Here in Canada, Hockey is what everyone likes to talk about: “When will the next Canadian team will win The Cup?” When I was young, very young, they only had 6 teams in the NHL. My father’s team was the Montreal Canadians. Mine was and still is, the Boston Bruins. Of course my favourite was Bobby Orr, the greatest Canadian Hockey Player ever! Growing up in this culture fueled my interest to play hockey but… I didn’t know how to skate.

I finally found the courage and money to buy skates. I was fifteen. I wanted to catch up to the skill level of those kids who were born with skates on. The decision was made and I bought my first (and only) goalie skates. I reasoned that goalies don’t have to know how to skate well. I should fit right in!

So excitedly, I started walking around the house with my new skates. I went outside to slide around the driveway, when I noticed a hard crust had formed on the snow. A melting freezing pattern had created an icy surface making it possible to skate all over the back yard. I spent hours circling, zigzagging, crisscrossing the yard. This lasted a few days before the ice gave way. No problem. I was full of confidence to head to one of the numerous outdoor rinks dotting the neighbourhood.

The first few times at the rink were during blizzard conditions, when no one could see my clumsiness. I had improved enough to go skating with my friend John and his little brother, Peter. Both played hockey; my friend a good defenceman. As more kids showed up we made two teams mixing up ages and abilities to be fair.

Going straight – not a problem. Turning. Stopping. That was a problem. Even the smallest kids were so much better than I. That was until I noticed. There was something different with everyone’s skates. Theirs were sharp. You mean I have to sharpen my skates before I use them?!

Does that explain why my ankles were flopping back and forth like an umbrella in a thunder storm? YES!!

By Barnwood