How I fell in love with the sport of hockey then decided to start playing at 27

Oh boy, it’s been a long while since I decided to learn a new sport. No, seriously, last time I learned a new sport was when I learned water polo in high school… so over a decade ago. Both of these sports were not in my sports knowledge growing up. In my family it was all baseball and basketball with a sprinkle of football thrown in there.

I’ll be honest, I started watching hockey at 18/19 when the LA Kings were on their way to their first cup. I watched them win the ship at work, thinking, “Hey, that’s pretty cool, my hometown team won.”

It wasn’t until January 2015 that I went to my first LA Kings game, that’s when I fell head over heels in love with the sport of hockey. There was just something about that goal horn and the goal celly that got me going. There was no looking back after that.

Don’t get me wrong, I had been to an NHL game before that, but it just wasn’t the same. When I was a freshman in high school I went to a Ducks versus Stars game. It was…uneventful. I could not even tell you who won that game or what it was like. I’m pretty sure I was trying to focus on not freezing my butt off… I’m a big baby when it comes to the slightest cold draft.

Over the last few years I kept thinking, “I really wish.I had been introduced to hockey at a younger age.” I mostly though this because I wish I has started playing at a young age. Thinking that now in my 20’s I was too old. I actually felt this about water polo before I tried out as well, not until a high school friend talked me into it (shout out Codee, you’re a real one). Guess what, I was capable of learning a new sport then, and I’m capable of learning hockey now.

What changed my mind? I started chatting with a girl, Sydney, on twitter I met via this rad hockey clothing brand, Bring Hockey Back.  I saw that she played hockey and confessed to her that I felt like I was too old and out of shape to learn hockey. Telling me that is not true, we moved the conversation to the DMs. Me being completely oblivious about gear, I asked her a billion questions. Knowing I can ice skate, I felt like roller hockey might actually be an attainable skill to add to my already chaotic life.

I picked up some skates, a stick, gloves and a few green biscuits to start. None of my gear matches by brand, but who cares! If they function, they function. Unfortunately California is still Covid grounded so all the indoor rinks are closed. But for now I’m putting in work in the neighborhood, reminding myself that legs feed the wolf. It’s been eventful to say the least… injuries have already affected me. Stay tuned for updates on my hockey journey.