Okay, so today I wanted to talk about something that’s been a big part of my life lately: North Shore Hockey. I’ve been diving deep into the local hockey scene, and man, it’s been a wild ride. Let me tell you all about it.
It all started a few months ago when I was looking for a new way to stay active and maybe make some friends. I’ve always loved hockey, but I’d never really gotten involved in the local scene. So, I started poking around online, trying to figure out what was what in the North Shore area.
Getting Started
First thing I did was check out a couple of the local clubs. I found out that the Wilmette and Winnetka clubs actually team up for some of the older age groups, which I thought was pretty cool. They call it the North Shore Hockey Club, and it’s for Bantam-age players. I’m not quite that young anymore, but it was good to know what was out there. They are in charge of the whole shebang.
Then I stumbled upon something called the North Shore Youth Hockey League. Turns out, it’s the main league around here, and it’s all official and everything, sanctioned by USA Hockey and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois. I dug into their rules, just to get a feel for how things worked.
Joining a Team
Now, since I’m a bit past my youth hockey days, I had to find an adult league. Luckily, I found the CUHL, which apparently is a big supporter of the North Shore Youth Hockey League. I reached out to them, and they pointed me to a few different teams that were looking for players. After a couple of emails and phone calls, I found a team that seemed like a good fit. It’s a bunch of guys who just love to play, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
- First Practice: Man, was I rusty! I hadn’t been on the ice in years, and it showed. But the guys were super welcoming, and we had a good time just skating around and getting to know each other.
- First Game: We got smoked. Like, bad. But you know what? It was still a blast. We laughed about it afterward, and it just made me want to get better.
Getting Better
Since then, I’ve been hitting the ice as much as possible. I’ve been working on my skating, my stickhandling, and just trying to get back into game shape. It’s been tough, but it’s also been incredibly rewarding. I can feel myself getting better with each practice and each game.
I also found out about this elite program called the North Shore Shamrocks. They’re like the top-tier AAA program in the area. I’m nowhere near that level, but it’s cool to see the kind of talent that’s being developed around here. It’s inspiring, you know?
More Than Just Hockey
The best part about all of this, though, hasn’t even been the hockey itself. It’s been the people. I’ve met some really great guys through the team, and we’ve become pretty good friends. We hang out after games, grab beers, and just shoot the breeze. It’s been a great way to build a community and feel like I’m part of something.
So, yeah, that’s my North Shore hockey journey so far. It’s been a lot of fun, a lot of hard work, and a lot of learning. I’m excited to see where it goes from here. If you’re ever in the area and want to catch a game, hit me up. I might even let you buy me a beer afterward. Cheers!
