Growing up in northern New York, I fell in love with hockey at the young age of seven. It's hard not to fall in love with the roar of the crowd, the cold wind against my face, the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I skate down the ice. My father and both my brothers played the sport and, once I did, I knew exactly why they loved it so much. Nothing can compare to trudging through the snow in ten-degree weather with your bag full of equipment and the anticipation of getting on the ice at nine in the morning on a Sunday. The memories of getting ready with teammates and the overwhelming sense of pride that I felt coursing through my body when I would score on a breakaway is something that has never faded away.
Every year, when October and November come around, I can't help but look back on the game that most of my life was centered upon. I started playing hockey at the age of seven, but I was in the ice rink long before then. I remember traveling all over the east coast to watch my brothers play and many childhood memories were made in St. Lawrence watching the men's hockey team win at Appleton. I remember when I was little and I would sit on the bleachers in my figure skates because I just wanted to make friends from the bleachers rather than from skating.
Some people grew up looking forward to Friday night lights on the football field. In my town, you grew up looking forward to putting on layers of clothes on a Friday night and standing in a literal ice cold drink in support of the local high school team.
When most people think of winter, they think of snow and Christmas, but the first thing I think of is hockey. Hockey is the reason why winter has always been my favorite season. I've always preferred sitting in an ICE cold rink watching hockey than sitting in a heated gym watching basketball. I'd take the rink over the court any day.
People always say the memory of your first love never truly fades away. Well, hockey was my first love. For me, and many others, it will be something that sticks with us forever. Ever since the day I first put on my skates and equipment, hockey has had my heart along with the hearts of countless others. I would never have thought that I could love and learn from a game as much as I did this one. I would not be the same person without hockey in my life and, for that, I am forever thankful.
