathes Philly sports so naturally so do I. However, just watching sports was not enough for me, I had to play them too. So I tried to play soccer, baseball and run track. It was atrocious. I couldn't hit a baseball to save my life, and I wasn't fast so track and soccer didn't go well either. I was about to give up on my athletic career when the Philladelphia Flyers made the playoffs in 2010.

There are a lot of reasons 2017 will be great. I get to play hockey, have great friends I can trust, and have time for everything else! There are honestly too many reasons for just one essay, so there will only be a few.

In the words of Ralph Strangis, (Former Play-by-Play commentator for the Dallas Stars) “Every season, for every team the goal is to be better. To take what has already been laid in place and to build around that foundation and to take the next step however you define it. Longterm success never comes quickly and the road to get there is uneven and unpredictable“

The boys walk onto the field like a group of soldiers. The dark rubbery turf causes the Irondale Boys lacrosse team to stand out in their satin maroon and gold jerseys. Nothing could break their concentration. Their brows furrowed with anticipation for what awaits them. Within minutes the boys will be battling the other team to take home the bragging rights that go with winning. Although lacrosse does not rank highly in popularity, it is one of the greatest sports. The lacrosse boys confirmed that watching the game does not compare to the thrill of actually partaking in a game. Lacrosse is one of the more underrated sports, but it should not be.

I do not get surprised easily, but when I scored my first lacrosse goal, I was pretty shocked. I have considered myself as a decent lacrosse player; however, I did not score a single goal in my first season. Similar to my first season, my second season started out with me struggling get open and score goals. Fortunately, as the season progressed, I started to learn how to get open and get pass my defender. All of this came to fruition when I scored my first goal. It was the first quarter and our opponent had just turned the ball over. Our team was able to clear the ball past the midfield line, so I dropped into my designated position around ten feet away from the goal. Strikingly, the midfielder with the ball saw me open and passed it to me.

In my four years of playing hockey for Bishop Dwenger we had never lost as many games as last year. Being a junior came with responsibilities; I was an upperclassman and I had to prove that I could turn all of my hard work into a successful season for my team. After losing so many games, I began to feel like a failure to my team. Not only this, but I was also the captain. This meant that I had even more responsibilities.

It's late afternoon, on a misty spring day in Nipawin. Four o’clock on the dot as the SJHL hockey team; Humboldt Broncos, are getting ready for the provinces biggest game of the year. Game five of the semi-finals, for Nipawin Hawks and Humboldt Broncos, scheduled to play at seven. As the Humboldt Broncos are packing up their stuff to load onto the bus, the assistant captain; Kaleb Dahlgren, was chanting the team name to get everyone pumped for game five.

I have been playing ice hockey since I was seven years old. By the age of ten, I was committed to the sport, I was willing to do anything to make it to the top. Back when I was eight years old, I suffered a severe concussion and thought I was going to be out of hockey for at least a year. As a way of getting back on the ice quicker, I changed positions and became a goalie. My nine year old season was my first time to experience being a goaltender. I took to the position very well and really enjoyed my new role. The next season, I was good enough to be offered a position as the goalie for a local travel team. I immediately loved the intensity of the higher level competition and traveling to tournaments. I was hooked and could not get enough. As my friends were playing lots of sports, trying to figure out what they were good at, there was no hesitation in me; I was an ice hockey goaltender.

Ever sense I was a young girl I’ve been really into physical activities. At the age of five I started skating and instantly fell in-love. At the age of six my dad enrolled me into hockey, and from that point on my life has never been the same. I’ve had numerous opportunities in sports such as: winning gold and silver for U18 Team Canada hockey, and getting a scholarship to Wisconsin University to play on the women’s hockey team. Although these moments are surreal, it is not only the moments that I remember but the mentors and teachers that I have been fortunate to meet along the way. These coaches have not only taught me the game but have also taught me life values such as: teamwork, leadership, discipline, time management and much more. Without hockey, and sports in general I don’t know where I would be today, but I do know one thing and that is without sports I wouldn’t have met all the amazing people that helped guided me towards wanting to become a physical education teacher. Sports have always been a huge part of my life, and I am blessed to have sports guide me through life. Thus, I want to become a teacher to help kids have the same opportunities that I had growing up.

Friday night rolled around, it was the game we had all been working so hard for. Knowing we were seniors, we knew it would be the end of the journey.

Today, I’m not going to miss the game. I instinctively ran through the hallways as I 've done throughout every Friday. My hockey game is always on Friday we have a match against another AA team, sometimes we lose and sometimes we win but today’s the big game, I can’t be late. While running I took two immense steps one at a time down and out the stairwell. “ Not going to be late, Not going to be late.” I just repeated this phrase in my head over and over again as I dashed out the main entrance, nudged someone and squeezed my way through the automatic door.