My Passion
By: Ethan Sherle
The Smell
The smell of the freshly cleaned ice when I walk into
the warm lobby, escaping the chilly, unforgiving
weather outside. Smelling the warm, mouth watering
foods at the concession and the wet hockey bags that
smell like a big bag full of garbage. Walking into the
dressing room and unpacking your bag and either smell
the fresh, washed and dried equipment and jerseys, or
smelling the unwashed, wet, stinky hockey gear as you
open up your bag. Stepping onto the bench and
smelling the excitement of a championship game or a
tournament game. Getting onto the ice for warm up
and skating up and down the ice smelling the fear in
the enemy team. Getting off the ice and back into the
warm, stinky dressing room and taking off your
sweaty, wet hockey gear and back into your old spice
smelling clothes. Walking back out into the lobby,
looking for your parents you smell the delicious foods at
the concession once again and the smell of victory or
the smell of defeat.
The Sight
The Sight of the rec center in your vision after a
long drive far away from home and the sight of
your friends walking into the rink. Seeing the
lobby packed with families watching their kids
play and seeing kids younger or older playing the
best game on ice. Swiftly walking to the dressing
rooms and seeing your teammates talking
amongst each other and greeting you as you put
your heavy hockey bag down. Opening your
hockey bag hoping you remember all of your
equipment and the sight of all of your gear in
there, as you think to yourself “ You got lucky
this time”. The sight of the Zamboni cleaning up
the ice and seeing the other team down the
hallway. Getting onto the ice, getting the puck
and looking around to find a teammate for a pass.
The sight of the score at the of the game and
seeing your teams score is greater than the
enemy team. Getting unchanged and walking out
into the lobby again and the sight of parents
talking to there friends and there kids. Finding
your parents and driving back and the sight of
your warm, cozy house.
The
Sound
The sound of the freshly sharpened skates
on the ice and the sound of the puck hitting
against the post or the crossbar. The sound
of skates getting sharpened and the sound
of the yells of pass or shoot coming for the
coaches and players. The sound of the
coward minor league or major league when
you score or make a good play. The sound of
the puck hitting the boards and the sound of
somebody getting hit into the boards or in
open ice. The sound of the your teams bench
support every play you make and always
has your back. The sound of the Velcro strap
when putting on my gear and the sound of
sock tape wrapping around my leg. The
sound of the sticks smashing against the
post after you keep losing even single game
but you keep going out thinking it will be
different but it is not and it just drives you
insane (Got a little carried away there). The
sound of the puck hitting the ice on the
opening face-off and the sticks clashing
against each other.
The
Taste
The taste of water after you have a long shift or
before a game when the nerves kick in. Also the
taste of the of a cold Pepsi or coke- cola from the
venting machine or the delicious, warm foods from
the concession stands. Getting a hot chocolate and
having it warm you to the core. The taste of the
blood in the water when you are beat a team so
bad you start to feel bad for them. Tasting the
freshly clean and soft looking ice and the sharp
skates cutting into the ice like a hot knife through
butter. Tasting and smelling the fresh and warm
skate blades after they have been sharpened.
Tasting the gold medal or the championship gold
at the end of the tournament or playoffs games.
Tasting and feeling the energy, joy and fear from
the crowd and sometimes you can taste the
venters peanuts or there smooth, cool soft drinks
that they sell to the crowd. Finally tasting the
delicious sweet of victory and the sour and
disgusting taste of defeat.
The Touch
Touching and holding your first pair of
hockey skates and your first hockey stick
and feeling that excitement and joy and
being super excited to test them out at the
next practice or game. Feeling the
warmness on your hand as you hold your
hot chocolate in your hands as you watch
your friends game or walking out into the
chilly, unrelenting weather. Holding a
championship trophy or banter and feeling
the joy and relief of holding that
championship up high and feeling a sense
of a complement. The feeling of make a
good pass or the feeling of score the game
winning goal in a crucial game. Feeling
and holding the puck in your glove after
making a fantastic save on a break away.
Touching and holding a autographed
picture or stick from your favourite player
that still play right now or a former player
who used to play when you were young or
that you read about them or saw highlight
from when they played.