Okay, let me tell you about this BU hockey camp I went to. It’s been on my mind to share this for a bit now.
Thinking About Hitting the Ice Again
So, I’d been feeling like my game was getting a little, you know, stale. Playing pick-up is fun and all, but I really wanted to sharpen things up, get some proper coaching. I’d heard some good stuff about the program at BU, so I figured, why not? Decided to just go for it. Signed up and started counting down the days. I wasn’t expecting to become a pro overnight, but I definitely wanted to push myself a bit.
First Impressions and Getting into the Swing
Showing up on that first day, yeah, I had a few butterflies. You walk in, see all the gear, the serious-looking coaches, and a bunch of other folks probably thinking the same thing I was: “Hope I can keep up!” But everyone was pretty chill, actually. The check-in was smooth, found my dorm room – pretty basic, but hey, I wasn’t there for the luxury. The rink itself? Man, that was sweet. Good ice, well-maintained. The coaches introduced themselves, laid out the plan for the week. Seemed intense, but in a good way.
The Daily Grind – It Was Real
Let me tell you, they didn’t mess around. Our days were packed. It was pretty much:
- Wake up way too early. Coffee. Lots of coffee.
- Morning on-ice session. Pure skating drills mostly. Edges, crossovers, quick starts and stops. My legs were screaming by the end of the first one.
- Then maybe some stickhandling or shooting work. Trying to get those hands moving quicker.
- Lunch. Refuel. Talk a bit with the other campers. Good bunch of people, all there for the same reason.
- Afternoon could be more ice time, sometimes focused on game situations or small area games. Or we’d hit the gym for some off-ice conditioning. That was tough too.
- Sometimes they’d have a video session or a talk about strategy. Actually picked up a few good pointers there.
It was a lot. No doubt about it, you had to be ready to work. Some evenings, I was so tired I just crashed.
Moments That Stuck With Me
There were definitely some standout moments. I remember one drill, it was a continuous 2-on-1, and the pace was just relentless. I thought I was gonna collapse. But somehow, you find that extra gear. And when you make a good play, or the coach gives you a nod, it feels pretty damn good. That’s what you’re there for, right?
And the scrimmages at the end of some days were great. Fast, competitive, but still fun. It was cool to try and put all the stuff we were learning into practice. I’m not gonna lie, I got burned a few times, but I also made a couple of decent plays. You learn from both.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Alright, so after all that sweat and early mornings, was it worth it? Absolutely, yeah. I’m not suddenly gonna get a call from an NHL team, let’s be real. But my skating feels stronger, more controlled. My shot’s got a bit more power. Little things, you know? But they add up. The biggest thing, though, was just the focused instruction. Having someone watch you, point out what you’re doing wrong, and show you how to fix it. That’s gold.
If you’re thinking about a camp like this, especially if you’re serious about getting better and willing to put in the effort, I’d say go for it. BU’s camp, from my experience, was well-run, the coaching was solid, and I definitely came away a better player. Just be ready to work your butt off. No shortcuts on the ice, that’s for sure.
