How long have you been playing hockey?
- I've been playing for twelve years.
How did you get started playing hockey?
- I've ice staked since I was a toddler on double-bladed skates, but hockey wasn't popular in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (where I grew up) when I was a kid - at least, not for girls. Milwaukee was home to an Olympic speedskating training center, so I got the chance to skate on the same ice as Eric Heiden, Bonnie Blair, and Dan Jansen, but I don't remember ever seeing hockey players until just before I moved away.
I got interested in hockey watching the American women beat Canada to take the first gold medal in women's Olympic hockey in 1998. It looked like so much fun and I was impressed by the athleticism of the skaters. Even though there's no checking in women's hockey, it was a much more physical game that you typically see female athletes play.
What first brought you to The Rink Exchange?
- I really missed skating after I moved to Eugene, and I was looking for something to do in the winter to stay active. I was curious about hockey, but I was a little intimidated about getting started, especially since I'd never played team sports before. Then, I saw a story in the paper about the adult hockey league at the rink, and one of the skaters who was interviewed commented on how much fun the game was and how friendly the teams were to new skaters, even those who were just learning to skate. He said that he was not a great skater, but that he had become something of a commodity in the league because he'd learned to skate backwards. "Well," I thought, "I can skate backwards!" Shortly thereafter, I signed up for the Learn to Play Class at the rink. I was immediately hooked. I signed up for my first season of league, and I've played almost every season since!
- I've been playing for twelve years.
How did you get started playing hockey?
- I've ice staked since I was a toddler on double-bladed skates, but hockey wasn't popular in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (where I grew up) when I was a kid - at least, not for girls. Milwaukee was home to an Olympic speedskating training center, so I got the chance to skate on the same ice as Eric Heiden, Bonnie Blair, and Dan Jansen, but I don't remember ever seeing hockey players until just before I moved away.
I got interested in hockey watching the American women beat Canada to take the first gold medal in women's Olympic hockey in 1998. It looked like so much fun and I was impressed by the athleticism of the skaters. Even though there's no checking in women's hockey, it was a much more physical game that you typically see female athletes play.
What first brought you to The Rink Exchange?
- I really missed skating after I moved to Eugene, and I was looking for something to do in the winter to stay active. I was curious about hockey, but I was a little intimidated about getting started, especially since I'd never played team sports before. Then, I saw a story in the paper about the adult hockey league at the rink, and one of the skaters who was interviewed commented on how much fun the game was and how friendly the teams were to new skaters, even those who were just learning to skate. He said that he was not a great skater, but that he had become something of a commodity in the league because he'd learned to skate backwards. "Well," I thought, "I can skate backwards!" Shortly thereafter, I signed up for the Learn to Play Class at the rink. I was immediately hooked. I signed up for my first season of league, and I've played almost every season since!
The Spring RHL Season proved to be a memorable one for Julie (back row, second from right). Not only did she lead her team, Snuggie Puckers, to a C-League Championship, but she also crossed something off of her bucket list - driving the zamboni at The Rink Exchange.
What do you do with your time when you're NOT playing hockey?
- I'm an instructor at LCC (Lane Community College); I work with students who are entering college and need to brush up on basic math skills. When I'm not working or skating, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Jen (also a hockey player), our son, and our two dogs. I love to be outdoors, whether it's working in my yard or hiking, camping, biking, or just about anything involving snow - Nordic and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, etc.
What do you do enjoy MOST about playing hockey at The Rink Exchange?
- My favorite thing about The Rink Exchange is that when you play hockey, you really do become part of the hockey family. It's a diverse family, too - you meet people of all ages, from all over the world, from different backgrounds and professions. I've made some dear, life-long friends playing hockey. Although teams vary from season to season and some teams "click" better than others, I always look forward to spending part of my week with my hockey friends. I love what The Rink Exchange is doing to keep the rink buzzing and fostering this sense of community. When I walk into the rink and see little kids running around with hockey sticks and tennis balls, adult players joking and talking while they wait for their game time, friends and family filling the stands to cheer on their loved ones... It just feels like home. I can't imagine Eugene without The Rink Exchange.
- I'm an instructor at LCC (Lane Community College); I work with students who are entering college and need to brush up on basic math skills. When I'm not working or skating, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Jen (also a hockey player), our son, and our two dogs. I love to be outdoors, whether it's working in my yard or hiking, camping, biking, or just about anything involving snow - Nordic and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, etc.
What do you do enjoy MOST about playing hockey at The Rink Exchange?
- My favorite thing about The Rink Exchange is that when you play hockey, you really do become part of the hockey family. It's a diverse family, too - you meet people of all ages, from all over the world, from different backgrounds and professions. I've made some dear, life-long friends playing hockey. Although teams vary from season to season and some teams "click" better than others, I always look forward to spending part of my week with my hockey friends. I love what The Rink Exchange is doing to keep the rink buzzing and fostering this sense of community. When I walk into the rink and see little kids running around with hockey sticks and tennis balls, adult players joking and talking while they wait for their game time, friends and family filling the stands to cheer on their loved ones... It just feels like home. I can't imagine Eugene without The Rink Exchange.
Everyone has a unique story that's led them to the ice - have you discovered yours yet? Sign up and find your story today!
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