Just like riding a bike…
Posted on 26. Oct, 2009 by Corey in All.
When participating in an activity that you haven’t done in years, the old saying goes “it is like riding a bike.” I have always heard that and understood it to mean that you really never forget what you have learned no matter how long it has been since you last used it. That saying could not have been truer for me this past weekend.
For the first time in 12 years, I took my ice hockey equipment out of its bag and put it on. No, I was not preparing my Halloween costume, but was invited to sub for a coed team of adults. As I prepared to leave my house for the ice rink, I realized that I had not worn this equipment since losing in the state tournament my senior year at Sycamore High School.
As I walked in Sports Plus ice rink, I got an eerie feeling, and quickly remembered my days of playing organized hockey, which felt like ages ago. I can still close my eyes and see fellow blog reader Mike K. skate circles around everyone scoring goals like it was his job. Well, Mike was the best player on our team, so I guess it kind of was his job.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous to step back onto the ice in full gear. As I recall, I have been to a public ice skating session two or three times in the last 12 years, but never onto a hockey rink. The team I was playing with had been together for six games already this season, and bunch played together the last few years. The league is competitive, and the skill level was not to difficult to adjust to, something I was worried about. There was no contact allowed, and as I mentioned, the league was coed. There are a few females that played on my team, including the goal keeper.
The games consisted of three 20 minute periods of running clock. There was only about a two minute warm-up, so I had to remember how to play quickly. The team captain started me at right wing, and things came back to me as the puck was dropped. Only having nine on our team that night, I got plenty of ice time. We ended up losing 5-2, but I had a great time. The captain asked me back the following night for another game, so I guess my playing was acceptable.
I felt things went much better the second night, but we again lost 6-4. I had a goal and two assists that night and felt much more comfortable out on the ice. I have to get use to not being able to check in this league, and learn how to play the puck more instead of playing the man since contact is not allowed.
All the members of the team were very nice and welcoming to me. I was joining the team late as a sub, and they helped me fit right in. The team is named the Chiefs, and has the same jersey’s and color scheme as the Chiefs from the movie Slap Shot, the hockey comedy from several years back.
It is funny how in my years dealing with sports, it seems that when players come back to play the game after using up eligibility, they seem so much better. When I was at the University of Cincinnati, we would have players that had already graduated suit up and go through a basketball practice with the team to help them out. The players seemed so much better than when they were there playing on the team. Names like Terrance Davis, Alex Meacham, Tarrice Gibson, and Eugene Land come to mind. Decent players when they were at UC playing, but looked outstanding when they returned to help out. This is kind of how l felt, returning to the ice 12 years later. I know I am in better shape, and maybe understand the game a bit better after stepping away from it, but things just seemed to come easier out there.
My two co-workers with the Dragons, Murph and Brian B. are probably reading this and dying to come get a good laugh at watching me play. Hey guys, you better watch out, I might be joining your level of ice hockey soon enough!!! This is just like riding a bike…
Glad to hear you are back at it
Usually over t-day we rent ice and go out there(kriston boys, parents and spouses), but this year I won’t be home…next year, you interested in getting on the ice with us again? Itd be like sycamore old time hockey only with chicks, lol
Please keep posting hockey updates, I’d love to hear about your foray into ice again
Wow…A chance to get back on the ice with the Kriston family…Scary thought but would be an honor…
Can’t believe how sore I was after the first two games…Hopefully I will get to play this weekend…