Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna share my little adventure into the world of hockey in Arlington, MA. I’ve always been a fan of the sport, watching it on TV, you know, the usual. But I thought, “Why not give it a shot myself?” So, I started looking into it, and let me tell you, it was quite the experience.
First thing I did was try to find a place to play. Seems there’s this Arlington Hockey Club, which sounds pretty serious, so I kinda steered clear of that for now. I’m just a beginner, after all. It is said that their camp focus on individual skills, sounds really good. But, I thought I should start at the very bottom.
- Looked up some local rinks. I found out about the Ed Burns Arena in Arlington. It’s apparently a popular spot for both youth and adult hockey. They even have something called the Boston Hockey League, which is supposed to be a big deal in the area, with teams from all over New England. Didn’t really pay much attention to that, though. Too advanced for me!
- Checked out some beginner programs. I stumbled upon this thing called “Hockey North America.” They claim to have invented beginner hockey for adults, which sounded perfect. I mean, who else is going to teach a newbie like me how to even stand on skates without falling on my face?
- Signed up for a class. I decided to bite the bullet and enroll in a beginner’s class at the Ed Burns Arena. They had these open ice practice sessions, and I figured that’d be better than jumping straight into a game and making a fool of myself.
So, I went to my first class. Let me tell you, it was humbling. I spent more time on my butt than on my feet. But, the instructor was patient, and the other beginners were just as clumsy as me, so that was a relief. We learned the basics – how to hold the stick, how to pass, how to shoot (sort of). Mostly, we just tried not to crash into each other.
Improving Skills
After a few classes, I started to get the hang of it. I even managed to stay upright for a whole minute once! It felt amazing. I started practicing more, going to those open ice sessions whenever I could. They also said that off ice training would help me, you know, with balance and coordination. I did some exercises at home, just to try to get my body used to the movements. The coach said that it would help me a lot.
Slowly but surely, I improved. I could actually skate without falling every few seconds. I could even hit the puck in the general direction of the net! It was a great feeling, seeing myself progress from a complete beginner to someone who could at least sort of play the game.
I’m still not very good, mind you. But I’m having fun, and that’s what matters. I might even join a beginner’s league next season. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll even be good enough to play in the Boston Hockey League! Okay, probably not, but a guy can dream, right?
Anyway, that’s my hockey journey so far. It’s been a blast, and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a new challenge and a good workout. Just be prepared to fall a lot, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. It’s all part of the fun!
