Okay so last Tuesday I got super annoyed ’cause my local rink shut down for repairs and I couldn’t practice hockey. Staring at my gear in the corner, I went “Screw it, garage time!” Here’s exactly how I hacked together a practice session right in my stupidly small garage.
Gear Grabbing Chaos
First I dragged my net from behind the Christmas decorations – man that thing was dusty. Dug out an old street hockey ball too since pucks would wreck my washer. Almost tripped over a skateboard pulling out my stick. Got my kid’s sidewalk chalk for marking lines, grabbed a half-empty Gatorade bottle as a cone substitute. Looked like a garage sale threw up in there but whatever works.
Stickhandle Like Your Life Depends On It
Laid that chalk line down the middle of the concrete floor. Did this ridiculous drill where I stickhandled while crab-walking sideways along the line. Dropped the ball like fifty times at first. Got so focused I almost put my stick through the window! Started doing figure eights around that dumb Gatorade bottle. Key thing I figured out? Bend your freaking knees more than you think you need to. After twenty minutes my thigh muscles were screaming but I stopped dropping the ball so much.
Shoot Where Grandma Can’t See
Turned my sad little net to face the garage door. Taped a bullseye on it using leftover gift wrap and drew creepy eyes underneath so I’d aim high. Found if I backed up near the garbage cans, it was about the length of a real slot shot. Took over hundred shots alternating:
- Quick wristers from the knee
- Those stupid backhand chips nobody masters
- Slappers that made my neighbors think I’m murdering raccoons
Pro tip: When you miss (and oh you will miss), chasing the ball builds cardio whether you want it or not.
Final Sweaty Victory
Put it all together in this sad little obstacle course: stickhandle down the chalk line, pivot around a bucket, sprint toward the net with my skateboard as a pretend defender, then rip a shot while screaming “TOP SHELF!” like a moron. Took four tries before I actually hit the bullseye but holy crap when I did? Jumped so high I smacked my head on the garage door rail. Totally worth the bump.
Ended practice soaked in sweat with chalk smeared everywhere and my kid’s bottle crushed. But my hands felt quicker and my shot wasn’t completely embarrassing. Next day? Went back out and did it all again ’cause the rink’s still closed. Moral is you don’t need fancy ice time to get better – just grab whatever’s lying around and go nuts til your hands cramp up.
