Personal Narrative: Hockey Is Easy

Around the third grade I remember asking my parents if I could play hockey, one of my friends was and I truly enjoyed the sport. They countered that the sport was very expensive and could be dangerous.

I then got my height and weight measured 6ft 1in 221 lbs, which Is huge for a thirteen year old, but compared to all of the others I was underweight. I then began to wait for the coaches to call us up for warm-ups, my dad came up to me and told me this “ You have been training for this since February, you have put the work in and now you are ready”. As I was waiting I looked around and saw many very athletic looking athletes, many were bragging to each other about how they would definitely make the team. Lots of guys looked bigger, stronger, and faster. I could tell that I was the only one who was still thirteen.

When I was ten, I scored three-hundred and seventy-eight goals in a season. That’s around five goals per game. An Ontario newspaper had nicknamed me “The Great Gretzky,” which ended up staying with me over the years. When I was just fourteen, I moved to Toronto, Canada. My family continued to support me, even though I had to move away from them at such a young and fragile age, all for hockey.

This made me feel very much like an outsider and not worthy of being on the team. Especially when one of them jokingly told me that I shouldn’t be trying out for the team. All of these thoughts made me even more nervous while trying out and I was convinced that it was impossible for me to play on the

Which lasts about an hour and a half long. I have made so many friends from playing hockey. There are multiple girls that are in hockey. Once the coaches pick out the teams all the girls are together more than they are with their own families. Hockey is basically my second family.

The day was June 25th around 8 years ago it was my birth-day. On this day I had a hockey tournament in the middle of the summer. Where you may be thinking how is there a hockey tournament in the midst of summer, count myself included. My father practically had to drag me out of the house as if I was two years of age. When we got to the rink we played or game but nothing really happened.

One game left. The game that determines if you make it to the state tournament or not with 50 seconds left and I have possession of the ball. What do you do in a moment like this? Coaches are yelling in your ear to hurry up because time is running out. Best thought is to dribble up the side line and drive a big ball into the circle and hope that my teammates are there to put the ball in the back of the cage.

It was late after school around 3 o’clock. I just had laid down on my bed. I heard my mom yell for me. I ran downstairs and there was my mom all dressed to go somewhere, I asked her “Where are we going?” she replied “ Remember, you have your first soccer practice.”

If we lost the puck, I would back check as hard as I can. Playing offense, my job isn’t only about scoring goals. I need to put in a team effort in order to be

I was thinking about the game and was staying focused. I could tell that the whole team wanted to win more than anything. Then the game started. It was a very evenly matched battle between the Rochester Grizzlies and Team Comcast. Seconds before the first period ends, we score, making it 1-0.

“You made the team!!”my mom told me with excitement in her voice. By now I’ve been playing lacrosse for over four years. Although this is my first time playing for F.C.A (Florida Christian athletes) and I was kind of nervous. Everyone was assuring me that I would be fine because of all the experiences I have. I have to admit, all of the nice thing that were said did feel a lot better and ready for practice tomorrow.

Growing up in Russia I started playing hockey and I fell in love with that game. After school I would always go out to the frozen pond and play with all my friends. I began to get pretty good at hockey from playing every day, that's when I started thinking I want to go pro in hockey. My uncle, who played professional hockey in Russia, and I would always talk late at night and fantasize about how great it would be if I could join the league when I grew up. I used him as my motivation to practice every day.

My team was looking crushed after letting in 6 goals on only 7 shots and were losing the games. I was really wishing that I could be out there with the boys helping them win. Nick was so upset with himself for having no hockey abilities he just grabbed the ball and threw it down the road where the other team picked it up no problem and started coming towards our net. They did a nice passing play on scored on Nick between the legs. We ended up switching goalies to David after that because we needed to do something to try and win.

I started to practice at my house—it was the only hoop available for me at the time. Everyday, I would go outside and just shoot as many shots as I can so, I could make my form better. A few weeks of practicing, I started to see progress in my form—I made more shots than usual. Since I thought I was getting better, I decided to ask my parents if they could put me in a basketball team. My parents agreed without any hesitation.

For a 6-year-old, the lesson I was taught that day had no impact on me until now at the age of 16. I have never stepped foot on the ice again until one day, I was in the car with my mother running errands in Long Island. While listening to Christmas music, I began to think about Rockefeller Center. The beautiful, small ice skating rink I had always seen in movies and the grand Christmas tree lit up for all to see. I could only admire from afar, but then I thought, “Mom once mentioned how she wanted to roller-skate again.