We all love the hockey culture, and hear the stories that we can relate to. From early morning practices, to late nights spent on the rink or in a driveway. Working on the game winning shot or the perfect pass that leads to a goal.
I myself can remember carrying shovels, along with our sticks, and skates to clean what we called the Mog of snow. Just enough to play a “game”, whether there were 4 or 10 of us. We lost countless pucks in the cattails and snow because we had no boards to keep them in.
We hear similar stories from famous NHL players, but are those stories becoming a thing of the past? We love the hockey culture, and without a doubt it comes from the hearty and tough nature of our predecessors. The friendly but tough Canadian roots, but are we drifting away from that?
These days, the fights seem to take place in board rooms or back rooms of associations and clubs over the color of the team’s helmet or design of jersey, who is getting more playing time than whom, than they do in the corners or along the boards. We celebrate the victories and commiserate the losses, and what we can learn from them and how we can grow from them, far less than we worry about “fairness” and whose feelings might get hurt. It seems to me that all these things take away from the very things that make this sport great.
Tradition, honor, skill and hard work. Maybe we need to stop talking about who needs more, and who deserves this or that and just play the game to the best of our abilities and have fun doing it, so the culture we love doesn’t fade away.
It doesn’t matter if it is a beer league, junior hockey, the NHL or a small town association trying to promote and grow the game. I understand that there is a business side that needs to be managed, but can we leave the politics out of it? Look at the big picture, not only what YOU gain from it. There are generations following us. Do you think Disney for the Mighty Ducks made up the idea of players wrapping catalogs around their legs as shin guards? If you do, you are wrong. That came from kids that just wanted to play the game, regardless of what they had to wear to make it possible. I can’t imagine hearing NHL players talking about the Winter Classic, saying “this will be a new thing for me, I have never skated outside in the elements”. Go to outdoor rinks, work hard, have integrity, and passion. Teach and stay true to the roots, this isn’t a fashion show or a sport for prima donnas. This is hockey.
I am a former player that had to quit, due to an injury unrelated to hockey. I have coached for 6 years at different levels, largely developmental levels. I am the voice of the Aberdeen Wings of the North American Hockey League/Junior A. I am a true road warrior, traveling with the team to different barns all around the upper Midwest. When I am able, I watch my son play for the Aberdeen Cougars – Squirts level- a team that I also help coach. My hockey loving wife, sends me videos of his games when I am on the road with the Wings. I have announced/written for and about dirt track/stock car races and horse races as well. Passionate about the sport of hockey and the lifestyle as a whole.