He played in ice hockey leagues from 5 years old until he was 15. He started playing high school hockey until at one practice one of his friends broke a rib and another got a concussion. Without fanfare, I just quit taking him. A factor was preventing injury to his hands since he played violin.

He missed hockey and in hindsight he considered choosing being a distance runner like his sister during high school was stupid. He determined that even the practices were fun when he played hockey. I hoped he would play as an adult and he finally did when he lived in Aspen Colorado one winter.

He's resumed playing now that he's living in central Missouri and not on a sailboat in Maine or Panama. I loved watching him play when he was a kid, and was so glad he latched onto one of my favorite sports. He has thanked me several times for taking the time assist his participation in many sports and instilling love of sport in him.

He's pretty busy and independent so my wife and I don't talk to him a lot. We finally talked to him the other night and we had several things to catch up on. He stops us just after the hello and asks if he can first tell us about the goals he scored in his last games. It is the best of life to have him describe in detail and with great enthusiasm the skating moves, the passes and how he exploited a goalkeepers mistakes.

He plays on Sunday nights, his text when I looked at my phone this morning: "1 goal and five assists"

Great story! How old is he now? Is he playing in a men's league? The joy of skating quickly returns, no matter how long you have been off the ice that's for sure.

Does he have a mullet yet? That's when you know they're serious.

He's 27. Yes he's playing in a men's league.

No mullet. He looks like a GQ model. He was at some dinner engagement and the host's teenage daughter called him Ken, like Barbie's Ken.

I began playing organized hockey in the 1970's when hockey hair was in it's prime. I had no mullet then, but admit to one later.

I love beer league hockey, I play twice a week. it is a blast.

quote:

Originally posted by ScorpionBoy:
I love beer league hockey, I play twice a week. it is a blast.

I quit about 12 years ago. I have always had trouble sleeping after evening hockey games due to getting yipped up. Which means I don't recover from an hour of fun until after the second night. I decided the payoff wasn't worth it.

Ice hockey is a beautiful sport. I love to see good hockey skaters at public open skating. Much more entertaining to watch than figure skaters.

My son played from 4 yo all the way through high school. He was pretty burned out and only played a couple of times a year but now plays when he gets the chance. Love watching a great skater play!

I still play in an adult league. Our last game was at 10:20 pm. Don't love the game times but still lots of fun.

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
He's 27. Yes he's playing in a men's league.

No mullet. He looks like a GQ model. He was at some dinner engagement and the host's teenage daughter called him Ken, like Barbie's Ken.

I began playing organized hockey in the 1970's when hockey hair was in it's prime. I had no mullet then, but admit to one later.

You saying he's got a big afro?

I played in a men’s league for quite a few years. We would also just get a bunch of guys together and play when ice time was available which was like 1:00AM.

I will never forget scoring what I thought was a meaningless goal and looking up into the stands to realize there was one person actually in the stands at 1:30AM on a Sunday morning. That one person was my dad.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
He's 27. Yes he's playing in a men's league.

No mullet. He looks like a GQ model. He was at some dinner engagement and the host's teenage daughter called him Ken, like Barbie's Ken.

I began playing organized hockey in the 1970's when hockey hair was in it's prime. I had no mullet then, but admit to one later.

You saying he's got a big afro?

The stereotype GQ model, not the affirmative action one.

I'm another guy that played in men's leagues in the '70s. I had long hair and was likened to Derek Sanderson, wore #16, Bobby Clarkes number.

The All Hockey Hair Team is one of my favorite parts about the annual Minnesota High School Hockey tournament.

When Barry Melrose calls your state "Minneflowta", you know you're doing it right.

ETA: trying to post this video from my phone. Clearly things have gone wrong. Attempting to fix.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zcPTba-oUOs