Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get more involved in the local hockey scene, and I saw this “pre draft hockey tournament 2024” thing pop up. Figured, why not? I’m not getting any younger, and it sounded like a good way to shake off some rust and see what’s what.
First thing I did was try to find some info online. It was kinda all over the place, to be honest. Some old forum posts, a couple of vague mentions on social media… nothing concrete. I finally found a website, but it looked like it was built back in the early 2000s. Still, I managed to find a registration form buried in there.
Getting Registered
The form itself was pretty basic. Name, age, position, skill level – you know, the usual stuff. I filled it out, honestly rating myself as “intermediate” (maybe a bit generous, but hey, gotta have some confidence, right?). I hit submit and hoped for the best.
Team Assignment and Gear
A few weeks went by, and honestly forgot about it . Then, BAM! An email. I was assigned to a team – the “Ice Hawks” (pretty cool name, I gotta admit). The email had a roster and a schedule for the tournament. My heart skipped a beat, because it was real!
I had the gear in a box for a couple of years, but that needed checking too. Dug out my old hockey bag, and wow, did it smell… funky. Took everything out, aired it out, checked for any major damage. My skates definitely needed sharpening, and I realized I’d outgrown my old jersey (too many pizzas, I guess). So, a quick trip to the local sports store was in order.
First Practice
The first practice was… interesting. A real mix of guys. Some looked like they’d played college hockey, others (like me) were clearly just weekend warriors. We did some basic drills, tried to get a feel for each other’s playing styles. I was huffing and puffing after about 10 minutes, but it felt good to be back on the ice.
The Tournament
The tournament itself was a blast. Three games in two days – pretty intense. We won the first game, lost the second, and then won the third in a shootout! I even managed to score a goal (total fluke, but I’ll take it!).
It was amazing to get to know the guys on my team. We weren’t amazing or a top-tier, but we went all out and did the best we could with the team we had.
- Sore muscles: Yep, definitely felt those the next day.
- New friends: Made some good connections with the guys on my team.
- Renewed love for the game: Remembered why I love hockey in the first place.
Overall, the whole “pre draft hockey tournament 2024” experience was awesome. It was exactly what I needed – a fun, challenging way to get back into hockey. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Maybe next year I’ll even train a little beforehand… maybe.
