From Denmark to Holland to Singapore, there is only one place in the world where I can let fresh, crisp air fill my nostrils, and feel the frost gently bite at my cheeks on a searing hot summer day: The Ice Hockey Rink. This is the place of complete serenity and where I am free to be whom ever I want. The rink is the place that has molded me into the person I am today, with coaches cutting and polishing at my every flaw, opposing players constantly testing the durability and strength of my new skills, and my teammates helping to ease the pain along the road. The frozen arenas with vast, thick concrete walls, worn-out black rubber tiles and creaky wooden stairs are where I spent every icy cold morning and most of my lazy afternoons. With the familiar sound of chatter in the locker rooms, the soothing humming of hockey bags being swept across the floor, the sharp melody of the coaches’ whistles dancing around the arena, and the distinct, pungent smell of hockey gear and sweaty bodies, there is no place I would rather call home. …show more content…
It has given me character and blessed me with the ability to embrace challenges without quivering in their presence. When I inform people that I play on an all-boys ice hockey team they usually giggle, then slowly start to question me. Who can blame them? I do not look like a typical hockey player. I like to say that I am 5’3”, but in reality I only stand 5’2”, with long blonde hair, a high-pitched voice, and a small build. Although I may not look very big, knowing that I have the capability of playing on a hockey team with boys easily twice my size definitely makes me feel
As stated in my thesis statement, the sport of hockey has been forced to compete with the growing mass popularity with other sports such as basketball and football. There once was a point in time where hockey had just as much popularity as those sports but because people are finding more interest in those sports, the National Hockey League found itself in a “drought” of unimportance with other sports. With not televising the sport as “commonly” as other sports.
there in the first place. Hockey may be a fast paced, high adrenaline sport (you see more
Ice hockey, a sport that has been in existence for over two hundred years, has become a fan favorite across the globe. From Canada to Sweden, you will be able to find some of the best ice hockey players in the world; both male and female. This pastime has instilled a unique tradition throughout the years of its practice by a combination of both physical skill and mental strength. Although it did not provide aid to globalization, it has created a worldwide culture that many people are proud to be a part of. Since its inception until now, there has been a great deal of gender stereotyping concerning the sport. Regardless, ice hockey will continue to be a lucrative market, as well as a cherished hobby for many years to come.
In a presentation by Alex Hagan, the details of the principals of the NHL’s mission statement are outlined. They include: providing an international environment to NHL ice hockey for its teams and players to regularly compete at the highest level, delivering long term financial benefits to participants and shareholders which contributes to the growth and success of NHL ice hockey, creating additional value in terms of sport, finance and
There are no shootouts in the playoffs. Instead the play a five on five twenty minute period. The first goal wins. If the game is tied after the first overtime it continues to a second overtime. It will keep continuing until a goal is scored.
In 1994, the Canadian Federal government compromised and voted to make hockey Canada’s National Winter Sport and lacrosse Canada’s National Summer Sport. Which Sport should be named Canada’s true national sport? Hockey is in the blood of all Canadians. Millions can vividly remember the first time they put on a pair of skates and stepped onto the ice. Providing nation-wide entertainment, Canadians are overcome by emotional realization that “Canada is hockey.”- Mike Weir. Generations of Canadians were brought up listening to Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday evening on the radio. It is more than just a sport in Canada, it defines the culture. Look no further than the five-dollar bill. One will observe a group of children playing a game of hockey on a frozen pond. The sport is part of Canada’s national identity.
Canadian hockey is an important component to Canadian identity and way of life and if hockey had a less prominent place in Canadian society, this would change Canadians in many ways. Hockey impacts Canadians at all levels including youth hockey, minor hockey and professional hockey in the NHL. As hockey is one of Canada’s national sports, it demonstrates how valued the sport is in Canada. Hockey to Canadians is not just a sport, but is also a means of community and unity. It is also one of the most widespread sports across Canada and influences Canadians directly through individual or family participation or indirectly by cheering for local or professional NHL teams or by watching Olympic hockey.
We began the customary after game handshake, with the goalie at the front, and coaches bringing up the rear. As we worked our way down the line, the other team’s eyes widened when they realized I had been a girl. I walked off the field to meet up with my family, who informed me I had an exceptional performance. My mom, who always tracked my progress, said I had saved sixty four percent of the shots they had took. I was extremely proud of myself,not only for the way I had played, but because I was able to show people that despite my gender, I am just as good of a goalie as any boy.
Every person has something inside them that defines them as an individual. This uniqueness can take many forms and could be visible to the outside world or quietly hidden, deep inside. Passion for something specific is often the guiding factor in developing one’s uniqueness and often in ways that were not foreseen. My love of ice hockey has changed my life in ways that I could not have imagined and has shaped my personal growth. My ability to stop a hockey puck defined me; or so I thought!
Youth Hockey Growth in the United States is the main focus of this research. The sport of hockey has been around for nearly 200 years. The game was produced from a form of stick and ball games started by immigrants. These immigrants were British soldiers who brought their type of hockey to Canada. Paintings from the 1830’s depict the sport of ice-hockey taking off in Canada.(Garth, Vaughan) As the sport grew so did the age groups in which it was played. Many sports start their growth from the elders down to the youth. The same can be said for ice-hockey. Many gentlemen started to play the sport as a way to pass the time. This is when the children began to take a liking to the sport. Fathers began to teach their children the fundamentals and from there, the rest is history.
Coffey, Wayne R. The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. New York: Crown, 2005. Print.
William Faulkner brings all aspects of the game to life by going beyond the game itself, and immersing the readers into the intricate details that are often overlooked by most spectators. While spectators and televised sports commentators focus on the literal game itself, the points and teams, Faulkner describes the “kaleidoscopic whirl” of motion, the grace of the players and the designs they carve into the ice. He goes beyond the typical description of skates and hockey sticks, depicting them as “knife blades of skates” and “deft sticks which could break bones.” Faulkner, through this fluid and detail oriented writing, portrays the game of hockey in a way most people fail to see.
Hockey. A sport I have always loved ever since I was a kid. It was when my dad had taken me to an open ice skate when my hockey life began. I had my first pair of skates as a present when I was four years old. I never really knew of the sport at the time, but now I was able to expirence it. No one was present on the ice as I entered the rink. The cold of the ice ran down my back as I took my first steps on. The cold didn’t stop me though. As I stepped upon the ice, I had a feeling of relief. Hockey is what let me go fast. Always have I been the fastest kid in my class and hockey let me expand on what I loved to do. One stride at a time I went, until I was able to glide upon the ice. My blades of my skates sunk into the ice like a lion tearing at its prey. As the frost beat against my face, I soon realized that I was able to skate. Even though it was all fuzzy in my memory, I remember feeling all types of joy rush all throughout my body. It was the first sign of potential in hockey. It was a first omen.
As I entered the building which housed the rink, the warm, nostalgic scent of popcorn hit that part of my brain where dusty, cobwebbed memories live, memories of my own adolescence. I made my way past a group of exuberant teenagers at the snack bar until I reached the skating rink. Skinny, hard benches, made for small butts, lined one wall. I took a seat and scanned the rink. My eyes paused to read a sign; white, block letters on a black background warned, "Skate at Your Own Risk."
Participating in a team sport can increase one’s self esteem. By being part of a team, you will give and receive praise. Receiving recognition from a team mate or a coach will boost your self esteem because you have been acknowledged for your efforts. As you are praised for your efforts, you will become more confident, thus improving your self esteem. Often times, the bond formed between team mates on the field translates into a friendship off the field. As team mates come to depend on each other and know that they are depended on, their level of commitment or responsibility to the game and skills needed for the game increases.