Now that fall is here, Canada's game is back. That's right, it's hockey season again.
While it's fun watching the Canucks, last year I decided to get off the couch and strap on the pads myself. I've been fortunate to be able to coach goalies in the South Delta Minor Hockey Association and learn from some great professional coaches like Pasco Valana, Lynden Sammartino and Alex Auld, the former Canuck goalie. After working with these guys, I find myself analysing every goal, every save and every move that NHL goalies make. Move over John Garrett, I'm after your job.
So I thought nothing of hitting the ice and facing a slap shot or five, making the big diving save or the strategic, well timed pokecheck. It ended up a little harder than I expected.
I started by going to Learn to Play Hockey through Delta's parks and recreation department. For some, it's a chance to get back on the ice and see if they can still skate and shoot at the same time. For others, it's a chance to just try playing. No matter what, everyone (men and women) go through some drills and play a little shinny on a Friday evening. Some of us stayed together and played in a small, four-team spring league. We even won a game.
But now I've been drafted to the next level. There's a group of guys that play late on Wednesday nights at the South Delta Recreation Centre. At 10:45 p.m., well past my bedtime, we all wander out on the ice and play a bit of pick-up hockey. Some of these guys are pretty good, but others are just out to get in a skate, have a bit of fun and enjoy more than a bit of exercise. It's very casual, but like anything when a bunch of guys get together, there's always some good natured ribbing.
Now you might be thinking the locker room might sound like a cacophony of dirty jokes and tasteless comments that would make Donald Trump blush (not that you'd ever be able to tell), but strangely, the last time I walked into the dressing room there was a passionate discussion about chicken broth - which was better, the dry cubes or the one-litre cartons? Huh?
It got worse - the conversation turned to comparing recipes for Yorkshire pudding. Apparently, reheated Yorkshires with a bit of canned gravy is a good hangover cure. OK, that's better. I was starting to feel like I was in a Martha Stewart parallel universe.
Even though I've been "called up," I still hang out with my Friday night gang as well, because, frankly, I'm a really crappy goalie. No matter how much I try and tell my legs to squeeze the knees and drop into a butterfly, the response I get from my legs is, "Tell someone who cares." Lots of pucks get past me, so I just struggle my way onto my feet, yell at the defense and try again.
If you've ever, or even never, played hockey and want to try, these are two great opportunities to get on the ice and have some fun.
I'll let one go in just to build your confidence.
Brad Sherwin, MBA has over 25 years' experience in marketing, public relations and business strategy. He is currently the director of marketing for a national non-profit organization.
