<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="485" alt="" src="https://i0.wp.com/theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/Image/MW-spring-hockey-camp-09-101.jpg?resize=500%2C485&#038;ssl=1" />&nbsp;
This small child is a better hockey player than me
A few weeks ago I played a game of pick-up hockey in full equipment for the first time in my life. I had never been a strong skater growing up, so it has been a bit of a challenge but entirely worth it. I&rsquo;m hooked. Playing three hour long pick-up games has given me some new insights into the game I already loved.
I am hardly adopting the stance that &ldquo;if you never played the game&rdquo; you are unqualified to speak about it and your opinions and insights invalid. Simply that you gain a more nuanced and deeper understanding as a result of seeing the game from the players&rsquo; perspective, irrespective of the level you play at.
Here are the things that stand out the most to me after only three games.

&nbsp;
<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>
<h3>Holy hell does the game move fast:</h3>
I always knew that hockey was &ldquo;the fastest game on ice&rdquo; but you really cannot appreciate how fast until you try to keep up with the pace while lacking the most basic of skills. And this is Sunday morning pick-up against guys who never got near any sort of professional play. Even watching a game in person does not convey simply how fast the game moves.
I think this may be part of the reason that big lanky skaters get the reputation of being lazy. If they aren&rsquo;t moving their legs like crazy they must be just floating out there.
Needless to say I often get back into the play just as it moves in the other direction, so I spend a lot of time skating between the bluelines, getting nowhere fast.
<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>
<h3>Almost everything that looks &ldquo;simple&rdquo; is absolutely not:</h3>
I used to get enraged when Kessel did his patented skate hard into the offensive zone and cut hard into the middle and fell over. Now I&rsquo;m amazed that he is able to do the move with enough regularity for it to become a staple of his. I have enough trouble stopping and changing directions in general, and this is without the puck, often completely uncontested. I can&rsquo;t fathom doing it at top speed with the puck on my stick and a defender draped over me. I&rsquo;ll take it easy on Phil the next time he catches an edge.
&nbsp;
<h3>Scoring a goal is a lot of fun:</h3>
Hockey players are supposed to act all non-chalante and &ldquo;like they&rsquo;ve been there before&rdquo; after scoring each goal. After banging in a loose puck for my first ever goal, I was throwing my glove into the air and shooting it, Selanne style; in my mind, in realty I just shrugged and smiled like I got lucky. It&rsquo;s funny that even though I&rsquo;ve never played, I intuitively knew how I was &ldquo;supposed&rdquo; to behave out there. I get why NHL players don&rsquo;t celebrate wildly after every goal, but it must be hard for them to resist the temptation.
Right now I&rsquo;m only playing once a week, but will be able to play more once the outdoor rinks open up. To anyone out there who hasn&rsquo;t played, either ever, or in a long while, get out there. I&rsquo;m 26, it&rsquo;s never too late.
To those with more experience playing, I&rsquo;d welcome any advice you think would be helpful to someone like me.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

<img width="500" height="485" alt="" src="https://theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/Image/MW-spring-hockey-camp-09-101.jpg" />&nbsp;
This small child is a better hockey player than me
A few weeks ago I played a game of pick-up hockey in full equipment for the first time in my life. I had never been a strong skater growing up, so it has been a bit of a challenge but entirely worth it. I&rsquo;m hooked. Playing three hour long pick-up games has given me some new insights into the game I already loved.
I am hardly adopting the stance that &ldquo;if you never played the game&rdquo; you are unqualified to speak about it and your opinions and insights invalid. Simply that you gain a more nuanced and deeper understanding as a result of seeing the game from the players&rsquo; perspective, irrespective of the level you play at.
Here are the things that stand out the most to me after only three games.

&nbsp;
<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>
<h3>Holy hell does the game move fast:</h3>
I always knew that hockey was &ldquo;the fastest game on ice&rdquo; but you really cannot appreciate how fast until you try to keep up with the pace while lacking the most basic of skills. And this is Sunday morning pick-up against guys who never got near any sort of professional play. Even watching a game in person does not convey simply how fast the game moves.
I think this may be part of the reason that big lanky skaters get the reputation of being lazy. If they aren&rsquo;t moving their legs like crazy they must be just floating out there.
Needless to say I often get back into the play just as it moves in the other direction, so I spend a lot of time skating between the bluelines, getting nowhere fast.
<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>
<h3>Almost everything that looks &ldquo;simple&rdquo; is absolutely not:</h3>
I used to get enraged when Kessel did his patented skate hard into the offensive zone and cut hard into the middle and fell over. Now I&rsquo;m amazed that he is able to do the move with enough regularity for it to become a staple of his. I have enough trouble stopping and changing directions in general, and this is without the puck, often completely uncontested. I can&rsquo;t fathom doing it at top speed with the puck on my stick and a defender draped over me. I&rsquo;ll take it easy on Phil the next time he catches an edge.
&nbsp;
<h3>Scoring a goal is a lot of fun:</h3>
Hockey players are supposed to act all non-chalante and &ldquo;like they&rsquo;ve been there before&rdquo; after scoring each goal. After banging in a loose puck for my first ever goal, I was throwing my glove into the air and shooting it, Selanne style; in my mind, in realty I just shrugged and smiled like I got lucky. It&rsquo;s funny that even though I&rsquo;ve never played, I intuitively knew how I was &ldquo;supposed&rdquo; to behave out there. I get why NHL players don&rsquo;t celebrate wildly after every goal, but it must be hard for them to resist the temptation.
Right now I&rsquo;m only playing once a week, but will be able to play more once the outdoor rinks open up. To anyone out there who hasn&rsquo;t played, either ever, or in a long while, get out there. I&rsquo;m 26, it&rsquo;s never too late.
To those with more experience playing, I&rsquo;d welcome any advice you think would be helpful to someone like me.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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