The RinkFor the not so ready for prime-time players, coaches, referees, and the people that have to live with them. Discuss experiences in local leagues, coaching tips, equipment, and training.
So when did you realize you were too bad to make it?
So when did you realize you were too bad to make it?
At what age did you stop playing competitive hockey?
How far did you make it?
How hard was it for you to accept the fact that you weren't good enough to make it pro?
At what age did you stop playing competitive hockey?
How far did you make it?
How hard was it for you to accept the fact that you weren't good enough to make it pro?
Never played competitive, was pretty good at high school floor hockey and terrible at ice. Thought I'd make the NHl some day or at least the woman's team though.
I think I was about 25 when I realized that my terrible skills weren't improving.
At what age did you stop playing competitive hockey?
How far did you make it?
How hard was it for you to accept the fact that you weren't good enough to make it pro?
I think you've been around here long enough to know that threads like these never make it...
For hockey, 6 or so haha (I couldn't skate worth a lick).
Though for basketball, which I was pretty decent at, probably 16 or so. Mostly because I learned just how much work it was going to take and I didn't want to put it in
Highest level of play for me was bantam AA, played midget A then stopped when i was 17.
I was pretty sad when i was 14 cause i failed to make the AAA team, but eventually learned the statistical probability of making it to the NHL was like winning the lottery and felt better.
Watching 24/7 makes me insanely envious/jealous at the NHL-pro lifestyle.
I played college hockey. With and against guys who have been drafted (class of 2009). I knew I never had a shot though, by 15 or so. I was just a role player. Third/fourth line and played on the third d-pairing a few times as well. Also was a scratch a healthy amount.
I played competitvely since I was 9 in North Dakota. I played Peewee, Bantams, Midgets, and High School Team. I was undersized at 5'-9", but I was one of the highest scoring wingers in the state. In my junior year we won the state championship, and my bantam team was invited to a summer tournament in Winnipeg. I knew if I played well, and my team played well, that I would have a shot at an academic scholarship. As luck would have it, I would have none. In my first game I got drilled from behind and suffered a pretty bad concussion. I recovered slowly, missed my entire senior season for HS and my final season in midgets. That fall I watched my HS team win state, and my midgets team took second in the state. In the spring I got all my academic scholarships back in the mail... all denied. It was at that moment, I knew that my window of opportunity was gone. I would never play hockey again competitively. I took it pretty bad.
I played competitvely since I was 9 in North Dakota. I played Peewee, Bantams, Midgets, and High School Team. I was undersized at 5'-9", but I was one of the highest scoring wingers in the state. In my junior year we won the state championship, and my bantam team was invited to a summer tournament in Winnipeg. I knew if I played well, and my team played well, that I would have a shot at an academic scholarship. As luck would have it, I would have none. In my first game I got drilled from behind and suffered a pretty bad concussion. I recovered slowly, missed my entire senior season for HS and my final season in midgets. That fall I watched my HS team win state, and my midgets team took second in the state. In the spring I got all my academic scholarships back in the mail... all denied. It was at that moment, I knew that my window of opportunity was gone. I would never play hockey again competitively. I took it pretty bad.
I stopped playing competitively around 20. I spent a couple years playing in college, but I guess I'd have to say I realized I didn't have what it took around 18.
In the leagues I played in as a kid, I was always one of the best. But as I got older, the less-serious and less-talented kids got weeded out. I went from dominating as an eight-year-old, to being amazing in my early teens, to being really good in my late teens, and then I got to college. I couldn't believe how fast, talented, and physical everyone was. I ended up getting relegated to 3rd/4th line and PK duty. I was fast and smart, but in the end, didn't have the size or strength to make it any farther.
I played on two championship teams when I was 12 and 13 years old. I was the smallest guy on those teams. When I was 14 years old I tried out for the Bantam Team and didn't make it. That was the end of my playing career. I took up refereeing that year. Even tho I was always told that I was too small, I made it to pro hockey when I was 19. I eventually made it to the NHL for a cup of coffee as a Linesman. What I learned from my experience is, never give up on your dreams.
I played on two championship teams when I was 12 and 13 years old. I was the smallest guy on those teams. When I was 14 years old I tried out for the Bantam Team and didn't make it. That was the end of my playing career. I took up refereeing that year. Even tho I was always told that I was too small, I made it to pro hockey when I was 19. I eventually made it to the NHL for a cup of coffee as a Linesman. What I learned from my experience is, never give up on your dreams.
I had a tryout when it was the original six teams and over the years, I worked a couple of pre-season games. I got to work a regular season game in an emergency situation. Blackhawks at North Stars. Went down to the dressing room to say hello to the guys who were working the game. I walked into the room and was told to get my equipment because the Referee was stuck back east in a snow storm. They had tried calling me, but I wasn't home. I usually had my equipment in my car, however, I worked a college game the night before and was drying out my stuff. I didn't have it with me. Fortunately I lived ten minutes from the rink and went home to get it. By the time I got back, the game had started and I dressed as fast as I could and got onto the ice five minutes after the game had started. No prep time and all eyes were on me as I skated out. We went over a few things and started the game up. Everything went good. In fact, skating around the rink before the start of the third period, The Chicago captain, Pat Stapelton, skated up to me and told me that I was doing a good job. That made me feel good and took some pressure off of me. Even had to break up a fight.
Unfortunately, I got into hockey at way too late of an age to really start. I developed a passion for hockey in 11th grade and started playing floor hockey at school. I got pretty good at floor hockey pretty quickly, joined a dek league and have been playing for about two years now. It's not a high end league or anything, but I am pretty good and for what it's worth I've been on three championship teams (Two being in the top division). In high school I wrestled, was captain in my senior year, and even though I knew I wanted to get into ice hockey I also knew how hard I had worked at developing as a wrestler so I finished out wrestling in high school and had a successful senior year.
It does suck though, if I could go back in time I'd have told my parents at the youngest age possible to get me ice skating lessons and get me on a team. Oh well, this happens to everyone in life. We all wish we could be things that we, realistically, don't have much of a chance of being when the window of opportunity passes. I'm just happy that I play some form of hockey, it's just a sport I love and I know in the future I will get skating lessons and start out in a lower level ice hockey league for adults to develop my game.
