Out on the Pond

 Simon B

Yesterday I discovered a really nice pond and it was nicely frozen over. You know exactly what that means. I hadn't played hockey since March 11th and it seems like that was 11 years ago. I had been skating a couple times, but the rink rules were apparent, NO HOCKEY. Those are words rarely to be seen together in Canada, but it's 2021 so naturally, they make sense. But on a pond, there are no rink guards, no limits and most importantly, hockey is allowed!

Outdoor Paradise or Indoor Freezer

In most places on earth, the idea of gliding around on the ice with metal blades on your feet in sub-zero temperatures isn't quite the ideal way to spend a winter afternoon. But most Canadians will take that rather than having summer all year long. It may be cold but when you haven't played in almost a year, you don't feel it.

I rarely play outside let alone on an actually frozen pond. Usually, at this time of year, I'm at an indoor rink every time I lace 'em up. Plus, it's to play a game of pickup with friends. Normally, it's for some training or conditioning practice. Which is enjoyable, but not as fun a just noodling around with a puck. Practicing things that will never be of use in a game like seeing how many snowbanks I can get the puck to skip over. 

2 Kinds of Hockey

Hockey is meant to be enjoyed. Whether it's game 7 of the Stanely Cup Finals or a game of pickup on a Tuesday in a backyard rink. But There's obviously a difference. In a real game, you need to be focused on your job, you need to be at the right place at the right time and you need to execute plays almost to perfection. It's a lot of pressure. I enjoy that pressure every once in a while. An adrenaline boost here and there feels great. But when we reach mid-season, it becomes a big grind where every practice seems like 10 hours instead of the usual 2. Drills aren't as fun and after a loss, they feel like chores. But then the playoffs roll around and the energy in the locker room comes back again. 

On the pound, it's entirely different. No coaches telling you where to be and no pressure to have a perfect breakout pass every time. Just hockey, plain and simple. I can do fancy moves and not have to worry about a scolding if I mess it up. No one cares if you make a bad pass or accidentally put it into your own net. No laps of the rink if your shot misses the net. It's real hockey, the one every Canadian has a chance to play no matter if you're going to be drafted into the NHL or if you play once a week with friends.

The Wrap

A bit of a different, more personal post today. I might throw these in once in a while because they're so fun to write. That's the beauty of being your own boss, you decide what you want to work on. I'll continue to post daily about sports news though.

    Thanks for reading! I'd love your comments and questions.

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