How long have you been playing hockey, and how did you start?
- I started playing hockey in about the second grade in Anchorage, Alaska, and I played through junior high school. Sadly, my parents (me in town) moved to Northern California after that which was not nearly the hotbed of hockey as Alaska. I played some pick up hockey while I was in the Army, then had about a 20-year layoff until I went to Fairbanks to work for a year. There, I got back on skates, but as you can imagine after that long layoff, it would take more than a year to get "Fairbanks Ready" for hockey.
When I started playing hockey, way back when, it was just what kids in Alaska did. However, as I got older, i found an appreciation for the game. I tried to recapture the excitement of hockey through volleyball and other sports. but there isn't a single sport I've played where the game and the camaraderie combine like they do in hockey.
- I started playing hockey in about the second grade in Anchorage, Alaska, and I played through junior high school. Sadly, my parents (me in town) moved to Northern California after that which was not nearly the hotbed of hockey as Alaska. I played some pick up hockey while I was in the Army, then had about a 20-year layoff until I went to Fairbanks to work for a year. There, I got back on skates, but as you can imagine after that long layoff, it would take more than a year to get "Fairbanks Ready" for hockey.
When I started playing hockey, way back when, it was just what kids in Alaska did. However, as I got older, i found an appreciation for the game. I tried to recapture the excitement of hockey through volleyball and other sports. but there isn't a single sport I've played where the game and the camaraderie combine like they do in hockey.
How did you start playing hockey at The Rink Exchange?
- I started playing hockey at The Rink Exchange at the behest of Sean Babb, who plays A-League. I worked with him at the time, and he said that if I could still skate then I could still play. After a couple of very lung-crunching skates - because, let's face it, nothing burns the lungs like hockey after a very long layoff - I got into C-League.
What do you do with your time when you're NOT playing hockey?
- When I'm not playing hockey, I'm usually reading mid-century European history (c'mon ladies that are reading this, you know that rocks), cooking for my children, hanging out with my girlfriend climbing falls, making or jarring jelly, or brewing beer in the garage.
How do you love MOST about playing hockey at The Rink Exchange?
- What I love most about The Rink Exchange are the people. i could spend an entire e-mail listing all of the people I walk into the rink looking forward to seeing, but I'd have to give particular shoutouts to Deron Fort, Greg Kelleher, Jim Poole, and Dave Harney. I was nervous as hell the first game after my layoff, and for a few games after that. Darren and Greg, who were on the C-League team then, both kept telling me to relax, have some fun, and let the game come back to me. Then there was Jim... Always the voice of reason. When I get frustrated that my shot doesn't feel right, he tells me to pass more. When my passing is off, he tells me to keep passing. He's usually right. Finally, Dave Harney -- that guy just flat has my number sometimes, and I appreciate it. Really makes me think about how I'm moving the puck and trying to beat the D. Jake, Patrick, Jason Falls, EVERYONE IN LOCKER ROOM 3 -- I love you guys like brothers!
There it is. Suffice it to say, I love playing hockey at The Rink Exchange are August is too far away. Until the pond freezes again... :-)
P.S. Oh, and one last thing... The boss can't get on me for not shaving when I tell him it's for hockey season.
- I started playing hockey at The Rink Exchange at the behest of Sean Babb, who plays A-League. I worked with him at the time, and he said that if I could still skate then I could still play. After a couple of very lung-crunching skates - because, let's face it, nothing burns the lungs like hockey after a very long layoff - I got into C-League.
What do you do with your time when you're NOT playing hockey?
- When I'm not playing hockey, I'm usually reading mid-century European history (c'mon ladies that are reading this, you know that rocks), cooking for my children, hanging out with my girlfriend climbing falls, making or jarring jelly, or brewing beer in the garage.
How do you love MOST about playing hockey at The Rink Exchange?
- What I love most about The Rink Exchange are the people. i could spend an entire e-mail listing all of the people I walk into the rink looking forward to seeing, but I'd have to give particular shoutouts to Deron Fort, Greg Kelleher, Jim Poole, and Dave Harney. I was nervous as hell the first game after my layoff, and for a few games after that. Darren and Greg, who were on the C-League team then, both kept telling me to relax, have some fun, and let the game come back to me. Then there was Jim... Always the voice of reason. When I get frustrated that my shot doesn't feel right, he tells me to pass more. When my passing is off, he tells me to keep passing. He's usually right. Finally, Dave Harney -- that guy just flat has my number sometimes, and I appreciate it. Really makes me think about how I'm moving the puck and trying to beat the D. Jake, Patrick, Jason Falls, EVERYONE IN LOCKER ROOM 3 -- I love you guys like brothers!
There it is. Suffice it to say, I love playing hockey at The Rink Exchange are August is too far away. Until the pond freezes again... :-)
P.S. Oh, and one last thing... The boss can't get on me for not shaving when I tell him it's for hockey season.
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RHL Hockey
Hockey Academy
Learn to Skate